Nostalgic memories of Gillingham's local history
Share your own memories of Gillingham 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.
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Displaying Memories 1 - 10 of 56 in total
I lived in Malvern Road and later in Napier road. Spent many happy hours around the engine shed area "spotting". Also doing bike rides along the shore towards Rainham. My farther ran the timber yard in Jeffery street. happy days.. I'm 88 and still holding on in Gravesend, my birth place.
In the mid 50s we moved to Gillingham Lyminge close. We were the first occupants. I think it was number 10 anyway, the corner house facing NE. I with 2 friends started the Twdall scout group and as we had nowhere to go, we used the Kitchen for the first 6 Scouts. Later on we had an ex-Army hut.
I can remember as a student working at a canning factory plucking the stalks off Strawberries. The mouldy or bad ones were ...see more
I was born in Priestfield Road and lived there until my family moved across the river to to Hoo when I was 14 years-old. I have fond memories of peers with whom I would play either in the road or we'd go to The Rookery, Strand or Darland Banks. I attended Barnsole Road Infant and Junior schools before going to Gillingham Technical High School as it was called then. I recall that a Mrs Roberts ran a shop at the top ...see more
I lived in Malvern Road and remember the winter of '47 when we had six weeks of snow and wonderful tobogganing on the slopes. My dad was the manager of Park&Brown Jeffery Street and a skilled wood man who was able to build me an excellent toboggan with steel runners. Incidentally in '37 my cousin Sir Derek Barton was studying Chemistry at Gilligham Tech, Gardner St and spent some lunch hours with his sandwiches in his car ...see more
I started working at the Plaza just after I left school as rewind boy, later becoming a projectionist, where I stayed till national service. I showed the films at the camp cinema in the evenings in my last 15 months. Demobbed, I started back at the Plaza till 1965 when I joined the other cinema, Odeon, till it changed to Classic. I was there then till it closed in 1977 and was lucky to show the last reel of film. ...see more
My Dad (Roy Trett) taught at Barnsole Road School and I went there - walking from Maple Avenue and back twice a day. Happy memories of friends now long gone. It would be so nice to hear from friends who remain and would like to get in touch. I now live in Canada but email is great: waterwitch4603@gmail.com.
my father managed Park and brown in Jeffrey Street from 1934 until 1953 a time when it belonged to W.R Barton and Son of Gravesend. I did saturday cash sales work there during the war ; helped carry timber from Gilingham pier on an old Fordson 5 tonner, collected train numbers at the level crossing etc etc..I lived in Malvern Road and later in Napier. So many memories to list but I would like to know who Park and Brown belonged to before being bought úp by W.R
after sharing a house with my aunts in broardview avenue rainham in the late 40s we moved to romany road 1950 we were the first family onto the road , only a few houses were up so lots of brick stacks to play in , the top end of sturry way a old steam traction engine was parked in the fields , down sharpes green u,s landing craft lay pulled up on the river banks MTB s were mored out in the river, great place to grow up,
me and my brother drove for the M/D in the mid 1960s at that time a few younger peaple were starting onthe company the money was not very good but we made so menny good friends there and being a young guy the girl conductors were very nice , the canteen was so good a lot of the crews used to have there sunday dinner on there days off gillingham and chatham was a wonderfall place to live, i later drove for reeds paper mill for 40 years .
I was born in Canada House September 1953. Attended Byron Road school in Gillingham, and then attended Upbury Manor school. I used to bike to school on the main road from Rainham to Upbury Manor. On my way home, I would stop at my grandmother's for tea. She lived at 48 Osprey Avenue near Barnsole Road just off the high street. There was a bowling alley painted a gaudy light orange color. Lately I have been contacted by former friends from the 60's, so this is a trip down memory lane.