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.
Search for Local Memories
Search for your favourite UK places and read memories of the local area in days gone by.
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
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!
Enjoy browsing more recent contributions now.
Subscribe
Join the thousands who receive our regular doses of warming nostalgia! Have our latest blog posts and archive news delivered directly to your inbox. Absolutely free. Unsubscribe anytime.
Displaying Memories 24321 - 24400 of 36829 in total
I remember as a lad cycling from Bishop's Stortford to the old Stansted airport. In those days there were just a few buildings with a very small terminal building. You used to be able to approach the airport via a lane and there was nothing more than a set of lights at the end of the runway to stop you crossing when planes were taking off or landing. Naturally as boys, we crossed so ...see more
My friend Catharine (Katie) was also at this school in 1946/47, about 7 years old before moving to South Africa.
I remember walking in a crocodile line, carrying a hot brick to keep warm, on the walk to the vicarage.
Mostly happy memories of Laurie & sisters Phylis & Dorothy Williamson & Prue.
Miss Maggs (Sally) looked after the animals in the orchard.
I lived along Windsor Lane which became Burnham Lane, also moved Counties from Bucks to Berkshire without leaving our house. The Mill was just down the road and I played with my friend Pam Willingale who later moved to Holyport. At that time the road had a wide verge opposite an allotment full of fruit and flowers. I played in the woods at the back of the mill. Haymill garage was built in place of the farm and threw or ...see more
My name is Barbara Annison, nee Wyer. I was born in Binham in 1948, we lived in a house on the green facing the market cross. My dad worked on the farm nearby and as children we used to play in the stables and barns. There was a lovely big derelict house there, but we were forbidden to go in as it was deemed unsafe, needless to say we did! I have so many lovely memories as a child playing catchers, hide and seek and ...see more
"It's only wind or powder on the stomach"my Mam had said as she walked home from the ammunition factory on a cold Autumn evening.
The "wind" or "powder" was born on the 2nd December 1942. I, Colin Gronow, had arrived, born in the middle of a war!
I was the third child born to my parents, Mam, who worked in the "arsenal" at Bridgend, and Dad, who was a coalminer. I had a sister June,and a ...see more
I still have the blanket for my pram that my grandmother had bought in Rogers. That was about 1955. I remember going into Woolworths on Saturday with my pocket money. I also worked in there on Saturdays when I was 15. I also worked in the Co-op on a Saturday in the furniture section upstairs . Also queuing up outside the Odeon on a Saturday. I remember going to see Cliff Richard"s Summer Holiday and one of Hayley ...see more
My name used to be Marilyn Jesse and my memories of stock back in the late 60's early 70's are delightful. Since my boyfriend of the time lived next door to the Bear Inn, the pub became a bit like home from home. Many weekends were spent in the lounge bar with the roaring, wood, fire warming all who entered from the cold british winters. The aroma of the true sunday, english, lunch wafted from the kitchen to the delight ...see more
I remember lots of the names on the memory of Horton Heath. My grandparents were the Craggs and lived at Horton Heath as well. I went to school in Fair Oak. It was a long walk from Horton Heath. I remember Mrs. Treasure, Mr. Clarck and Mrs. Douce, in fact she took me to hospital to have my knee stitched after I fell down on the grating at the entrance of school. I still have the ...see more
High Street, looking towards the cross. We lived in the next house to the Post Office/stores (with the Walnut tree on the left) from 1959 - 1976.
I have very unhappy memories of this school, particularly of Miss Pedly, the matron, and the head of the boys side, My Williams. It was a cold heartless place. Fortunatly my parents removed me after four? terms. A very clear memory is of Williams beating the whole dormitory on their backsides after Pedly had reported us for talking after lights out. Our screams filled the vast forbidding building. Williams ketpt a ...see more
Does anyone remember the containers that were placed on the street corners that produced smoke to smother the area from visual air raids during the Second World War in Dartford district?
Clive Jeffrey
I have found people on the 1861 census living at Turkey Hall, Oldham Road, Rochdale or Castleton. It seems to be a multi-occupied building - please does anyone know what it was. Pamela Jones
I have lots of memories of Lenwade as I was born at Heath Close, my dad lived there most of his life, my mother and father were married there at the church, St Mary's I believe. My nan, aunties, uncles and cousins lived there. My dad worked at Banhams Farm from the age of 14. I still return to walk up the old line and the feeling I get is so nostalgic as I remember all the tales that I heard from my parents of the happy ...see more
My grandparents owned Lock Farm and I remember the adventures I had there exploring the house, and getting lost on the farm.
I haven't been back to the area in many years, I know the house is still there and the farm was split up.
My father loved the Green Man pub and we often had lunch there....
I wonder if anyone in the area remembers the Harvey family?
Sally
My partner's family lived here in this house from 1967 to 1970. He remembers playing around the very old big walnut tree in the back garden. The house looks very much the same it does now on Google Streetview.
I too was evacuated to Westbury when I was about 7 years old, some time around 1940 to 1941. I lived on Warminster Road. We stayed with a family originally from Sydney, Australia. I remember when the street lights came back on, I was with my mother and we followed a man on his bike, lighting up the street gas lights. At that time it was as good as going to today's Disney World. I was so ...see more
Hi Lesley, your life is a mirror image of mine! I too went to Dundonald Junior School then on to Pelham. We also moved in the London overspill scheme in 1961 to Frimley in Surrey. I also left my heart in Wimbledon, it will always be special. In those days I was Pam Page and had a sister Pat, we lived over Dunn & Co. in the Broadway opposite the Town Hall.
My Dad, Sid Sargent also sold flowers at the Black Swan - he grew Dahlias and Golden Rod in our garden at Truggers in Handcross, bunched them up on Sunday afternoon and biked up to Pease Pottage to sell them to the Londoners going home after a day in Brighton. Dad was born at 11 Horsham Road, Pease Pottage in 1920.
My father was a primary teacher at Wallop school until 1962, my grandfather lived in Nether Wallop, Henry Muspratt.
Wonderful times.
I am looking for any Land Army Girls who were billeted in the Hostel at Plough Lane, Leavenheath. Would like to hear from you as I am compiling a history of the site.
Is there anyone from Dartford who remembers any one of these names: Brian Robinson, Dave Simmons, Dave McWilliam? These guys attended Dartford West Central School in the 1950s, it would be great if I could find some connection from the 1950s.
Clive Jeffrey, Canada.
Trained with the 5th Dragoon Guards, cannot remember intake number, only that it was April 17th 1956 by a Cpl. Blinkhorn. What stands out a Sgt. D'arcy riding around on an Indian motor bike, he sometimes rode side-saddle.
As a child I swam in the sea next to the Sandwell Gate and the ruins of The Freemasons Arms which was an old pub that was on the Fish Sands.
I remember sunny days, swimming and picnics with sand in my sandwiches with my friends. One day my friends noticed that when I walked back up the beach after a swim I left 'red' footprints. I had unknowingly stepped on a piece of broken ...see more
I was wondering if Ken is the same bloke I sailed with in the mid 1960s?
The old shoe shop was called "Caiger's Boot Store" and was run by my two elderly great aunts, Ruth & Kizz (Kezia) untill 1969. Their father, Frederick Caiger who married the previous owner's daughter, owned and ran the shop before them from around 1870.
I can remember in the mid 1960s visiting my Great Aunts every Saturday morning with my parents, even the shoes seemed old fashioned but my cousins and I ...see more
I moved to Stanwell with my parents in 1959 aged 4. When I was 11 I learnt to ride at Stanwell's pony club run by a lady called Geraldine Richardson who used to keep her ponies at the stables at the Vicarage (now pulled down). We made friends with Amanda Hoyle the vicar's daughter who got us all into trouble by ringing the church bells when we should not have been in the church! Charlie ...see more
Does anyone know if there was a Marsett Road in Dartford? My 94 year old mother lived in Kent during the war but can only remember Marsett Road!?
I remember going to the Gospel Hall to Mr & Mrs Potts and family every Sunday afternoon from Woolshots. We used to have magic lantern shows and sometimes if we were good we got tea and bread and jam. I think we were sent to get out of Mum & Dad's hair for a while. Dad used to work in the greengrocers on the corner. Happy days, even my kids have happy memories of trips to Wickford when they were young before we left in 1980.
We elite from Rayleigh Sweyne were already on the bus when it got to the Broadway just no room for the other passengers. Always got a cup of tea in the Arcade Cafe.
My grandmother's eldest brother was the Reverend Evan Davies, BA. A native of Carmarthenshire he was appointed Vicar of Llanofer in 1891 and was parish priest there until his death in 1934. According to Kelly's Directory for Monmouthshire (1901) his salary was £190 per annum with residences and 18 acres of glebe.
Did anyone go to school or dances with my Mum? Did you work with her at a tobacco company in Newcastle? She was born in 1930 and lived at 17 Lindsley Road with her parents Lilian and James William (Bill) Fenton untill she married in 1952. Bill worked for the Journal in Newcastle and his family lived in the house when he left school in 1920. I remember playing on some waste land at the back of the house and discovering a pile of soot which ruined my Sunday best dress and shoes.
I have a small metal box in the shape of a book, it was my grandfather's. On one side it reads JOHN DOWSET KEEPER TIVERTON DEVON 1907 and on the other side it reads A PRESENT FROM ABERTILLERY. Please can any one give any insight? Thank you.
Last weekend saw our Village Reunion and true to form "the People of Kingskerswell" never failed to amaze me. Families gathered from all around and they came from Kent, Nottingham, Dorset, Wiltshire, Bristol, London, Wales as well local We had over 150 people turn up and £350 was raised for Rowcroft Hospice....BRILLIANT Also like to say thanks to this web site who allowed us to use and advertise all these pages. Thank You Thank You to you all
My Dad, Dennis (Den) Smith lived at 69 St. Andrews Avenue with his widowed mother Iris and his younger sister Mary. During WWII the area suffered bomb damage and dad and his sister were evacuated to Birmingham. However, dad soon got homesick and returned to Essex. During the war his mother worked at the Munitions Factory at Dagenham. Dad attended Suttons School, Hornchurch, Essex ...see more
I loved going fishing with my father there, real fun times.
I loved every day there with my mother and father, I went to the school at 5 years till 11 years old.
My father Douglas Graham Lewis was born at 10 Norton Terrace Glyncorrwg in 1918 until he moved to Surrey in 1938 with his parents John & Mabel and brother Eli. As far as I know they lived in the same house until they moved away. Would be nice if some one remembers the family.
I remember playing "houses" in the wood with the twins Jean and Betty. Also great friends with Anne French, Jean Gardener and also Eileen Wolfington who sadly passed away many years ago. We lived in View Terrace (the ducketts) and my brother Tom Lee still lives in the area at Chopwell. My grandad and grandma Matt and Jessie Lee lived in Victoria Terrace along with Aunty Audrey, Uncle ...see more
Does anyone remember The Tramp. It's quite likely that he wasn't a tramp at all but that's what we called him, although we never spoke to him nor did he ever speak to us. He became an almost daily fixture adding to the intrigue of our Wartime village. Riding his bicycle the length of Epping New Road back in the early 1940's. This 'tramp' was possibly a retired policeman, as he rode a bicycle with a double ...see more
I often wondered who Hubert was. Other road names around were obvious. Bank Street was on a bank; School street had a school at the end of it. But Hubert Terrace? One side of my street was brick and the other was stone; something else I wondered about because all of the streets down from us towards the river were brick. Just this one terrace in stone. I say my street but in fact we lived on the corner of Bank Street ...see more
I also went to Fedsden at Parndon Hall, but quite a bit later (around 1963), as a boarder. Great happy memories of this place. Remember Mrs Clare very well and though she seemed a bit severe I liked her a lot. Fabulous old house with painted ceilings, rambling old grounds and woods, and outside ramshackle buildings used for domestic science and woodwork. Happy, happy days :)
Just to the left of the picture, the junction of Elizabeth Street with Cottingham Road had a bollard in the middle. Coming home from band practice by bike (Corby Silver Band used an old stone building, perhaps once a barn in the 'old village'), I witnessed a low-slung open top sports car turn sharply into Elizabeth Street and knock the bollard over. Upright, I went to the police station - on Elizabeth Street at the top of this ...see more
My late father Bob Bird served with Marine Aircraft Experimental Establishment Rhu during World War 11. MAEE was a secret wing of the RAF that that tested flying boats and seaplanes. It lost several crew but their sacrifice is not widely known. I hope to place a Poppy Cross on Rhu war memorial in their memory. Does anyone have stories of the MAEE for me as I am writing a book on the subject. I can be contacted on 0151 639 6851
I often sit now in the town centre and ponder on the days gone by .. not that I'm that old but Billingham has sadly aged quicker than a tired old dog. The Forum Theatre, and the big name stars that visited it then, are now faded memories, just like the Forum's splendour. I can remember the fish pond and fountains that were adjacent to Woolworths, the monkey cages and glass reptile houses ...see more
My grandmother, whose name was Beth Parris, lived at 29 Wish Hill, the row of cottages just before the Red Lion which is on the left as you look at the photo, with sister Eva and brother Ken The whole family were well known to all. By the way, II am researching the family history so anyone who has info on the Parris family or old photos, please drop me an e-mail to: daveparris977@btinternet.com
Thank you.
To Mary Muir, I remember you very well. Those were the days. I started school then in February aged 4 and a half years old. I remember all my teachers. I wonder if these names ring a bell, Miss Todd, Miss Taylor, Miss Cuthbert, Mrs Watson, Mrs McCauly, she used to wet her breeks, and Miss Venters. Mckennas chip shop was where we got a poke of chips for some newspapers. I was too small to see over the counter, but ...see more
I was at Marton Boarding School (if memory serves me well) from 1966 to 1968. What a place, when I arrived I was petrified, the oddball kid from Africa. I remember Taylor telling me to go back to Africa and play with my spears and also Pert Peter, who liked to lift us up by our sideburns mimicking our Gordi accent saying "Why haven't you your homework" and then replying for us "I don't know sir ". I can't ...see more
THE KITE FLYERS
The Second World War had just ended before I started school. In that summer the craze in the council estate was for kite flying. Me and my pal Brian used to watch the big lads, Sam,Teddy, Bobby and Ian, flying kites on the Green, just above Murray Road. The kites were made of garden canes split in two, or orange box laths split and shaved down, tied in the middle to form a cross, and the ...see more
In 1940, we were evacuated to the village of Metfield, with my mother and brothers. A Mr and Mrs Godbold let us move into one of their cottages on the farm. On going to school, the local children would call us 'the Bomb Dodgers', but the shoe was soon on the other foot, as they built a USA airfield just outside the village, and we all soon saw action in the village. The Americans looked after us ...see more
As a child in the fifties I remember staying at 'Elasrofton' on West Front Road and getting very tired pedalling the pedaloes shown around the lagoon. For a small boy they definitely had 'windage' and the Lagoon often had lots of wind. I like the fact that the name of the bungalow I stayed in has not changed and I wonder how many people have understood the name (read it backwards). We now stay at the family bungalow on East Front Road.
I lived at Denham Court from 1958-62. Although we were not supposed to go via the village, I used to go this way and look at the trout in the stream by the bridge. It brings wonderful memories back!
I was at Denham Court from 1958 - 1962. I remember Mr.& Mrs. Hill clearly and they had a son called Stephen and an older daughter whose name escapes me. I remember wheeling barrowloads of coke from near the rose gardens to the boiler house, for punishment. I also recall the work we had to do in the mornings before school and sometimes in the evening. Despite some memories of the bad times, it taught me to look after myself and not have to rely on others!
I was evacuated to Borth in 1944 from London. I woke up in the morning in an air raid shelter in Shepherds Bush and went to bed in Benfleet, Borth having been taken in along with my brother by Mrs Bennet who owned the Grand Hotel. I lived in Borth with Mrs Bennet until I was 13 and came to love the village and its surroundings. Sadly for me, when I last visited three years ago it was clear that Borth is no longer the place I ...see more
My grandmother, Lillian Kemp, lived at 9 Howard Close. We visited regularly and had the best days running all over the village. Fishing sticklebacks out of the pond, looking for rats at the rubbish dump (!), trying to catch the wild kittens, riding various ponies bare back, raiding orchards for apples, watching the shire horses pulling the brewery dray on Derby Day as they set off from the Chequers ...see more
This is where the sea water baths were situated
We were always told as children that she was pointing to the public toilets just below. We know now that she was pointing out to sea!
Does anyone remember when this was a huge hole in the ground? It used to be called Shorefields I think.
I learned to swim here in the 1950s. The water was freezing, every day there was a notice showing the supposed water temperature, taken with a warmed thermometer I think!
We used to queue up at the beginning of the swimming season to aquire a season ticket. My brothers always managed to have enough swims to get their money back by July.
There was a Water Ballet show in the summer, every time I hear the music 'Sleepy Lagoon' I think of the Westcliff Baths.
I remember Cwmbach carnival with all the men dressed as Zulus and what seemed to be dozens of jazz bands and floats, which used to walk all around Cwmbach. It seemed like the whole of Cwmbach would be there.Ggreat community spirit, where has it gone?
This photograph brings back many memories of the Coleford of my childhood. The area round the Town Clock has changed a few times over the years mainly to accomodate the increase in traffic.
The building on the far side of the clock in the High Street was a huge ironmongers called Terrett Taylor & Co. It was owned in the 1950s by Mr H. J. Walker and my father Fred Fowler was the Manager, having worked ...see more
WOW, I never thought that I would see this post card again. Yes, that's me doing my weekend job as a waitress at the funky new Wimpy bar on Boxhill. My name was Vanessa Howard and I lived at Ismanola, Boxhill Road.
Reputed to be one of the first in the UK, locals, mods and rockers, and day trippers flocked to buy their Wimpy and Chips and Coffee, Knickerbocker Glory, Pepsi Cola in a glass bottle and all else Wimpy ...see more
I have two separate enquiries for my family history research in Upper and Lower Belvedere. In Upper Belvedere there was a sweet and paper shop which also sold toys called Derrett & Dorman's. I believe that I have a connection with either the owner or an employee who worked there in the late forties and early fifties. I think that their surname was either Adams or Back. In Lower Belvedere my ...see more
Since summer 1972 I visited Bigbury a couple of times, sometimes together with friends, sometimes with my son Thomas. The last time we have been there in 1998 for a short visit just to keep up memories.
We always used to stay in the Korniloff-Hotel, which was owned by Ken and Sheila and we felt like being home because of the great hospitality. It was there the first time that I could taste English wine ...see more
Does anyone remember the Raynor family who live at the old mill in Toddington? They were living there in 1945, and later in Culls Meadow. Henry, known as Harry and Rebecca Raynor had 6 children, Alec, Norman, Doris, Ralph, Louisa and Brenda who died as a baby in 1931. Audrey Littlewood.
I have never seen Hempsted Street but my Grandparents lived at 70 in 1891. Wish I could help with your picture request but sadly there are none in my fathers belongings. Betty Canada
I attended Binbrook Church of England Primary School from 1952 to 1959. In this time I was in Mrs Lamming's class first, moving to Mrs Wilky, Mrs Foster's (nee Miss Walton), Mrs Sharpe's, Mr Holgarth and not forgetting the really scary head master Mr Alfred Gordon. Most memorable things were the May Queen coronation and playing foot ball among the cow pats on the school field.
My father was Mr Oscar Cook and I can remember over dosing on the home made ice cream that was made by my granny Cook in the early to mid 50's.
I am wondering if anyone has any old picutures of the above schools, I went to both of them. Sadly the old infants class rooms have gone now and approx. 10 years ago the original junior school was burnt down. Can anyone remember any of the teachers? The teachers I can remember as follows: Infant School ... Miss Lavender, Mrs Langford, (Mrs Crow but I wasn't in Mrs Ccrow's class), ...see more
John Lee lived in Frodingham in the 17th century (poss16th century), he was a cabinet maker.
I have not been to Whitestone, but my great-great-grandmother...Susannah Bond was born there in 1799. She moved to Newton St. Cyres and married Thomas Crump there. Are there any Bond's still in Whitestone who might be distant relatives ?
I can remember running along this road from Tidworth Down Boys School to the Ram pub and back to the school with the PE teacher a Mr Williams shouting at us from his car. This would have been in the late 1960s.
I lived in Sidbury Circular Road but when we moved in it was Nuns Walk and we lived in the last house, then they built the estate and renamed the road.
My first school was the Garrison school opposite the Garrison theatre
We found a telephone when I was ten. The family moved to steep Ashfield Avenue in 1935 and there, in the hall by the front door and sitting on top of a little triangular table that fitted snugly into the corner, was a telephone. The only telephones we had ever used were either the bright red public ones on the street or in one or two friends' homes. We called the house 'West View'; the Google Street picture today ...see more
I wasn't a resident in Minster Way, but as a small boy I used to visit my St Ethelberts School friend Adrian Kenny there every weekend. About 1960 it would have been. This road and its housing was really a relic of the Second World War - emergency housing made from prefabricated materials (the buildings were known as 'prefabs') As usual, they lasted for much longer than was envisaged and would have eventually been cleared some years later. Lovely and warm they were!
Year after year my family had our summer holidays in Jaywick Sands, we used to stay in the same small chalet in Meadow Way, Jaywick Sands. How we all used to fit in there I'll never know. It had tiny windows, an outside toilet, a small front garden with double gates at the front leading out to the long road, Meadow Way. Across the road about 300 yards away was the sea and the beach, and just about 100 ...see more
Hi, I'm trying to find some information about my granda's mam. My granda is John Southern and he was born 14th November - I think it was in 1926. He had 2 older brothers. His mother Jane Southern died when he was about 10 years old from cancer - his father then remarried. He lived in Windy Nook all of his young life.
Please get in touch if you or anybody you know could help me.
I was in this place, it was not the best of places to live but i am here to tell you of my time in the home. We were a family of 5, there were 3 sisters, me and my brother. I would like to know if Tony Savage is still alive, he was a good friend to me as well as Roger Low and Charles Rawling. I would like to hear from others who were in the home at the same time. I was in there until it closed down then I was sent to ...see more
My grandfather Eddie Williams lived in no.2 right opposite the hut where he played darts. He was the pianist for the Dorian singers.
Oh yes, wonderful evenings spent waiting for the invitation to dance. I have photos of the exciting evening when the TV cameras came and televised us jiving. I even remember the site when it was a skating rink.
In winter time the fog and smog could last several days, and never clear. Coming from a seaside town, I found the first winter very depressing, but after 3 years I did not want to leave. The mills were very impressive, as were the number of churches around the town; and I recall the latter being well attended on Sundays. What about the tripe shop at the front of the Red Lion, facing the Market Place? When ...see more