Nostalgic memories of Welwyn Garden City's local history
Share your own memories of Welwyn Garden City 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.
Add a Memory!
It's easy to add your own memories and reconnect with your shared local history. Search for your favourite places and look for the 'Add Your Memory' buttons to begin
Displaying Memories 11 - 20 of 23 in total
I attended this school with my friends Alan Foster and John Diamond. Mr Thomas was the English language master, my worst subject. I loved the playing field at the back of the school and beyond was the Dragon Tree which we all loved to climb, our imaginations ablaze with scary adventures after being told of St George and the slaying of his dragon centuries before. We wore coloured bands to indicate our forms ...see more
We moved to Welwyn Garden City when I was four. I have some lovely memories of my mum sitting me on the wall surrounding the fountain so I could just watch it. Fifty one years later I still love to watch it when I go into the town centre. I now like to take my granddaughters there. Some things you just never grow tired of. Beautiful memories. I hope the fountain remains for many years to come
I remember before they built the QE2 Hospital. As a child I would go with my brother George and friends to the fields where the hospital is now and we would play for many hours, and there were horses in the fields and a stream, there were also pigs sties with old air-raid shelters in and we spent many a hours in them as our dens. We had such great fun in those days. There were so many fields to play in. We even played with the cows until the farmer found out.
I remember sitting under these trees in the summer of 1976, with my mates and smoking some grass. Funny thing was, the only thing we got told off for was being on the grass, not smoking it. Obviously the New Towns Commission had their ideals in the right places...
When I was a child in the early 1950s Hollybush Lane, from Woodhall Lane to Great Ley, was quite literally a lane. On one side the council had built houses, but on the other were the farm cottages that were built around the turn of the century or earlier and were a part of the Hatfield estate. I recall that the cottages still had a water pump outside every three or four of them and at the end of the rows ...see more
This view is looking north from the west side of Stonehills towards the Cherry Tree Public House. Just out of view on the left was the old Police Station (the site of which has still not been developed) whilst across the road on the right is National Provincial Bank (now Nat West Bank) . Further along from the bank is Williams Bros, then Sketchley Cleaners. Continuing towards 'The Cherry' is the ...see more
This view is from the west side of Sweet Briar looking south down the hill towards Cole Green Lane (out of view). To the left is the entrance to Heronswood School (since closed, now a modern housing area). I understood that the area was once very wooded, borne out by the many well established trees still lining the road and verge areas. I think my parents occupied our house from new in ...see more
I attended this school from 1954/55 - 1960. This view is taken looking towards the Infants playground and entrance to their classrooms, with the main dining hall in the background.
I lived next door to the police station which is just to the left of this photo from 1952 until 1959 when my father (the local police station sergeant) retired. This photo is very evocative of memories I had as a young child living in the town centre. I well remember the buildings opposite my home including Munts cycle shop (they sold good fireworks!), Broadwater Press (kept my mother awake at night when ...see more
Just out of the picture to the left, was the location of the old police station, before it moved to its new home off of the campus, behind the council buildings. Now it's just an open space providing the walkway between Debenhams and John Lewis (formally the Co-Op and Welwyn Department Stores). To the left of The Cherry Tree (Waitrose ), used to be the old Fire Station. I used to live in Longcroft Lane and remember walking into the town and along this route (aged 5 at the time).