Nostalgic memories of Minster's local history
Share your own memories of Minster and read what others have said
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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Displaying Memories 1 - 10 of 13 in total
I was born in Prospect rd in 1952 as I got older we used to be allowed to walk up the bumpy track that lead from the bottom of Prospect rd down the edge of the Buttsfield estate then down a narrow path past the school then to the recreation ground. I did a paper round for Attwels we also used to go to the cafe behind the Cornerhouse shop. I remember sitting in there in 1966 watching the world cup final with 1 ...see more
The road in the picture, St Mildred's, is where I grew up, opposite the "rec". As a young lad growing up, Minster offered all sorts of adventures; the marshes, the river Stour, Watchester Lane, the woods, fishing, catching newts & tadpoles in the local dykes and the annual flower show, is that still going? Playing in the woods around the vicarage and evading the vicar, the reverend Wagstaff! Mum ...see more
My parents bought the Corner House in 1963 and lived there until they retired in 1975. I lived there from 1963 till I got married in the church opposite in1967. My dad ran the sweet shop at the front and my mum ran the cafe and tea rooms. My bedroom was above the shop at the front of the building in the photo.
I delivered papers for Attwell's newsagents in the 1970's, and being an entrepreneurial child, did two paper rounds! The first one was from the Square along Monkton road, down Egbert Road, then the cul-de-sac end of Augustine Road and then through the gas works alley to deliver to all of Rose Gardens. The second round was the rest of Monkton Road more or less to the village boundary. I seem to ...see more
This is a westward looking view of Monkton Road and from what I can remember from my childhood, the building on the left with the bicycle outside was Danters fish & chip shop. Mr. & Mrs. Danter were very cheerful, friendly, Westcountry folk and their daughter Pauline sometimes helped out behind the counter. The building on the right with the hanging sign was (and still is) The Saddlers ...see more
My two brothers, my sister and I were all born in Minster in what is now called Turner Cottage but was then "The Swifts". My granddad was a village postman and my best friend's granddad was also a postman and we used to race to school perched on the baskets on the front of their bikes! At Watchester Farm we fed the ducks and loved seeing the piglets with the sows. We bought fishing nets in the ...see more
These memories really are 1944 to about 1953.
The corner shop by the church was a favourite as they used to sell home made toffee when sweets were on ration. One character I can still see was Mr White the baker being taken home in his trap by his horse after a lunch time visit to the pub at the end of his day's deliveries. Once the war ended we used to have great Guy Fawkes bonfire nights in the garden at ...see more
I was born at Peartree Cottage which was half way down the high street. For a young boy growing up the war was one big adventure. The fire station was opposite our house and they made me some really great wooden toys. As kids we would watch the aerial dog fights, not appreciating people were dying. We made canoes out of jettisoned petrol tanks and collected persex from plane canopies which could be carved ...see more
I have only just seen this site for the first time and was very surprised to see the photograph of the newsagent's shop in the High Street. My mother's sister Elsie Atwell, nee Keen was married to the owner, Reg Atwell. When they were first married they lived in Ramsgate with a relative known to me as Aunty Nan. When their first and only child, a son called Clive was born he and ...see more
Does anyone out there have any memories of Watchester Farm in Minster (Isle of Thanet) that they might share with me please? I am a keen amateur genealogist and have found a mention of Watchester Farm House during my researches and I would love to hear from anyone who might remember the place. Does it even still exist, I wonder?