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 8161 - 8240 of 36833 in total
I lived in Church Road from 1956 til 1970..and my parents continued to live there til 2000 . I remember going to the zoo and crying at the caged lion..can't believe the animals lived in such small cages . The town is so different now...we used to have our groceries delivered in a little red van from a shop called Wallis's on Victoria Road on a Friday night ...it was owned by 2 sisters .There was a butchers on ...see more
Hullo Folks from Richard Starling here in N Devon
Born in Victoria Street, Hemsworth in 1948, I must thank folk from my birthplace for my community and working values. I'm able to enjoy a prosperous retirement thanks to the work ethic which was the bedrock of the community.
Equally, my 6 siblings have prospered.
I'm hoping that this memory Is seen by other folk who may remember, or have heard ...see more
Does anyone remember Gower's the florist 148 Queens rd
I lived there from 1946 to 1954 it was a family business my
father carried on from his parents. My best friend was Patsy Woodcock.
Does anyone remember.
Norma Gower Mechaly
During the 1950's my grandparents Mary and Jack Holder lived in the railway cottages at Griseburn. My grandfather worked in the signal box and I spent summer holidays with them. One had to leave the road, go down a cart track to Horn's farm, leave your vehicle, cross a stile and walk the path past the signal box to the cottages. The other cottage was occupied by a man called Milner. There was no ...see more
I remember visiting Milton Court many times in the late 60`s and early 70`s as a young employee of National Employers Life, UNUMs predecessors. There were many mysterious stories about Milton Court, partly, I believe, as a result of it being owned at one time by the author Denis Wheatley.
The names of many of my colleagues at the time come flooding back, Jack Shaljean, Arthur Hounsome, Gordon Webster, John Burton, Derek ...see more
The ice cream parlour was at the back of The Princess Of Wales Precinct in Dewsbury, it is now a car park, what a complete waste of a lovely business, but the problem was the family refused to sell the recipe to anyone else, what a shame it was the best ice cream you ever tasted, bring back Caddies. Sunday's were never the same. SuSan
I believe the cottage in the bottom right hand corner could be near my birthplace? If it is, it is one of two cottages on the hill leading up to the church from the village and just below the cemetary? The house belonged to my Aunt , Kate Scutt, whose husband was a tailor, by trade. The field to the bottom left I think was called "The Scouts field" and the curved stone wall ...see more
I remember Bordon we lived in 10 Island Quarters with our twin baby boys before going to Malta.
I believe I am in this picture, pushing my son Martin in his pram in 1967.
I was born in the Cottage Hospital in St George's Road Aldershot and so were both of my children. I was married in St Michael's Church and I still live in the town.
Susan Lightfoot/Harris
My first memory is when I was a toddler playing in the paddling pool with all the moms sitting chattering on the benches.
When I was about seven (about 1972) I was allowed in the big pool but I could only just stand in the shallow end with my nose and chin sticking out of the water.
There was a big fountain as you paid your 5p and went through the turnstile. A café sold drinks and ices and beyond that was a ...see more
We stayed in a caravan at the camp in the 1950s
Had to scramble down a very steep dirt track to the beach
I learned to swim in the Baths late 1940s
and In early 1950 went dancing every Saturday night at the Spa
I used to go horse riding from the stables near the station
The Houses with their "victorian" balconies are distinctive, and the Halfway House building can be identified in the middle of the picture. A lovely walk on a windless summers day - absolutely deserted during the winter bad weather save for a few hardy, masochistic souls.
During the summers, 1946 to 1953 I used to cycle along here heading ...see more
A great view of another of the old Tram Stations, which had become Bus Shelters, and places for sunseekers to enjoy the view out of any wind.
I see from Google Earth that the structure has been greatly modified, and has now in 2014 become a Beach Café.
No doubt at all about this location.
The Facility was renovated after the neglect of 5 years of war, but was never very popular. One had to pay to use the swimming pool, but the paddling pool adjacent on the Elizabeth Rd. side was free.
The dark line across the shore, with the dried-out boats beyond it - is the concrete protection to the Lifstan Way ...see more
In 2014, across the road there are tennis courts, and from Google Earth it looks like a thriving Sports Centre.
If there were tennis courts on that site in 1963, hardly anyone was using them then, - my memory remains of an "under-used area" originally intended for the luxury houses along Thorpe bay Gardens, behind to the North. Tennis tournaments ...see more
In 2014, across the road there are tennis courts, and from Google Earth it looks like a thriving Sports Centre.
If there were tennis courts on that site in 1963, hardly anyone was using them then, - my memory remains of an "under-used area" originally intended for the luxury houses along Thorpe bay Gardens, behind to the North. Tennis tournaments ...see more
Location clue - the glazed, cream-painted passenger shelter atop the sea wall, originally built as the Terminus Station for the Esplanade Trams, then taken over by the trolley Buses and bus services later, when the tramlines were lifted around 1938, and the Corporation extended it's public transport services all the way to Shoeburyness.
Location clue - the passenger shelter originally built as the Terminus Station for the Esplanade Trams, then taken over by the trolley Buses and bus services later, when the tramlines were lifted around 1938, and the Corporation extended it's public transport services all the way to Shoeburyness.
The sign to the Car Park is the main location clue, - along with the blocky concrete structure alongside the Shelter, the sloping timber launching ramp for boats, and the beginning of the drainage-outfall's concrete protection just visible in the sand. I used to swim from here quite a lot in the late 1940's, early 1950's, as did a lot of other just pre-teen schoolchildren. There was a convenient Bus ...see more
From the location of the semi-circular bastion which is situated halfway between the Lynton Rd. and Burges Terrace junctions with the Esplanade, - and the width of the beach, - even at this small scale I'd say this was taken looking Westwards, from a spot somewhere close to the Junction of Thorpe Hall Avenue with the Esplanade.
I remember the coffee smell as one wandered up the high street. Someone on this memory board has asked what was it called. It was called: Coffee Importers, because that was what they did. You could buy beans or have them ground there and then, or buy the packets ready ground, or even have your own preferred blends. A favourite blend of a friend of mine was Moccha & Mysore. I thought it the height of chic!
A ...see more
My grandfather William Howard Tomkins-Russell was the Rector of Thrapston, and died of pneumonia in The Rectory in 1941. My uncle Anthony was born there in Feb 1931. My father Hugh grew up there, along with his elder brother John and elder sisters Margaret and Helen. Naturally, the family left The Rectory after the death of my grandfather.
As the classic 18ft long local dayboat classes became more expensive to build and maintain, there was an explosion of smaller, cheaper racing dinghy classes all round the UK, postWW2. Though the local Thames Estuar-y and Essex- One Designs continued to race from the Alexandra Yacht Club, younger members were racing the new dinghy classes, Enterprises, Fireflies, ...see more
This Picture was taken by someone on the Pier, above the roadway. The shops to the right were known then as Palmyra Terrace, IIRC, and the little sunken amusement park to the Left had been renamed by then from "The Shrubbery" to "Peter Pan's Playground".
IIRC, the "Westcliffe Belle" was a conversion by Johnson & Jago, Boatbuilders of leigh-on-Sea, of one of the big sailing yawls or ketches that had worked off the Foreshore pre-WW2, giving excursions out into the Estuary to see the very busy Shipping.
I remember this motorboat working from the first Beach Pitch to the West of the Pier, from the ...see more
This picture shows the beach and the Eastern Esplanade at the Thorpe Hall Boulevard Junction. The elaborate shelter was built as the Thorpe Bay Terminus Waiting Room for the Southend Corporation Tramways before the Esplanade Line was linked with the Bournes Green Southchurch Rd. Line by a double track running between the two points, along what is now the green-way centre of the Boulevard past the Thorpe Bay Golf Club. ...see more
I remember a black smith in Barkingside which used to be next door or near the police station.
We used to watch the old smithy shoeing horses etc. Does any body else remember the old smithy?
David Trasler
On the right of this photo, opposite the Town Hall is the ABC Forum cinema, where I and my brother and sister along with lots of young children used to go on Saturday mornings to see a cartoon, a western, a Superman or Flash Gordon serial or a comedy. For the grand sum of 6d (2.5p in today's money) we were entertained on a Saturday morning, to get us out of our parents' way for an hour or two. We would sing the ABC minors ...see more
I was born at Green Roof Chase Lane and then moved to Sutherland Road as a 2 year old. The council houses had just been built. I have happy memories of attending Tittensor primary school which is now Old School Wines. Mrs Beech used to see us safely across the A34 which was a single carriage road at the time. My Gran lived at Rockside Cottage and I remember many happy times walking along the Green Drive in Tittensor. I now live ...see more
Spent many days on summer hols with cousins at gran and grandad hills at croftswood the broadway walthem road mum was josephine had a brother james and sister babs if i get it right across the meadow the norrigtons farmed further up broadway mounts as in
peggy the actress had a farm
I went to Dearneside school,then worked at Bolton Hall. I loved to go jiving at Wath upon Dearne
every week end. Yes the good old days.
Who else remembers 1959 with fond memorys.
Mary Handyside
Yes, I remember this view very well. My father worked for the Eastern Electricity Board, which is pictured on the right of the picture. I was 15 at the time. I would like to know if the EEB is still there and does anyone else remember this picture around this time?
My parents operated a shop and a stall in Surrey Street from just after WW2 until my dad's untimely death in 1960. My mother kept the stall until 1962.
They sold yard-goods and drapery fabric but during Summer when ladies were out of the house more and not sewing as much they sold ladies cotton shift-dresses and in December when people were busy with the holidays they sold Xmas items, slippers and chocolate-covered ...see more
This photo shows a view from the 'top' of Surrey Street market and my father was a trader there from just after WW2 until his untimely death in 1960.
He operated a fabric (yard-goods and drapery) shop and during the good times had a stall outside too, then in leaner times just a stall.
The crowd seen in this photo is gathered around a stall operated by Charlie Robery, he sold many and varied items from the pitch, ...see more
I was at Gearies when the rocket fell in Hatley Ave. We lived at no 9 and it was on a Monday (washing day) and the replacement windows that we had(because they were blown out when the V1 dropped in Dr Barnardos behind us) fell on my mum in the kitchen. She was not hurt because they were not glass.
I understand that the V2 fell on the back door step of the house in our Ave and the lady there was hanging out the washing at the time and all they found I believe her only hand.
My mother was born in August 1912 at 14 Perriman's Row, Withycombe Raleigh (this is shown on her birth certificate). She was illegitimate and the home was that of her mother's relation George Parkhouse and his wife and family. I recently visited Exmouth and saw the home (I live in Canada).
i to went to this place,i was not abused myself, however the treatment was harsh, and i remember the girl standing under the fireplace being violently sick, as she had to eat the food that she had not eaten the day before, she was then made to clean it up herself,spent three weeks in the freezing winter in a room with the window wide open, witha person called katherine or kathleen she was ...see more
My parents lived at rose cottage in Blackwell in 1954/5 would anyone know if this property still exists today ? As I am researching my family history.my parents names were tom and myrtle Davies and I think the cottage was owned by a Mr and Mrs parsons .any info much appreciated.
Mrs sue gasiorek
Mrs
My childhood was lived in Burton and Stapenhill - 1952 to 1965 I remember fondly the swan and gardens, running up and down the beautiful rock garden steps. There was a huge willow tree between the swan and the river that hung down to the ground seemed like such a magical place to stand in with the sun filtering through the leaves into the darkened interior. On Sunday morning the church bell would be ringing ...see more
I remember my mom working at Abbey Drapery. I used to love to go in and watch the vacuum payment system. The money was put in a round tube and whoosh off it would go only to return minutes later with the change.
I used to live in Burhill road, my mum & dad were married here & I was Christened here. Years later, about 1967 my car went into the church wall after my front near side wheel decided to undo itself! I remember feeling a strange lurching sensation followed by seeing my wheel roll down Burhill Road. I then went into the Church Wall, which did NOTHNG to the stone wall but made a mess of my pride & joy Triumph Herald. Oh how embarrassed I was!
I used to fish in the Mole regularly, my home almost backed onto the River. Never caught very much although I used to be told by the old fellows (I was only very young mind) "Be careful boy, theres a massive old Pike in this River". I never could puzzle out whether I was having my leg pulled or not! I also used to launch my canvas canoe from about here & spend hours paddling up the river until it hit a very ...see more
My mother used to be the post mistress here back in the sixties. I used to come out of school across the road every lunch break, say "Hi Mum, can I please have some lunch money". I used to spend it on everything but lunch, Ha, boys eh?
I can remember going to the top of kings hill in Hengoed , up some steps and into the stute. It seemed a massive building to me as a child. I can still remember the smell of it. And the fact that children were only allowed in a certain part to buy sweets. Has anyone got any photos of the stute ,or memories of it. It was pulled down ,I think in the 1960,s. Kim price( Carey)
I have just read the memory posted by Tine Kooiman dated November 13th 2013 regarding a small hospital near the Buckhurst Hill railway station. She does not mention what time period she was there but I do recall there being a small 'cottage' hospital on Roebuck Lane/Powell Road which was possibly the one she is referring to. I forget the proper name of the hospital but it may have ...see more
i saw a message today on one of the "mitcham sites". someone was after imformation about their granddad hiram ayers. from 1948 i lived on bordergate and im sure hiram lived in hawkes road just round the corner. although i never knew him i remember the unusual name.
This beautiful Grade 1-Listed building was the closest Library to where I lived near Southchurch Park, and I spent many hours inside during the 1940's and 1950's exploring books, or in the landscaped grounds.
As I became a teenager and also more interested in History, I was fascinated to discover that the "old farmhouse" where ...see more
I lived in Sabden for a short time in the mid 60,s.it had a big effect on me,probably as i was in my early teens.I have always longed to go back,but some how never got around to it. I am now the wrong side of 60 with a few health problems.i suppose this could be a "bucket list" thing.i lived at 3 Thorn st and my bedroom faced Pendle Hill.A view i would love to see again.Apart from walking through the village,i would also like to ...see more
In the 1950s I lived in Broadhurst Gardens and every day walked with friends through this twitten to get to North Bank School in Smoke Lane. The lane was dark and overgrown on one side and on the other side backed onto the Crusader Insurance land. This side was fenced but there were gaps that we could peep through to see bright sunlight and the glorious view to the south of Reigate. In winter we would meet the lamp ...see more
I remember walking past the tea bar on my way from George Street to the bus station to catch either the 71 or the 80 to Stockport Road/Hare and Hounds, Timperley. I did this every day whilst being a pupil at North Cestrian Grammar School
The photograph was taken outside what was Dobson's Dairy and Bowies Warehouse. The van on the left belonging to the hardware shop - I remember going with my mum there many times.
I remember this picture very well. Between the ages of 6 and 11, I walked past this school everyday, turning left up a footpath just beyond the two parked cars, on my way to Navigation Road School. On the right hand side of the road very close to the parked cars was Wellington Road Boys School market garden which was tended by the boys.
As a child I can remember my mum shopping in the Co-op, the shop on the right between the two parked cars. Next door was the toy shop and next door to that was the Midland Bank. Coming back the other way towards Mayfield Road, there was the post office and a new small Spar supermarket
My family and I lived in Carlin Gate, Timperley from my birth in 1948 until we moved to Romford in Essex in the late summer of 1963. I have superb memories of playing schoolboy cricket on the ground just over the wall on the right whilst at North Cestrian Grammar School.
My family and I lived at 2 Carlin Gate, a cul de sac on the left of this picture just beyond the parked car. I lived there from my birth in 1948 until the family moved to Romford in Essex in the summer of 1963.
I am the little boy on the tricycle and the lady standing next to me was Mrs Hornby our neighbour. I can remember the photographer asking us to remain outside our homes, to make the photograph more interesting. He had a large camera on a tripod and I remember him covering his head under the camera canopy to take the shot and being in the middle of the road. Of course there were few cars in those days.
I was born at the Bransbury Nursing Home, Jubilee Road, Waterlooville, during the war in December 1943. I lived with my grandmother Eva Hill (nee Redman) and my mother, Joyce Hill (nee Lewis) at 56 Hambledon Road Waterlooville, Hampshire while my father Charles Henry Hill, was in the navy and was away at war. We stayed there only six months until a bomb exploded in the back garden and we went to ...see more
In the foreground is the SMNCo.'s TSMV "New Prince Of Wales I" [a 75ft vessel built by Hayward's Boatyard, Burdett Road, at the back of the Kursaal] normally berthed at that Jetty. I think by the mid-1950's, my family's Company, the SMNCo. had begun to paint the "New Prince of Wales 1" a mid-Blue colour.
. Behind our "New Prince Of ...see more
Hi, I lived at Mount Pleasant were the first shopping centre was built, Then moved to York Road no 38.until 1970. I went Ealing road jnr School and then to Bush House open air School {hated it} I also hated moving with my parents because I loved Brentford and would move back in a flash, but my health is not so good and I am on my own now. I live in hope .I have tried so very hard to find old friends with no luck
God bless you all.
ROBERT YOUNG/
My parents rented a converted railway carriage in Bulls Copse Lane for a time during the war. I and my sister and brother loved it and were sorry when we had to move back to Portsmouth. I went first to the village school and then to Cowplain where the headmistress was a Mrs Laidman. I have many happy memories of our time there and have written and published a book about our adventures. I and my husband have recently moved back to the area.
Eileen (McInnes)
This was my grandmothers house and i spent many school holidays here with my uncle and aunt and their 3 sons who lived with my grandmother. Long summer days were spent "going down the den" the wooded area next to the walled garden. We played croquet on the lawn and tennis on the grass court and generally ran wild freely on the estate. Sadly my aunt the Hon..Jane Hendry died last year well into her nineties,she spent her last ...see more
I was born in 1953, lived at 375 Collyhurst Road, next to the croft, and went to St Malachy's. We lived in Collyhurst Road until they decided to pull all the houses down and we moved to an estate in Miles Platting before emigrating to Australia in 1969.
My brothers Alan and John along with my sisters Christine and Ann all went to St Malachys. We used to play on the croft beside our house, where we would have bonfire ...see more
I have fond memories of the Johnson family.I went to school with Monica and Damaris. We used to practice handbell ringing in their enormous kitchen.Well it seemed it then. On Acension day we used to go to the top of the church tower to say prayers.
After my parents sold Tubbs House in Castle Street we rented this house, you used to have to walk through all the bedrooms to get to the one you were sleeping in. What a pity all these were pulled down when they built the by pass later on.
I still have my post office savings book stamped Mere Warminster Wilts. I deposited 5/-.
The telephonist use to sit almost in the doorway with a little switchboard our number was Mere 282.
I think it was the shop with the blind next to the arch.
This was my classroom our teacher was Mrs Williams.
It had a large black stove to heat it in the winter. We used to go across the road for morning and evening assembly.Mr.Wardle was the headmaster,tweed jacket with leather elbow patches. Each evening we used to sing Now The Day Is Over.
This shop was run by the Mason's.I was a friend of the Mason girls! We used to go on bike rides to King Alfred's Tower. My brother had only just learned to ride and when we got as far as the Black Dogs always wanted to get off ,so he used to pass us yelling I want to get off so we would cycle past him throw our bikes down and grab him as he went past.
Carol Mason went on to work as a nanny at Stourhead. ...see more
We lived in Tubbs House the back entrance was at the top of the Archway between houses on the right. They demolished our house when they widened the A303. Happy Days living in Mere. Anne.
Robert Lewis.
In 1951 to1954 I was employed as a page boyat the Worcestershire brine baths hotel.i was 141/2 yrs of age.
The manager was Mr hill,he lived in the hotel with his wife and daughter pat.
I worked with the head porter Jim Bourne.i also remember head waiter Mr de man,chamber maids sisters(Irish girls) Anne,Peggy and Annette ,an elderly lady Mrs wise served our meals in the staff room.
Mr proctor hotel ...see more
Carrying on from my comments of yesterday,when I talked about Clarendon Secondary Modern, I am reminded how easy it is to lose touch. I don't suppose that I would recognise much of Salford nowadays. I lived in Hall Street, just off Lissadel street until 1962 when we had to move house when the roof fell in.I can't ...see more
Did anyone attend St. Anne's school in the mid to late 70's??
Did anyone attend St. Anne's school in the mid to late 70's??
Anyone remember when Mr.Stanley was a headmaster at Hobbayne primary school?
Mid to late 70's? He was so strict and didn't mind using a whip or cane ...
We went to Pevensey Bay every year when I was a child. We stayed in one of a row of 3 houses along Coast rd, which were set right on the beach. They were owned by a man named Mr Piddock. A lot of time was spent at the Bay hotel, sitting outside on ancient red leather seats, at cream painted metal tables if I remember right. There was a weighing machine at the entrance and a fruit machine just inside. Along a ...see more
I was born in Purely hospital in 1960 and lived in Grasmere rd until 1979.
I remember going to ballet lessons somewhere upstairs near the top of Russell Hill rd, and creche was in the church hall on Brighton rd near to the hospital (and next to the gas board shop which sold cookers etc). Also Tufty club, which may have been near the station. There was a little toy shop just before the railway bridge on Godstone rd, ...see more
Should remember the Solway Hotel as this was where I was born just after 5,00 am on the 10th October 1947. Born to Annie and Stanley Harold Pearson who owned the Hotel. I spent my early years roaming the village with two cats in tow - Darky and Topsy. Moved to my Grandmothers in Silloth when my parents separated. Spent the next 12 years travelling backwards and forwards.
I also remember Fred Faulkner teaching me English and Geography in the 1964 to 1968 period. Bob Coyle was headmaster and Burke was his deputy. Williams 'bone' was my first form teacher and taught PE. I was in the A stream throughout my time there. In my class were Allan Rome,Mike Shortman, John Wallwork, Jon Irving, Gordon Jackson, Les Jones, Tony Platt, Barry Burrows, Norman ...see more
The number 12 bus went past it and it cost me 2 pence each way from Crystal Palace. The bus stoped by the Libary and we ran down to the Baths entrance. It seemed masive that vitorian fronted building. Up the steps to the ticket office.
I can'nt remember how much it cost but I remember that ticket machine spitting out those rough paper tickets, either green or blue or pinky red.
Then there was that over ...see more
I can remember this tennis court very well during 1953-4. I had to walk around it until I was told to stop as a punishment for break a school rule - probably for talking after 'lights out'. The Headmistress at the time would watch us out of her study window and if we weren't walking fast enough she would shout at us. We were told that ten times round was a mile and I seemed to walk for miles. I was only 8 years old at the time. My name then was Wendy Oxley.
