Recent Memories

Reconnecting with our shared local history.

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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Tips & Ideas

Not sure what to write? It's easy - just think of a place that brings back a memory for you and write about:

  • How the location features in your personal history?
  • The memories this place inspires for you?
  • Stories about the community, its history and people?
  • People who were particularly kind or influenced your time in the community.
  • Has it changed over the years?
  • How does it feel, seeing these places again, as they used to look?

This week's Places

Here are some of the places people are talking about in our Share Your Memories community this week:

...and hundreds more!

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Displaying Memories 26801 - 26880 of 36906 in total

June, you left a very interesting memory about the Bell at Long Handborough, but it doesn't seem to have a link to contact you. I would like to compare family trees with you. Liz
With Hothfield School situated on the common, Miss Bottle, the Head Mistress, had another strict rule. No students were allowed to go anywhere near the bugs at recess. Like flees to a dog though, the boys couldn't stay away from the swamps. In the spring, it was a great place to hunt for frogs, slow worms and newts. There were many times, while in the pursuit of some aquatic trophy, the school bell would ring ...see more
My family lived on the Market Square for many years from 1946. I have many happy memories of Higham and looking at the photos on this site bring them flooding back. My sister, brother and I started at the local school. I remember being sent to Battersby's (the grocer at the end of the Market Square) and, having got there, I had usually forgotten what I had been sent to buy! I was too shy to own ...see more
I was born in Beaconsfield in 1946, but grew up in Micklefield, Melbourne Road to be exact. Oh what lovely memories I have! Walking in Kings Woods with my father and picking bluebells; buying a threepenny bag of chips and walking home watching the smoke spiral from the chimneys just before dark. I enjoyed going to Lords and Gilbeys shops and buying sweets, having them cut out coupons from the rashion book.We ...see more
My grandparents lived in this village and I have many memories of my visits to the village as a child. One highlight was the walk down the lane to catch the bus to Penzance. Walking across the lane to the diary with all its Gnomes in the garden. The Fish and Chip shop where I was always remembered from one year to the next. Walking up to the post office for sweets on routre to the rec. The ...see more
I think it was 1964 that the Town Hall burnt down. I remember it well. I was about 11 at the time. I do remember that at the back of the TH, was the Police Station. My brother and I got in some "trouble" and the two of us were taken into the Cop Shop, and given a serious reprimand...I think they threatened to put us in the cells for an hour!!. Didn't deter us, still managed to get into trouble, kids stuff. ...see more
Phyllis Papworth was one of the several sisters who were about when this great flood and tempest happened - I think she was a little older than me, as I remember Jennifer in my class, and Susan was younger.O nly one of the sisters survived the flood - she was staying with a friend, but the rest of her family were lost. Jennifer was a very pretty girl in our class,a nd was distinguished by a pronounced dimple.
My memories are of Herons Ghyll R.C. Primary School, as I attended between 1949 and 1956,w hen Mrs Mary White was the headmistress, and Miss Duval was the teacher of the juniors. I shall remember also, Mrs Goody who was the lady in charge of meals that used to arrive from Uckfield. She lived near the school and I was able to visit her in the early 1970s before she passed on. Mrs White lived, as ...see more
My name is Carol Kemp nee Joyce and I was born along the links in a cottage there back in 1944. My mother was called Edna Pile and her mother was Mamie Pile, my Gran, who lived in Amble all her life. I have very fond memories of visiting in the summer and we always visited with her friend Ada Wiggett who lived next to Percy Street - she remained in Amble until her death. As a small child I lived on a farm on the ...see more
Jean Chambers mentioned the bomb dropping on the school in 1943 - my parents shop (John Banks Outfitters) was almost opposite the school and I was born at the end of 1943 being given my second name of "Heather" after Heather Lumsden who was killed in the school and was a good friend of my parents. Jean also mentioned the bomb that was found in 2002 at the bottom of what had been their garden. I wonder whether we ...see more
I can remember after the war I was 3 and my sister was 1, we lived with our mum and dad in a nissan hut with a corrugated roof in Eltham Park. My dad made it beautiful with bedrooms and a living room. We had a log stove in the middle to keep us warm. We were lucky to have somewhere to live after all the bombings. My sister and I went to Eltham Well Hall school I can remember going to sleep in the ...see more
My twin sister and I were born at Church Cottage in 1939. I am the youngest of 9 children born to the Medforth family, 6 of whom are still living. My mum and dad were the caretakers of Brantingham church for nearly 40 years. Dad was the local gravedigger for Brantingham, Elloughton and Ellerker, all done by hand in those days. He also mowed the grass in the churchyard, looked after ...see more
I was in this hospital for a couple of years when I was around 4 years old! (Hence the vagueness.) I recall the wards (dorms) and I recall bouncing from one bed to another along the entire length of the ward (until we were stopped, that is!), the 'day school', and I recall a long slide down the right side of the garden that had numerous thorny branches next to it which would catch you if ...see more
I remember Elmers Court School which was run at that time by several of the London Borourghs, we children had a good life there and I think the discpline did us the world of good.
My auntie, Dorothy Jones, was a teacher at Lea Cross school and I remember going with her to the school for a day when I was about 3 or 4.  I wonder if anyone remembers her.  The head teacher was a Mrs Pierce.
Today I joined a group of friends on an organized ramble through the Dunsford nature reserve run by the Devon Wildlife Trust. My friends are all dancers and musicians with Heather and Gorse Clog Dancers but on this occasion we were happy to enjoy a five mile circular walk on a beautiful early Spring sunny Devon day instead of our more usual dancing at a pub! We ...see more
I worked at Firvale Infirmary as a nurse from 1957-1959, but I cannot find anything in the archives relating to these years, does any one know?
Hi there, I will never forget the State Cinema in Pontlottyn, up to about 1951 I used to line up about 7pm on a Saturday evening with my mother, my aunt (her sister) and my cousin for our evening's entertainment. Wow, on the front of the building I recall the sign "Palace of Varieties". The kids in Pontlottyn School used to joke that the varieties were the rats, mice and fleas that inhabited the premises. ...see more
I do not know Marchwood but I recently found that my father was killed in a motorbike accident on the Southampton Road in Marchwood in 1958.
To be honest the year is a little vague to me now, but it would have been around the mid-fifties that I have my first memories of Rectory Cottage. I was brought up in England, but my father John Elwyn was born there and my grandparents Jack or John and Martha ( nee Morgan ), lived there until Martha's death in I think 1960. Their graves are close to the wall of the chapel in the village. Jack was the eldest of ...see more
I remember working at weekends and school holidays at Scrag Oak. I was still at school and worked there for about two years. The house and farm was owned by Mr George Edward-Jones (the spelling may be wrong). The one full time employee was Bill Bull. Bill and I built several pigsties that were still in existence the last time that I visited there. I remember working in the winter of 1962-1963. I used to ...see more
I have a letter written by my ancestor Ann Stanuell to her sister Elizabeth Stanuell & parents John and Ann Stanuell while on a coaching trip from Doncaster to London. The letter is addressed to "Mr Stanuell, French Gate, Doncaster, Yorks. Decr 8th 1807". Another letter gives the address as French Gate opposite the Angel Inn.
I was a child here and a choir boy at St Peter's and went to school at Chanwood 1958-1959.
Any of you remember the swimming pool that was built by the kids who where there, Mr Cliff was the instructor while that was being built, I got there just at the very end of it being built. After I was there for awhile I joined Mr Cliffs building class and became a bricklayer, and it served me good until 1976, then I got to the point I couldn't do it no more over here in Florida, as it was to hot. I did work on the ...see more
I was looking after two elderly residents and well known personage locally when alive, Mr Bert Munday and a "young" lady Mrs Hargreaves chatting away about their holidays when they used to catch shrimp and cockles off the Felpham beach. How it was all spoilt when the preaprations for the 2nd world war made the beach out of bounds , the families evacuated and the Canadians ...see more
Well it should be between 1945 to 1954, that is when we were at the Bower, I see my brother has been here before me. If any of you have seen the Saturday book, I'm the boy doing the sawing behind the barn. I would love to come back sometime and see how things are the same or not.
Not so much a memory, more an ancestral bond. My great great grandfather, Edward Jones, was born in Nannerch in or about 1803. A long time ago!I don't know how long he remained there but I do know he moved to Anglesey for a few years before moving again (pre 1850) to Monks Coppenhall, Crewe. He worked for the railways almost his entire life, as indeed did his sons and most of their sons also. I have ...see more
Dear Ron, I left for Canada that year, the old villege was still there, I came back in 1972 and it was all gone, even the Keys had changed, not the same gang. To tell you the truth I don't remember you, you know all about me? I will try to remember any way, Best regards, Cliff
From the late 1940's to 1969 I remember this area as part housing, part prefabricated homes because of the war. Many old features were still around like barges carrying coal on the Oxford canal, the old disused mill, the huge BTH complex with air raid shelters still intact, and the Avon Water Works off Mill Road. There was only one way in and out of the estate at that time - through the tunnel under the ...see more
We moved into School Street when I was nine, along with my two sisters Norma and Iris and our parents Mary and Norman Cook. My father was a lead glazer at Reed Millicans on Team Valley. At the Derwentwater Road end of School Street was the school, some called it Lady Vernon's, most though St Cuthbert's as the church was next to it. At 11 years I went to Windmill Hill School, only because it was near my ...see more
In the 1950s the push and pull train would stop at Nottage Halt if you put your handout I went frequently on the train to Pyle to watch the express trains come thundering through, I was only six and travelled on my own for the day. I remember playing on the Josephs farm on Stormy Down, happy days!
I was directed to this site by a friend who was convinced one of the contributors must have been my brother, because it mentioned that his father ran a fish stall in South Harrow Market (our father did) and how green South Harrow was after coming from Bermondsey in London. (That's where we grew up.) However, reading on, that contributor had three children (Geoff only had two) and had married ...see more
When I look back, they were probably the best years of my life though I didn't think so at the time, my mam had parted from my dad, I was 12, had never heard of Cargo Fleet, had lost my dad and was taken to this place Id never heard of. I rebelled and hated every minute, but it wasn't the place, it was the circumstance. I ran away as my mam had another bloke but somehow Cargo Fleet always drew me back. I made ...see more
I was interested to read the lady's memories of the area and of the toll gate ladies at Mother Ivey's Bay. We had a a wonderful May holiday staying at Crugmeer Farm and visiting such places as Trevose Head. I have a lovely photo of my father by the lighthouse. He died last year and this spring we took our sons, now in their twenties to visit this beautiful place in his memory. There were 2 seals ...see more
I used to go to Church Farm from 1975 to 1980, I was 14 in 1978, what great memories of those great holdays, always last two weeks in August, the varied activities, the ramble, the darts and pool competition, the women versus men's footie match, the venue for the match was always Ballast Hole, much thanks to a great entertainer Barry Lindsay, I went back with my wife and children in the late 1990s, after ...see more
The next turning on the right is Willow Crescent (I think it's a cul-de-sac now) if that's how you spell it. Yep, this is where I grew up, we had 1 bus, the 81 Dam Lane. If I remember right it used to turn up every hour (with no digital display as well). I had some good times and some bad, but more good. If only we could turn the clocks back, eh. I remember the local bobby dragging me home by the ear because I was ...see more
I started my first job at UDT in George Street, Croydon in 1957 (age 15). I met my husband at the Orchid Ballroom, Purley on 21 May 1960 and left my job in London to work at Milne & Russell, South Croydon prior to getting married in 1963. When I next returned to Croydon I drove the wrong way up George Street! (It wasn't one-way in my day). The concrete jungle had begun to replace the lovely old buildings, Grants ...see more
I remember as a lad, when Elm Avennue was split in two,where the bungalows start there was a solid bar across the road,and the same in the Crescent. You could only get the bus at the Green, the 360, it was sixpence to Luton, and the bus went across the Green And on the corner of Chaul End Road was a school.
Does anyone remember Elkanah and Mary Beazer and their son Horace? The family lived in Resolven. My husband is compiling his family tree, and Horace was his grandfather, he also had a brother called Preston and a sister called Violet, also we think there was another brother, but we are not sure of his name. His grandfather Horace worked in the mines for years and then married Maria Cory. Anyone who has any information, we would love to hear from you. Vivien Saunders
We visited Wargrave in the summer of 1955 while my father was on sabbatical. We lived in Kellet Lodge for several weeks. The houses had names then. We did not have a refrigerator, just a pantry. We had fireplaces in every room. A family had a large house on the Thames, where we went to Sunday mass. I played with the children on my street and learned to ride a bike. We watched Sooty the bear on TV and read ...see more
I was landlord of The New Inn public house in Bridge Street and dealt wih Rodwells over the years The lorry is delieveing to the A.B.C. Off licence shop. both Rodwells and A.B.C. have ceased to exist. Mike Hall
My mother used to take me from Hornchurch on the 66 bus when i was a small child. She always went to Lous' stall opposite the cinema (flea pit as we called it) She knew him well and could rely on him. We would go and see the cattle being weighed and the sheep and pigs being tagged ready for sale. It was always very busy and noisy but i really enjoyed going. However as the years went passed the cattle disappeared and ...see more
I attended this school in 1952-1956. I can remember Miss Bubbers the headmistress well. She roamed the corridors with her black gown flowing about her. A very stern and not to be crossed head of school. My first teacher was Miss Parfait who seemed very young. Miss Brown was our science teacher who invited the class to have tea with her and her 14 cats!. Our music teacher, whose name i forget, came to school on her ...see more
As a young boy my parents and I used to stay with a dear lady called Alice Riseborough, I think she used to be the sexton to the church. Iremember watching the American bombers coming back from raids over Europe, sometimes in pieces. I also became friends with some of the local boys. I also remember a farmer by the name of Haynes (?), and collecting water from the local well, and running down the garden and jumping into the bure. My love of fishing also started there. Wonderful wartime memories.
I can remember the fresh clean smell of linen from Burgesses dress shop and the smell of wallpaper coming from Clarks, the painting and decorating shop and the bar of chocolate that had pictures of four boys' faces on and came out of the sweetshop there called Fourbouys.
I can remember moving into our house in Rivermill in 1958. The houses had only just been built. There were no paths leading up to the houses or pavements and roads. It was a wonderful feeling even for a child of three to be walking into a freshly built house that no one else had lived in.
Looking at this picture reminded me of days we spent hiring a boat from Butlers boat house and going up the river to Walton-on-Thames. Good old days, won't see them again.
Looking at some of these old photos of Addlestone bought back some happy memories, even though there were some hard times, at least for my parents, such as going down the air raid shelters which was in Victoria Park. We lived in Courland Road, No 6. Next door were the Butlers. I remember going to the Plaza cinema which was in Station Road. As my brothers and I got older, we worked for Sidney I ...see more
I used to go out with the daughter of the landlord of the Cock Tavern in the High Street, we would spend hours looking over the back yard from her bedroom. I wonder what ever happened to her?
My ancesters come from Ocle Pychard. It's very difficult to get any information on them because we are relying on Parish/Bishops' transcripts and I live in West Sussex. I am not sure if Morgan Graves who married Margaret Walwyn is related to me but he was given Ocle Court as a dower from his father in law and I would love to know some more about him or any other Graves in the 1700s and 1800s. Please get in touch if you can help.
My distant relatives owned radio, cycle & TV shops in Gateshead under the name JFH HAUGH, I believe they were in the Sunderland Road area, and next to the Odeon cinema in the town. I would like to learn more about them if anyone can help.
I was born in Horncurch in 1938. I lived in Kent Drive for 14 years and attended Suttons Primary and went onto Romford High in 1952. We backed onto Suttons school and were very near the aerodrome. Kyles the green grocer on the corner of Stanley Road. Oxos (I think) the sweet shop. Maisie the milkman's horse who delivered daily along with the baker and on Fridays the fish man with cockles and mussels. Doctor Crainer ...see more
Although born in Scotland, my earliest memories are of Berwick upon Tweed. This was because my father was posted to the Barracks as Pipe Major in the KOSB Depot there. Our married quarters, although in Ravensdowne, overlooked the rear of the barracks and, as a small boy, it was endlessly fascinating to look out of the scullery window at the activities of the soldiers. Our life seemed to revolve ...see more
I was born in Bradford 1947 and grew up at Redcar Road. I remember Glovers the newsagents on the corner of this photo and across the road in New Line just down from the Roebuck pub my mum took me on the bus every day to the nursery. My parents have now passed away but I am drawn to my birthplace and go back as often as I can to re live some of the best memories of my childhood. Alas, time ...see more
My great-great-grandfather was the grocer in High Street in 1841.
I was born in Stafford to parents who settled there after the war and came from Aberdeen and Newcastle-up-on-Tyne. My family often went to Milford and flew kites that we made or just explored and played hide and seek with each other, with an ice cream from the shop across the road. We emigrated to Australia in 1958.
My great grandmother was Margaret James who with her husband John, were tenent farmers near Calbeck from about 1897 to the late 1920's or early 1930's. My Mother told me that as a young girl, she, my Mother, spent her summers 'at the family farm at Caldbeck', that would be in the 1920's. I am wondering if my great grandmother would be buried at Caldbeck? I did make a short visit to Caldbeck on a holiday to England ...see more
I was born in Bradford, West Yorkshire. My mum was born and grew up in Newcastle and so many of my aunties and uncles and cousins were all Geordies. My Uncle George and Aunty Beatty (Charlton) lived in Crawcrook in Morgy Hill and I spent many happy holidays there as a child. My Uncle George worked at Clara Vale and I well remember him taking me to the pit on Sunday mornings and telling me all about the pit, his ...see more
I was born at Yew Tree Cottage Lower Eythorne, opposite the White Horse pub in 1945, and left the village when I was 21. I remember the fresh fish van, the cricket pitch behind the pub in Upper Eythorne, steamrollers, bubbles in the tar during the summer, collecting car numbers, the number 88 bus to Dover, Sunday School, Elvington School when it was a long wooden building, cricket and football at the Colliery Welfare ...see more
I did my basic flying (ppl) at s.l.a.c with Ted Clack and Stan Diggings in 1969 then returnedto instruct at southend aero club in 1970 the Great Freddy Laker was at A.T.E.L then and Jack Jones Chanel Airways I often wonder what became of other great characters of that era Laddi Marmol Mike Abbot Clive Wren the ATC chaps Paul Cavanagh Dave Dunlop Dave Thompson "Welky" Winch and Mike Tuson to name but a ...see more
I Lived At Rosneath, Ferry Inn. My father was in the Navy and we lived at Ferry Inn during 1952. There were three other families living there, the Thorntons and the Burtons. The Burtons were related to Shackleton, the explorer. My father and his colleagues travelled to and from HMS 'Jupiter' by launch and we children used to meet them in a dinghy, although they needed only to step ashore without ...see more
I went to Burton school from 1951 till 1954 and enjoyed evry minute of it, the head master was called Mr Watson I remember.
I went to this school for 2 years in form one and two. I remember one year we had an open day and did performances for parents. All was going well until the headmaster noticed that one of the boys doing the gymnastic display had his hair too long (it was touching his collar). He called out to the boy and told him to get his hair cut. Later that day the newspaper journalist was there ...see more
Our family lived in Walnut Tree Ground for just about a year in 1963. I went to the village school at Kimpton, having just passed my 11-plus in Manchester. From Kimpton I went to Andover Grammar. Always remember the pig farm at Weyhill and waiting for a bus there to go to AGS. Loved watching the horses from Toby Balding's stable as they excercised and went up past our house. Having no car in those days, I remember walking for hours around the lanes - especially the long walk to Kimpton school.
I was about 7 and we lived at Greenhedges, Colchester Road, just before First Green. My twin sister Paula and I decided to climb up to the apex of the house. We sat there without a care in the world. Mum had popped to the shops. We must have been up there for some time because locals had seen Mum and had told her where we were, what a scare for her. We decided to come down. We climbed over a glass ...see more
I lived in Llanharry but most of my unts and uncles lived in Pontyclun. I remember working with Chas Freegard delivering fruit and veg to houses from Pontyclun to Brynsadler, Talygarn Miskin and Hensol Castle. He had a Bedford open back 71/2 ton lorry which he used to park in a smsll warehouse at the bottom end of Lewis Street.
I was brought to Luton, 219 Ashcroft Rd when I was four years old. the cottage we lived in was part of Farmer Holdstocks farm, it was origanally the Cowmans cottage. It was here that my Dad , Fred Chater and Mum Violet, raised their family, there was myself, Sandra and my sister Linda and brothers Ian and Robert. I attended Stopsely Infants and then Juniors and finally Stopsley high School for Girls, we were ...see more
Do you remember the bridge at the beginning of Hithermoor Road (near the rec). It was really high and every car BUMPED over. One day a lorry lost control and ended up in Nellie England's garden (Southern Cottages) !!
Same as Malc, went to Aspull C of E then off we went to the secondary modern, good memories there! Remember all the characters we had in our year Malc? Be nice to hear from you if you want to get in touch.
I knew and worked with P.C. McGinty (P.C 100) in Preston Borough Police from 1965 to 1968, when I worked there as an Inspector, before moving again on promotion. By that time P.C. McGinty had, very sensibly, got himself a job in Headquarters (except during North End home matches (where he was a tower of strength in every way). If Mac is still with us - Hello! It would be great to hear from him - and,indeed any other ex-member of 'The Borough'. Bob Dale.
One day I went to Porthcawl with my friend, we had a lovely day there except that I lost one of my shoes in the sand. My friend's dad was staying at a caravan down there so we went to visit him, he made me a sort of mule type shoe to get home. We were getting the bus and I was so worried about my mum telling me off on the way back. We had to change buses in Bridgend and my mule broke. I panicked and could not ...see more
I spent my childhood in West Norwood. We lived next to the Cemetary Wall in Hubbard Road. We often drive there for "a trip down memory lane". It looks like a little toy town now and so built up. Kingswood School was a smashing school in those days. The curriculum was fantastic - so many opportunities and the teachers were brilliant. I had a wonderful school experience there. We even had the "maypole and ...see more
To the right of the Town Hall is Wote Street and my father Ronald was one of the sons that worked in Tyrrells fishmongers all of his life, he can remember delivering fish from a horse and cart, the fish shop has now gone, that was a sad day
Hi, my mum and uncle went to Perrins too, their names are Jean Smith and Dennis Smith, my mum was there between 49 and 54 and uncle 57 and 62, my auntie worked at Broadway garage.
Not so much a memory more a request. Does anyone remember a place called Kiln Cottage which I understand was an orchard/?farm? I had a postcard from my grandfather to my grandmother when he was in the forces address to 1 Kiln Cottage, Didcot. Very old members of the family (even older than me) remember visiting the farm as children. My grandparents were William Thomas and Elsie (or Alice) Dollimore. I would love ...see more
My G G grandfather David Griffiths was one of the blacksmiths in Llandybie. he lived at Henbont and had many children all who stayed and married in the area. I would love to be able to find out who and where the relations of said family members are today. David was the son of William Griffiths blacksmith of Talley, David's brother William was Blacksmith of Llansawel and who's younger brother was Morgan ...see more
Although I have only recently been to Talley on researching my family history my roots go back to the village well into the 1700s. The family I speak about is the Griffiths family of Blaenag Isaf, they were the blacksmiths of the village right up until 40 years ago. Nearly all of William Griffith's sons also became blacksmiths in and around the villages. William was my G G G grandfather, we are connected to ...see more
In 1891 my Great grandparents, Willam and Sophie Gunn were running a drapery business at 30 George Street.. They later resided on Osborne road. We visited Pontypool last year to research the family history, the staff in the museum were very helpful and made us feel very welcome. We hope to return soon to visit St Cadocs church
I remember living in the post war prefabs,in I think it was called Castle Hill Close,number 4,right next to a power pylon.Yoy could walk across an empty field to the New Addington Hotel,then into Addington.I can always remember going with the local baker on a sat: morning delivering fresh bread from his van,pulled by a horse.The smell was wonderful.I'm pretty sure his name was Miller.In those days you ...see more
I remember going out on the jetty and skiving off when I should have been working in the engine plant, mind you, apprentices don't do much anyway, wandering around the foundry and Frog Island.