Nostalgic memories of Woodmansterne's local history

Share your own memories of Woodmansterne 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

I was born 1943 in Purley Cottage Hospital, lived at 2 The Mount, christened at St Peters and taught at Woodmansterne Primary for a while. Walked to school via Hatch Lane and Rectory Lane and where they joined is, I think, where the photo was taken. The walk, as an unaccompanied 6/7 year old was not considered to be safe and even though the London Borough of Sutton was my home I was transferred to Smitham ...see more
I was christened here in 1942 and also confirmed in the mid 1950's
II was born and grew up here my name was Janice Kemp I have visited on a few occasions but the happy places where I went can never come again.
I was born in woodmansterne in1980. My parents lived in hempshaw avenue and my grandparents ran the woodman pub. I have fond memories of the village, the pub and the stories my dad tells me of when he was a boy growing up in woodmansterne.
I used to drink in The Woodman on occasion as I lived on the Clock House Farm Estate between 1957 and 1962 when I was married just across the road in St Peters.Question,what happened to the board with the pilots names on it that was behind a pane of glass in the public bar?.A lot of them never came back back from sorties over the South Downs & Kent .it seems to be a shame to have lost the autographs of men from Croydon ,Kenley and possibly even Biggin Hill.
I have this same photograph in my collection only it was taken at my wedding in March 1962 with the backs of my wife & I and the reverent Denis Lane facing the camera
My Grandparents lived at 1 Manor Way. In 1946 my father returned from Canada to find that I was a few months old. He had returned from the war in April 1945, however he had to return to Canada in 1946 to demob. When he returned to England from Canada, my parents lived with my grandparents at #1 along with me. 1 Manor Way was the home of my grandparents until their deaths in 1987. After that, it became the home of ...see more
My great grandparents lived in Carlshalton Road, Woodmansterne and bought up their family, including my Nanna, Dorothy, there. Their surname was Kent and they lived in the middle cottage of a terrace of 3.   My Aunt Mary (who is now in her eighties) has very fond memories of visiting them there before and during the Second World War and recalls days spent exploring the woods and fields around Woodmansterne with ...see more
As a child I lived in neighbouring Coulsdon, and Woodmansterne was a favourite cycle ride. Armed with jam sandwiches and bottle of pop, my sister and I would ride down Hatch Lane (even though you weren't supposed to), feeding the horses in the adjoining field. Then go on to Woodmansterne's park where there were playground equipment, and a huge fallen hollow tree. There was a shop in the village that opened on a ...see more