Recent Memories
Reconnecting with our shared local history.
For many years now, we've been inviting visitors to our web site to add their own memories to share their experiences of life as it was when the photographs in our archive were taken. From brief one-liners explaining a little bit more about the image depicted, to great, in-depth accounts of a childhood when things were rather different than today (and everything inbetween!). We've had many contributors recognising themselves or loved ones in our photographs.
Why not add your memory today and become part of our Memories Community to help others in the future delve back into their past.
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People who were particularly kind or influenced your time in the community.
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Has it changed over the years?
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How does it feel, seeing these places again, as they used to look?
This week's Places
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Displaying Memories 35681 - 35760 of 36961 in total
We moved to Prestatyn in 1960 when I was 3. My first memory was riding on my dad's shoulders walking up the High Street and seeing a bus with no roof! We lived in Linden Walk for three years and I used to enjoy milkshakes in a cafe on the High Street. Several years later my Gran bought the same house, so my holidays as a ten year old were spent in the same house! I remember walking up the mountain with my Mum ...see more
Wigan-made clogs always did have a reputation even way back when - so it's nice to have this confirmation of their quality holding up even to today. I've even discovered that one of my ancestors made his living as a Boot and Clog Repairer having been Apprenticed to a Clogger at a very young age by to-days standards. I unfortunately never did get to own a pair - but oh! how I envied my ...see more
During the WW2 war my dad was posted at R A F Finningley and we his family lived in the village at a small holding across the road from the school. I can still see in my mind Wilf the owner who lived there too with his wife. Also the geese and poultry and that we had to take a brush shaft when we went to the outside privy to keep them at bay. Also going to the local market and abattoir with the stock. Also the night ...see more
Mum in law worked at Sunny Sands Cafe, which is further down on this photo and to the left, now flats have been built there. When I first met my husband we used to go there and meet his mother, and when I had children we all used to go and wait for her on the sands just below the Cafe. It is so sad to see flats there now, but the memories remain.
All my father in law spoke about was his love for Folkestone harbour. He worked for Sea Link almost up until it closed down, both he and my husband spent time docking and loading the ferries that came and went from the harbour. In the 60s, 70s and 80s Folkestone harbour was the busiest place, but the advent of the channel tunnel changed all of that, and now Folkestone is not the place it once was. Sadly my father in law died soon after the harbour closed.
I cannot remember the date, but my husband's cousin was the first man to break through to France when building the channel tunnel. My husband's family have lived and worked in Folkestone all their lives and were connected to a large trawler fleet. One of his ancestors has a plaque in one of the churches as a memorial to him.
My family moved to Yapton, from Folkestone Kent, because my husband had a job there. It was a difficult time but I was expecting a baby and I had a 3 year old son so it was also an exciting time for us.
Over the years we grew to love the area we lived in, the children went to school nearby and they made some good friends. Then life became difficult, neighbours moved away and new ones moved in and the ...see more
At least two of the outside lights were rescued from a skip during the demolition of this theatre. They are now on the walls of a house in Horsham. This site is now occupied by Boots on the corner of Swan Walk.
The park is on the left and the station is just visible in the middle distance. The overhead lines have gone now but the wall is grade II listed.
In the year 1950 (or thereabouts) we lived in Reading Street, a village quite close to Broadstairs. 'Mr. Broadstairs' used to organise events such as sandcastle competitions, races and each week held a contest amongst the children to choose a 'Prince' and 'Princess' for the week. He also used to put on shows on the jetty such as variety shows and talent contests. My father - Doug Vince - worked for ...see more
When I was about five years old my parents used to take us kids on a Sunday walk. Always remember it was to Stambridge mills. Back then the roads leading to the mill were not more then a country track. On the way to the mills dad would dig up horseradish to take home to mince up in mums mincer. I can smell the aroma of the place now. Corn fields, wild flowers. When we got to the mills the smell of grinding corn ...see more
The Esso petrol station on the left is now a Macdonalds eating place.
I was brought up in Eltham and lived at no 30 High St where my Mother & Father had a bicycle & sports shop.Everyday I would go across the road to the swimming baths, and at that time there was the vicarage on the opposite corner of Sherrard Road, next to the vicarage gardens was Carter Pattersons who had their horses stabled there. As did the RACS behind Hinds department store. I ...see more
My maternal grandmother, Barbara Morison Diack and her sister Margaret Morison Howie used to meet at "The Queen" and go for afternoon tea at least once a month.
During the Second World War my family were evacuated to Cefn Hengoed. Two of my brothers were with the Hughes family, two with the Palmers and two of my sisters with the Jones Famly. We arrived in 1941. Being one of the youngest, I was with my youngest sister, my mother and my father and we stayed on Haywards Farm. Dad was working in an ammunition factory at Glasscoed. When I was old enough I started ...see more
Ah, The Old Thatch. I remember it well, for this is where I grew up from the early 1940s until 1956. By today's standards it was grim: no heating, no running water, no flush loo - nothing. Yet it was a wonderful place in which to grow up and I will never lose my love for that old cottage. I still visit Nether Wallop whenever I can.
Yes, that is indeed the Rev Hyne-Davy in the picture, as Eileen Wilmott says, ...see more
I lived in Arreton from birth until my marriage. My family consisted of Dad and Mum, my sister Gill, my paternal grandparents and a retired infant teacher Miss Muskett. She taught me at home before I began school at the village CE school where I remained from 1936-1942. Headmaster was Mr White known to us all as Skipper White.
At school in wartime meant carrying our gas masks everywhere, getting to the air ...see more
I went to Ferndale nearly every Saturday with my Mum and brother to visit my grandparents and my Great Aunt and Uncle. My grandparents, the Gambles, lived in Brynhyfryd and we would get off the bus at the bottom of the hill on the Strand and walk up the steep steps to the house. We would spend lunchtime and early afternoon there and then we would walk down to New Street and spend the late afternoon having tea with my ...see more
* St Walburge's is the tallest spired parish church and the third tallest church spire of any type in Britain. * Preston was made a City for the millennium celebrations so it is likely that St Walburge's will be elevated to cathedral status in time. * Completed in 1854.
Draycott Hall was the home of the Denys family. Sir George Deny wrote in his 1836 journal in Spain.
“To my Uncle, whose Heir I am…Dear Uncle, I’ve waited to hear, of your death so, alas! very long, That, despairing, I yield to the fear, that you must be undieably strong. Besides your unlimited wealth - How can you all decency brave? You’re enjoying the best of good health, When you ought to go into your grave!…”
Denys family had a great deal to do with the mining in the Swaledale.
John Naughton (b.1842; Kings County, Ireland) & Ann Conroy (b.1851; Queens County, Ireland) were married in St Walburge's RC church, 3 April 1880. John was known as a "peaceable" & quiet man who played the flute. They had 3 daughters, Mary Ann, Julia (known as Jessie) & Catherine, but sadly John died suddenly in 1886 before Catherine was born, leaving Ann 3 months pregnant to bring ...see more
The old railings that used to surround the gibbet, which I think are now in Bankfield Museum, were made by one of my Great-Great Grandfathers.
I can remember going to visit a lady who lived in the corner house here. It always fascinated me that she had a clock on her mantlepiece with a lady that sat on a swing that used to swing back and forward.
I was sent off to buy some bread by my mother. But crossing the river Crouch by the bridge was impossible. Wickford was under water. I don't recall the year. But the brand name of the bread was: Wheatchief. I used to buy sandpaper in Mays for my dad. And Egans, I thought they could fix anything, as well as selling records! But my Saturday haunt was the library in the High Street. A little room it was, housing their ...see more
It is strange to see one of the two portraits that hung in my grandparents' hallway, for sale on the web. Issac was born in 1837 in Berwick Bassett, Wiltshire. Taught himself to read and write while an agricultural labourer, and joined the Wilts Constabulary in 1874. During the winter of 1881/2 he was pensioned out of the police from injuries sustained in the line of duty. The family story is that he was ...see more
It was the 118 bus Colin. It went from Clapham Common to Mitcham Cricket Green. I also remember well those wonderful Leo's ice lollies. After those awful slabs of lard between 2 wafers that went soggy they were magic - Walls's! My family moved from Northborough Road to Rosemead Avenue in March 1940 as all the Lcc schools were closed. My sister and I went to Pollards Hill School. Both of my brothers went there or to ...see more
The Cemetery, popularly known as Ford Park Cemetery, and owned by the Plymouth, Devonport & Stonehouse Cemetery Company finally went into liquidation in 1999 owing to the decline in burials following the opening of the two Council run cemeteries at Weston Mill and Efford and also in part due to the increasing popularity of cremation. At that time there had been upwards of 250,000 pesons interred in the ...see more
I was told by my mother that my grandparents moved to Tattershall in 1912 from Buckinghamshire so my grandfather could find work helping to restore the castle he was a carpenter. His name was William Bywater, known as Roger, they lived in the village for many years.
I say 1950 for the year my memory relates to but in fact my memories cover from around 1946 to 196
I've only just found this web site for "Memories" although have looked at the site before and what nostalgia it has evoked in me.
My memories are all childhood ones; it's been too long since I visited this dearest of villages, although from what people who have visited since I was there say the place has ...see more
George Coombs was born in Maiden Newton in 1773. He later took a soldier's grant of 200 acres in Ontario - where we still live.
Dad was born at 25 Station Road in 1927, and his Dad had his own business there, G Budd & Sons. When Grandad passed away, and Nan a few years later, Dad bought the house, with 'the yard' behind and carried on the business, which was a building firm. Dad's brothers also worked for the firm. Dad was painter and decorator, Uncle David a brickie and Uncle John a carpenter.
My mother June Eisenberg nee Lester was born in 1931. She was brought up and lived in Wallasey village all her life. She was the very first "Miss Liverpool" - in those days it was a personality contest - I think a pretty face helped but my mother was muched loved by many, sadly not realised until the day of her untimely death.
Does anyone remember the pavillion? Is it still there? I'm sure I had my first snog there!
My first school was at Uplyme. I started when I was 4 which was nearly 54 years ago now. I remember the headmaster was a Mr Denham and he lived in a house on the top of the hill opposite the Church. I remember being quite scared of him. The teacher who I also remember with great fondness was a Mrs Hurst, she was a very kind and caring lady. I also remember that at Christmas we always held the Nativity Play inside the church.
I write from Canada. My ancestor, Thomas Anderson (b. 1745) and his new wife, Mary Blackburn (b. 1748) from Yorkshire sailed to New Brunswick, Canada in 1772 on the Duke of York. My family history has been recorded and kept up to date from this event onward. Although information exists about the family in Canada we have very little knowledge of their history in Britain. The Mormon ...see more
My father, Sydney Wood was born in Malborough in 1914. He moved away to get married in 1940 but always considered Malborough as home right up until his death in 1992. He always maintained that he was the young water carrier in this picture and had a copy of the original postcard. It is believed that the gentleman with the beard was "Datcher" Shepherd (This being Devon dialect for "Thatcher"). Some of my relatives ...see more
My great-great-great grandparents lived opposite Wesley Chapel in the late 1800s, behind the trees on the right-hand-side of the 1901 Wesley Chapel photo.
During the 1830s, Richard JACK (b1813) and some of his brothers moved to Hartlepool from Dalkeith Scotland. In 1841 Richard lived in Northgate Street, with his brothers nearby - they were coal trimmers. Richard lived with the WALTONs from Hexham, ...see more
Not many cars about, not like now. What a wonderful happy place to live where everyone said 'Good morning', unlike now where everybody is too busy with life to take time out and smile. All we do is moan about this and that, smile it will make a difference to everyone. Bring good old Hersham back to being a fun place to live.
This photo and the one next to it showing St Pauls must have been taken from the top of Edmunds Tower. I lived there from 1970 - 1974, the views from the roof were wonderful. It was then a walk away from the town centre over the big car park and then back of the big shops (Woolworths was one of them), the view now is very different and the town centre is on the doorstep!
The Parish Church at Hemsworth is where my parents were married and where me and my twin sisters were christened. In 1959 I was a bridesmaid for my aunt when she got married. The last time I was in the church was for my cousin's funeral a few years ago. I have a copy of this photograph on my lounge wall in my Wakefield home. Jean Johnson (nee Aston)
My family and I moved from Elm Park in Essex to Scotland in the last weeks of 1948. My father, Leon A. Lalonde, had accepted a position as Chief Mechanical Engineer with John Cochrane and Sons, a construction company. They had previously been awarded a large contract to build a Hydro Electric Scheme in Glen Affric. Moving to Scotland in the middle of winter was not an ideal time to relocate house ...see more
My mother, Joyce Hogg, whose grandparents were Egglestone of Culgaith, used to tell us that her relatives, two aunts, used to run the Bridge Inn at Kirkby Thore in the 30's, 40's or 50's. Unfortunately I do not know their names or surnames. Can anyone help me with my family history? Other family names are Tallentyre and Jennings, so this may be useful to anyone with possible information. Thank you.
Being raised in Buckhurst Hill was a childhood experience I feel very lucky to have enjoyed. I was raised in the small cottage at 58 Epping New Road aptly named "Ivy Cottage". Located on the edge of the yard owned by W&C French Contractors. Dad worked for Mr. French for 17 years as Mechanical Engineer. I was allowed to play in the yard after working hours, as long as I didn't get 'into mischief', ...see more
My wife and I visited St Day in September 13th 2004 to find where my Greatgrandparents lived. We found the house where GreatGrandmother died - 24 Scorrier Street. After searching a lot of St Day for anyone who might have know of either of them, we did find a couple, the gent was a nephew of a lady that was a good friend of my GreatGrandmother. They showed us some of my Grandparents furniture that was left to them in ...see more
I clearly remember starting at Greetby Hill C of E School in 1960. The headmistress' name was Miss Cobb. I then moved up into the Junior School in 1962, taught in succession by Miss Greenwood, Mr Tyndsley and Mr Hesketh. The headmaster was a benevolent man by the name of Mr Henderson. I can recall the steam trains running up and down the line parallel to the school grounds, and watching the prototype TSR2 test flying overhead in 1964. Very happy memories!
A section of this photograph was used by Peter Firmin and Oliver Postgate for one of the opening sequences in the programme Bagpuss. This was confirmed in 1978 when a Horrabridge resident wrote to the Bagpuss programme and received a reply from Mrs Joan Firmin giving an account of how the picture used came from an old postacrd album which now belonged to her.
The wheelwrights yard is shown on the left and the view ...see more
I was 10 years old when we lived in Rusthall and all I remember is Lynda at the corner shop where we would pinch penny sweets - sorry! The huge rocks with toad rock, he was amazing and the council estate right behind the lovely ones in your photo - that's where I had most fun. I'm 36 now and living in Manchester and this is where I belong! I wonder if anyone from there remembers my family - here goes...Paul and Linda had Lisa and Catherine and twin baby boys Thomas and James.
The old meeting place, sitting on the wall after youth club in the church hall, or on any other occasion. Birt Price, the shop where you could buy almost anything from a child's bycicle to tools and hardware.
I remember going to this church to watch my baby brothers being christened in the late 60's early 70's and I always remember someone telling me that the church was really old and would still be standing when I a very old lady - at such a very tender age then I didn't believe them! I grew up listening to the church bells chime every quarter hour and would hold my breath to count the hourly chimes in bed at night. How I miss hearing them!
This shop was the first job I had, it lasted all of one week! Iwas all of 12. We moved to Swalecliffe from Gillingham Kent when I was 8 or 9. I lived there untill I started My Nurse Training in 1973. My parents were very active in the Free church their. My sisters and I had many a happy time on the beach swimming for hours and hours.
Several of the local lads and I took the bell from the chapel on the bridge and for a laugh we hung it over the bridge. When large trucks passed underneath, it rang so loud it could be heard all over the village!
I remember Dale Street, on the right was the place where single mothers had to go to collect their benefit from the father of their child/ren, as ruled by the courts order!! Further along Dale Street you could cut up Moorfield to Tithe Barn Street to the Stadium to watch either wrestling on a Thursday night or boxing on a Friday.
This Building and its giant clock was the only way to know the time of day (no watches!) and the tram-car home left the pier-head by this clock and got us home for tea - costing 1d (penny) for a return. You could see this clock coming in from the New Brighton Ferry, and work out what tram you would be on!!
During the 1950's we lived in Bromley. We regularly walked through this park, and every year, perhaps I think sometimes several times a year, the design on floral clock was changed. It was full of bright plants, but was fascinating to a child as the hand moved. I have a feeling there was a special one the year the Queen was crowned.
I remeber one of these chalets. It was owned by my grandmother, Enid Fenton (nee Belsten) between the wars. She was a teacher who trained before WW1. During the Second World War the chalet was inaccessible for security reasons. We lived in Bromley in Kent but I went there a few times in the early 50's. Does anyone know what is on this site now?
My Great Uncle and Great Aunt (Joe and Rose) both passed away recently, so I decided to share their memory here. I am their Great Niece's daughter.
As far as I am aware, they met about aged 17 or 18 on a "Beano" on Southend beach one year, about 60 years ago during the summer. Joe fell for Rose immediately, and wrote with a stick into the sand, "Joe loves Rose". They stayed together for the rest of their ...see more
We moved to Glastonbury in 1994 and left in 2000. We loved our time there and have wonderful memories of walking our dogs along Wearyall Hill and across the fields at the back of our house then along the banks of the River Brue. We were able to sit up in bed with a cup of tea in the morning and look at the sunrise over Glastonbury Tor. A very special place that we go back and visit often.
The "Bank" has occupied this site since the late seventeenth century. Although you cannot see from either this view or indeed from the street, there is an exquisite garden and lawn in the centre! The Bank underwent an extensive building programme between the time of this photograph and the second world war. There are now five floors and also three levels of vaults (I do hope that I am not giving away any secrets ...see more
In the 50s my mum used to take us to see our Great Uncle Herb and Aunt Nell at Sawbridgeworth. He used to take my sister and I to his allotment, buy us both a toy then listen to the sports report and take us down the Old Bull Pub for a lemonade and crisps. Great Aunt Nell was bedridden and died soon after. Great Uncle Herb was a very nice old man.
Thaxted is where my mum was born in 1907.
We used to sit and have a rest for five mins on the bench behind the gates when visiting my Step Nan.
This is the church where most of my mum's stepsisters and brothers got married, as well as my nan after my grandad died.
We used to walk past this war memorial on the way to my Step-Nan's.
My grandfather was the lock-keeper at Roydon Lock after he came out of the army after the First World War. He had to have an outside job as he was shot in the neck and also mustard-gassed.
We used to walk up here from the station to visit my Stepnan.
When I was young I walked up this road many times with my sister and mum to see my Stepgran and my Aunts and Uncles. My Dad was born in Linlithgo Lanackshire Scotland .So no photos of where he was born
Many a time my family went up this road from Harlow Mill to see my stepgran and my aunts and uncles who lived in Roydon.
When I was about 11 or 12 in the 50's I used to ride from Bookham over to Ranmore quite often. I would take a packed lunch in a rucksack and off I would go for the day all on my own. When I got to Ranmore, I used to tie my pony to a tree and go in the post office and ask the man for a bucket of water for my pony. Then we would stop on the edge of the woods somewhere, I'd sit on a log or on my jumper or coat on the ground and let my pony graze whilst I ate my lunch and read a book.
In the 1950's I used to ride my pony from the Leatherhead Road in Gt. Bookham through Fetcham to Leatherhead to get to the blacksmiths. The blackmsiths was a proper big old forge at Prewetts Dairy off Randals Road. I used to have to lead my pony over this rickety little bridge. It had wobbly planks and there was one missing one time I crossed it. It was probably a 9 mile round trip just to get the pony ...see more
I remember this house on the right and think it was called The Grange. CORRRECTION. It was called The Glade of course - I remember now so thank you for that, Maureen. I knew it in the 1950s when Mr and Mrs Webb lived there with their son John. Mrs. Webb was the person who first took me riding up at the Carter's stables on the Dorking Road. Later in the 1960s I remember the Martins lived there - Steve and Tim.
Does anybody remember the Hand and Sceptre cottages at the bottom of Rusthall Road?
The Penton Camp Club started in about 1903. Its members included the Manager of Martin's Bank, London, the manager of the Drury Lane Theatre and many other rich men. They would come by train to Staines, the old station at the entrance to Two Rivers Shopping Centre, walk to the bridge and be taken from there by the owner of the large hotel that stood on the left bank opposite the Swan to the weir - the right ...see more
I can't pinpoint the year exactly, but it was definitely a year or two before 1953 which was the year I left the UK. I and three friends, student nurses at a hospital in Essex, decided on a holiday in Scotland. We chose Dollarbeg as our base hotel and toured round the whole area, walking in the surrounding countryside and taking bus tours from Stirling - the Dukes Pass tour perhaps being the most memorable, the ...see more
My great-grandfather, Thomas Newton Croft, a member of the family that founded the Fleetwood to Knott End ferry, managed it for the local council from c.1896 to his death in 1915. I am told that my grandmother, Alice, used to do cartwheels to entertain the passengers waiting for the boat to come in. The service was re-privatised a few years ago. Being involved in marine business myself I like to refer to it as "the family shipping line"!
I was a member of the Odeon choir and it was around this time that we were taken to I think it was the Festival Hall, to compete against choirs across England and I got a bronze medal, I think it was the Star Festival. Unfortunately my medal has been mislaid over the years but I remember that we were later taken to a recording studio in London - Tothill Street - where we recorded for an early television programme. ...see more
We moved to Watford when I was 8 and I remember our regular trip from St Johns Road to the market behind Cawdells where we bought our dog Jally. There were so many stalls selling good quality goods, I still have the china teaset my mother bought - "Blue Chelsea". I spent my formative years in Watford and was dragged kicking and screaming away when I was 16.
I was born in 1942 in Upton-by-Chester and my mother's family (Maddock) owned the butcher's shop that became Toycraft on Watergate Street, and one in the Market in the sixties. My parents emigrated to Canada with me in tow in 1956 and I get a lump in my throat, still, when I look at pictures or visit. Such a lot of history in one small area and so much that is part of my heritage. Almost every picture I have seen so ...see more
I am currently reasearching my ancestors and have found that my grandmother and her parents lived at 1 Vine Cottages in the late 1800s. I am really interested to know if they are still there. The family name was Spaven. I remember vaguely visiting Snainton as a small child. Alma Farm is in my mind but not sure if that is a true memory. I am going to visit later in the year and look in the churchyard and church records ...see more
I was born in a naval nursing home called "Canada House" on the 18th November 1954. I was the first child and boy - I was spoilt. I went to school at Byron Road Infants school until I was 6 then we moved to Swalecliffe in Kent. I was 5 years old and both my mother and grandmother took me to play and have a picnic on the "Darland Banks". We walked from the "Jezerals" along the top road, and up to ...see more
The House on the left of the photo was my Nanna And Grandad's house.
