Nostalgic memories of Whitstable's local history
Share your own memories of Whitstable 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 all 9 Memories
My mother was 19 when I was born. We were living above The Wool Shop in Swalecliffe, on the corner, opposite the railway bridge I actually have an uncanny memory of that time. I must have been under 2 years old, as we moved to London then. Apparently, I was an 'escaper'. I had climbed out of my pram and crawled (or toddled) out of our garden, and crossed the busy main road (on quite a sharp corner), and ...see more
Can anyone remember the old Whitstable fish bar in Oxford Street I managed it in 1973. During the power cuts we were the only chippy in Whitstable to be open during the cuts as we had a natural flu the owner was bill I cannot remember his sir name but we ran lights from a car that was parked on the pavement outside the shop I think the building is still there now I think it might be a listed building any photos or memories would be great
Thanks
My Auntie Peggy was born in Gillingham in 1922 and her younger sister (my mum) in 1925. I have a tiny photo of Peggy, Mum and their friend Moira sitting at the top of a grassy hill on tin trays, ready to slide down the slope. This would have been around 1930.
Mum died a few years ago so I just have my memories of what she told me about the photo. She said that the place was called "Dunstable Downs" and ...see more
my grandparents owned the creamery shop (Margaret and Fred Hoare) just down from the water front. We used to go in summer to stay in the attic rooms above the shop.
It is now a sewing machine shop but the photo's give me very fond memories of the fishermen mending there nets the old way with a wooden hand held ??? was fascinating.
I live in the Blue Mountains in Australia and one of my best friends is ...see more
I came to whitstable at the age of 11years old from the east end of London I was sent to St Vincent's school in castle road l was there for 3 yrs in 1967 and
was sent back home to London must say l fell in love with whitstable we were allowed every Saturday. For 4 hours and a bit of spending money our freedom to go into town in them days St Vincent was an approve school hope to retire there and see the ...see more
My grandparents had a shop in Harbour Street, I am looking for a picture with their name above the shop.... C.A LIGGINS I would love a picture to give to my mother as it holds very precious memories for her.
Thankyou
I first visited whitstable with my parents when I was 8 in 1952 we came for a weeks holiday and stayed in a bed and breakfast in castle road whitstable. My parents were so impressed with whitstable that we moved their permanently in 1965. We moved to a fairly new house in Seymour avenue right opposite the railway station where my dad George Creane became a porter ...see more
I first came to Whitstable by steam train in 1952 with my mother and grandparents, and we stayed in a boarding house in Cromwell Road, I think. After that we came to Whitstable every year for two weeks in September, staying at the Blue Anchor caravan site at Seasalter until about 1961. At that time, at the edge of the caravan site by the sea was a little wooden café, now no longer there, like the Alberta ...see more
This scene of the old fishermen's beach huts shows my family's beach hut on the left. The lady just about to enter the beach hut was my grandmother, I am playing on the beach and my sister is in the pushchair next to the lady. Families had all the necessary facilities in the beach huts and almost every day of the summer holidays was spent down there. My grandfather belonged to the Angling Society and ...see more