Nostalgic memories of Portishead's local history

Share your own memories of Portishead 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 all 10 Memories

Anyone have any information about this house, from any time period?
The Long family owned a bakery and confectionery shop in Portishead. Evidently the business was in the family for at least 3 generations-William Long, his son Alford Long, and his daughter Amy Beatrice Long as late as 1911. Alford's descendants who emigrated to the United States would like to find out more about the family.
My grandmother lived at 'Staddle Stone', Portishead and I am trying to find where her house may have been; it overlooked the channel. Can anyone help me please..
I was born in Park House, Portishead in 1930. My grandmother was Ada Alice Crees (nee Seymour), who came to Somerset as a baby, but her brother was left behind in Wales with a relative. They lost contact for many years but but were reunited in 1940. The Clevedon Mercury Newspaper ran a story on this, does anyone know where I could obtain a copy of this? I spent many happy days in Portishead and often return to the area.
One freezing cold day in December 2010 I went for a long coastal walk while staying with our friends Valerie and Jim Bougnague in Portishead. I was fascinated to find what I thought was a small lighthouse on the very tip of Battery Point but when I walked over a metal catwalk above the rocks to reach it I read a small sign: "This is a fog siren and may sound without warning. Please ...see more
I was the eldest of six children,'the Allen Family', and spent all our happiest years in Redcliffe Bay and then Portishead, after coming from Britsol in the 1940s (our family was one of the casualties in the Bristol bombing). The lake was a special place to go, and really one of the only places in thse days. I spent my happy school / teenage years in Portishead and then moved to Bath where I now ...see more
My wife and I bought our first house at Portishead, South Road, it was £2,200, we could only borrow, so the monthly payment was the same as a week's wages, no overtime or my wife's wages taken into consideration. We had three children and some happy times. I worked on the coal boats and then Albright and Wilson phos factory. John Burge.
Margaret and wallflowers The year was 1950. I was thirteen years 'old' and walking along this beach with Margaret, her brother John and my brother, Peter. When we arrived at the spot where the man is sitting in the photograph, I looked up and saw wallflowers growing on the cliff face. I decided to climb up and pick some for Margaret. When I became level with the flowers, about fourteen feet above the ...see more
My father was Rector here from 1947 - 1964
This photo shows Woodhill Road, the houses at the top of the picture, the road I was born in 1951. How the scene has changed over the years. Long gone are the power station chimneys and the old boating shed where my Grandpa used to work. As a child I rode my pony around the lake grounds through the village and then to the top of Naish Hill where I kept her.