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 33761 - 33840 of 36832 in total

Towards the end of WW11 my mother took me to visit family in Llan Ffestiniog. I was vey young. I recall clearly looking out of the parlour window and seeing a communal water pump in the street and with dozens if not hundreds of soldiers passing through - apparently en route to their camp at Trawsfynydd. Where was the pump ? Can anyone help? I think it may have been near the wide Y junction in Ffestiniog but I just don't know. Help!
In 1953 my family moved from Edinburgh to live in Broomieknowe, Lasswade. I liked the large garden we had on this quiet street with pigeons cooing in the big Chestnut trees in the neighbours garden, and a big barn owl which nested in an old sycamore next door. My brothers and I like to excplore in the Esk Valley, walking along the old railway, or taking the path through the glen to Roslin and coming ...see more
My grandfather James Wilson (1868-1950) was headmaster at Carsphairn. His wife was Jessie Allan Renfrew. My father James Callan Wilson qualified as a Chartered Accountant before spending 14 years as a missionary in Belgian Congo. He then entered the civil service and became under secretary of the Home and Health department. His brothers and sisters were George (a water colorist who pained many pictures from the area), ...see more
As a child who was born in 1924 I lived with my family (name of Rogers) just down stream of the bridge I attended the "Blue School"and St.Lukes Church as did all my Brothers and Sisters climbing the 100 or more steps past the chuch to go to school twice a day belting home at midday down the steps three at a time home for something to eat. I would say that we had a happy childhood although we were very poor I ...see more
I was born in Wood Green in 1940. My earliest recollection is being in a classroom in Lordship Lane with other children and being told I was not supposed to be there.It's possible I had wandered from home,which was on the Tottenham side of Great Cambridge Road,to this school and "joined the party!"Which may make me 4 years old at the time. When I was about seven mum would put me on a trolleybus(643 or 625) for a Saturday ...see more
This mill is owned by my Aunt and Uncle. I spent many happy holidays up in Beckside and will always have fond memories of the beautiful old mill. Although I was always scared of the "ghosts"! This photo is before my time though, I wasn't born until 1977.
I remember the year of 1968 well, as it is when I left the village of Colden Common; although my Grandfather and Grandmother still lived there (on Main Road) up until their deaths. Colden Common in my time had no Scout Troop, so I had to go to Twyford to attend Scouts. Often the other boys in 'Common' would laugh at us, as we had still to wear short trousers. My other memory of 'Common' is when the Parish Hall (now ...see more
In 1966, the Allday family left Lazonby to immagrate to Canada. I'm Fred the eldest boy and was 16 and did not want to leave, my home and friends behind. There was a girl, Shiela Taylor who I had feelings for and she never knew. I left behind friends also, Kelvin Graham and John Nichols. If anyone knows these people please get in touch, it would be interesting to know what has happend to these old friends. I ...see more
I was raised in Borth from 1952 until I went to sea in 1968 and it was still very much home and sanctuary at every opportunity until I moved to Australia in 1991.The second son of Aran and Eileen Morris of Bel-Air I remember well the many characters who bought their fruit and veg at our shop and the timeless conversations they used to share in the quieter winter months-no internet or mobile phones then!!! ...see more
I believe that my Grandfather, Arthur Arnold, was the editor of the Witham Times before and during the second world war and lived in Silver End with his wife Molly, sons Frank and Peter and daughter Elizabeth (Betty). I would appreciate any information that would confirm or deny this well worn family history.
this is only one  of  many wonderful memories i went to school in needham market the junior school and lived at darmsden we were picked up and taken to school by a mini bus we lived in three places in  darmsden the 2nd place was right next door  to a strawberry  field one of many owned by tarston farms further up our road .When it  was time for  picking strawberrys a lot of my friends were bought up in a lorry   and ...see more
I was born at 10 North Rd in 1936 My grandparents house[Harry & Maude Hammond. My mother Mabel Williams[nee Hammond] worked in James Shipyard during war then Telephone Exchange.remarried George Genever[who was buyer at Aldous Shipyard] in 1947.We lived at 15 Eastern rd then 2 Ladysmith Avenue.Brightlingsea was a great place to spend your childhood,either by the water or in the countryside, My best mates ...see more
My husband's great-great-grandfather William Luckham was b ca 1795 in Malborough, son of Thomas Luckham and Susannah Prowse. He joined the British Army, married Ann Fardy from Ireland and sailed with the army to Canada in 1827, settling in Ontario. Barbara Luckham bluckham@ciaccess.com
I lived in Edgware between 1959 and 1969, I was only 6 months old when we moved from Harrow. I can remember my mother going into the haberdashery shop called Stanley J Lees, the original Sainsbury's with wooden floors and counters and where they wrapped up the cheese in greaseproof paper, Woolworths, MacFisheries (with their upstairs restaurant), Valentine Brooks the sweet shop, Fine Fare's down by the library, ...see more
Date Unconfirmed. After torrential rain, the topsoil off the fields at the top of Prospect Road slid down the hill to Monkton Road. Any houses which were not slightly above road level were flooded. Our house being a good foot above it, remained untouched but our neighbours in the farmhouse Eden Hall had mud under the doors and lost their carpets. It took a long time for the remains to be cleared. It was really quite a sight to behold.
There was a youth club held in a building across the carpark from Minster Primary School. I think this building was called the Leisure Centre, it also hosted Brownies and Guides. For a few pee we would spend hours playing Adam and the Ants records on a tiny ancient record player and jump around on the torn worn fake leather furniture and spend the rest of our money on shandy bass or crisps. Living on ...see more
I have been studying my genealogy & my GGG grandfather built this Inn. I would love to find Crockfords from this area to email with Terri
Used to wait for a trolley bus here which took the family to see Granny and Grandpa at Winchmore Hill. Always great excitement. Remember waiting here for my father to return from a builders' trip to Rotterdam - wonderful to see his face in the bus window - probably from Liverpool Street station on the 38 bus. Remember standing in the queue at the cinema. It was my treat for having taken ...see more
Yesterday our family went for a walk around the parkland surrounding Knightshayes - a grand Victorian estate owned by the National Trust between Tiverton and Bolham and only a mile from our home in Hawks Drive. Although it was a damp January day, the views from the top of the main drive over the countryside were lovely. The house itself looks just like this picture apparently taken in 1896 ! ...see more
I lived the early part of my life at Wharncliffe Crescent, which had its name changed to High Street sometime during the 1950s. the photographs labelled High Street, and Wharncliffe Crescent in the collection art in fact the same place!
Too many childhood memories to list. Too many childhood friends to list. I moved away with my family in 1960. And "WWW" has reunited so many of us in the last few years. We are all over the world now but can take a walk down "CYBER MEMORY LANE".
MY MUM USED TO BIKE OVER FROM NORTH BOARHUNT TO SOBERTON EVERY THURSDAY WHEN I WAS SMALL. She had a small seat fixed at the back so that she could take me too,i had to sit on a blanket as it was hard.It use to take a while and i use to sit back there and sing my heart out,as i was so small people could not see me until we had gone pass,and i am sure they thought it was my mum singing.We use to go to the end of trampers lane ...see more
Work brought me to Scotland in 1975 and I needed to live within commuting distance of the Bank of England branch in Glasgow. Elizabeth and I looked around the south side of the City and fell in love with a beautifully restored eighteenth century style weavers cottage in Calderwood, East Kilbride. A new town is a lovely place to live when you are young and we loved it. Our son was born ...see more
Elizabeth and I married in 1971 and moved into our first home which we bought together at 21 Robyns Way. From our house we could walk round Pontoise Close and along a path at the edge of a sandpit, past a ramshackle village hall and into this church which we attended frequently. We lived in Riverhead for more than four years and loved the town of Sevenoaks, the local Scout Troop and Cub ...see more
My granparents and uncle live in soulby, I have many happy memories of spending my school holidays at Row End farm helping with hay time, milking and feeding the cows. I still love visiting soulby going to the stepping stones and a wander round the village
My Paternal Grandfather was a police constable for a short while in Dukestown whilst stationed at Tredeger,does anyone have any memory of him at all,he was quite a devil by all accounts.Please e-mail me if you can provide information
I arrived in St.Columb Minor a lonely five year old after travelling all day by train from Wood Green which is in north london. I was lucky to be placed with a lovely lady named Mrs Burden whos husband was away in the army. There were two daughters Von and Barbara . Our neighbours were Mrs Webber husband and son Dennis to the other side was the local provision store Tribilcocks across the road ...see more
my g.g.g. grandparents the Nixons had a sweet shop at 26 Petty Cury in the 1850s to early 1880s. Anybody ant news or pics?
I was born in White Roding in 1961. In 1968 my family and I went to live in Bishops Stortford. While we were there my father worked as a grave digger and landscape gardener in the local area. I fondly remember going to some of the church yards with him and playing while he worked. The church at Little Hallingbury  was one of those churches. We emmigrated to Australia in 1969 and although I went home several times ...see more
Further to Mr. Mike Taylor's story about being taken to see HM Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother passing through Milford on her way to King Edward's School at Witley. I was a pupil at King Edward's during the time of her visit, and whereas Mr. Taylor's story implies there may have been a number of visits by Her Majesty, I only recall the one, which I believe to have been in 1956. Mr. Gordon Humphries MA was the ...see more
My dads family the "Boltons" lived on a farm called Pear Tree Farm. I thought from memory they owned it but now after research I think they just lived there as workers? I remember walking down a country lane not far from there and buying some wonderful flavoured ice creams such as "Tutty Frutie". I have alot of fond memories of Hernbay....
My husband's grandfather Eustace Egbert George Duffill was born in 1869 at the Bromsgrove Institue in the High Street. Please can anyone tell me whether the Institute building features in any of the photographs of the High Street. I believe his father was librarian there.
I started work at this farm in 1946 my first job at 14 yearts old. On the left hand side if the house was a garage the farm was owned by Mr Suthered and his son-in-law Sid Dibbin had the garage. Sid had one other man working there a chap called Perce Quinnell with me as the grease monkey. There use to be a man come from London and stay in a sort of caravan out in the farm yard one of my jobs were to carry him ...see more
Hi Everyone what a lovely photo of the reservoir. My family lived at the reservoir for many years. My father and his father were born there with his sisters. He was Henry Marshall born 1923. He was the 3rd Henry Marshall...me I'm the 4th and my son is the 5th. A family member has traced the family of marshalls back to 16oo's in Lincolnshire. My dad used to work for the Water Authority and found out when ...see more
I was known as David Armitage not William I have so many happy memories of Chaigley Mr Goynes was headmaster. I would love to hear from any old boys who remember me especialy Bob Price from Scunthorpe.
good old days
dear sandra , I have just been looking through my notes about the street family and the George you mention is my granny sarah ann's brother , and was my dads cousin.I can remember my dad talking about his cousin playing cricket and being as good as W C Grace!! a famous cricketer . William and Mary Street were my grans parents . I have managed to trace the Streets back to 1841 ,when a George Street was a ...see more
From early 1960s onwards:  At school in London we had 2 summer holidays at Min-y-Don. The first time we travelled by coach, we got lost and arrived in the dark.  The following year we came by train from Paddington.  We had to change at Gobowen and Ruabon, arriving late in the afternoon.  My pals and I spent all our time exploring the area, on one excursion we were dropped off at Abergwynolwyn and had to make our way back over ...see more
I grew up in Heaton Mersey from age 6 to age 26 and left in 1955. This parade of shops included 2 Grocers- the Co-Op and John Williams- Fitchett's the butchers, a barber's and Edgar Barker the local Pharmacist who encouraged me and made it possible for me to fulfill my career hopes and dreams. There was another parade of shops further down the hill past one of the two doctor's surgeries in the village before you ...see more
For Kelly Bingham 28th Generation Bingham
Wow, nice to see this picture of my Grandfather, Will Appleby in his rowing boat "Cynthia". He used this boat to take passengers from the beach and did so until he was 77 years old. The boat was licensed to carry 7 passengers, and fares were a shilling for adults and sixpence for children for a 30minute ride!
www.bbcholidays.co.uk Hi...We are just about to move into The Old Post Office in Fen Road, East Kirkby, Lincs and am trying to find out anything about it. If you've got ANY info - I'd love to hear about it. Please contact me on janet.humphrey1@virgin.net Thank You
I remember going to school, 1st. St. Barucs, then Romilly school, and then high street. We my sister and had a little group of friends, Diane Williams, Gillian Dennis, Janet Dunkley we did lots of things together. On Sundays we used to go to All Saints Church as a family. My father george John, Marjorie and Granny, grandpa used to read the lessons and my father was a sides-man.
I remember going to see granny and grandpa every evening with my father george John. She lived in Barry in south wales. My grandpa was a lay reader. I am doing my family history, and my granny was born in Coity her father and mother used to have a chemist shop in Caroline st . Can anyone help.
remembering walking through the main gates and your feet dont touch the floor
Mixbury Everyone has a trampoline and their all loaded Best fetes ever x
I love this place, I grew up around here and all my family are littered all over the place. I used to get my old dead dog macky to drag me up to the top and then I'd drag him back up. I'd always get stuck in the mud and i'd fall out of my wellies. Oh I miss being a child and running round here and watching all my uncles and grandads getting drunk in the club. :) x
You are the only decent village in the whole of England except for Frogmore I miss the large fields with the llamas I miss trying to rollerblade on the road and falling over I miss the first time I did everything in my house there First steps First kiss First words First shit evem, it was the best, because it was there ;(
Ben lives in the Reindeer now
1) Highest known amount of people infected with chlamadia in one place. 2) Most teenage pregnancies in all of Britain 3) EVERYONE here is on some kind of drugs, usually pills 4) This includes is right now, and we are primary school children 5) No1 cn spel 6) If you go into town there are an obscene amount of little scene kids, they wander around blocking up entrances to the precinct and sharing cigarettes 7) ...see more
it was quite fun. :) Then police came and i sat under a table with a woman in a rasta wig and some guy and had a spliff.
My Dad, Sid Brooks was the rural village police constable (P.c.200) for Cropwell Butler, Cropwell Bishop and Tythby We, Mum (Dorothy) and my younger brother Mick lived in the Police House on Radcliffe Road, There was an old fashioned stem type phone connected to the manual exchange. Dad’s means of transport for work was a sit up and beg style Raleigh pedal cycle. See also 'Police House ...see more
The Police House was located on Radcliffe Road, Cropwell Butler. (now called 'The Old Police House').  On the front wall it bore a sign bearing the words 'County Police'.   From 1939 to 1945 it was occupied by the Village Constable, P.c.200 Sidney Brooks, his wife Dorothy and sons Peter, born 1936 (the writer, now living in OZ) and Michael, born 1939  (now living at Whatton).  There was an old fashioned ...see more
I am researching family history and have established that the wife of my 2nd Great-Grand Uncle lived at Haccombe House in 1881. His name was James Richard Whyte, he married Janet Bogle in 1874. she was his second wife, his first wife died in 1870. He was aged 71 when he died in 1880. On the 1881 census there are only 4 people shown as having lived there at the time, Janet Whyte (nee Bogle), a cook, a servant and ...see more
I was born in 1949 in Victoria Road, Madeley and have many memories of life as it was in the 1950's onwards. I remember Jones' buses, Pooles the cobblers, Carters, Stodd's the Drapers, Shums the chemist, and most memorable of all, Nellie Oakes' shop in Park Avenue. It was always a delight to visit there to purchase four chews for a penny and sherbert and liquorice. The small shedlike store was packed ...see more
i was born on the 11 april at cresswell maternity hospital my maiden name is shields i lived at 15 knowehead road i started school in 1957 mr john young was the headmaster and mrs dickson was the secretary my memory of locharbriggs is when i started school
My friends mum ran the deck chair place just to the right of the picture in the 1960's
I spent many a Saturday, walking the woods of the tower, beating sticks and making noise. After a good 8 hours trudging up and down slopes and in the mud, they feed us a bowl of bad stew and beer. There was always a joke about who got the only piece of meat. I was the lucky recipient once, had to eat it quick tho. I remember all the shooters in the next room having a meal and trying to catch a glimpse of the ...see more
I've seen this photo in several places and it's always captioned as being 1965 - it's got to be before that because I lived in Channel View from 1960 to 63 just below those garages on the right of the photo - and in this photo the building hasn't even started. I can remember playing behind those garages - even creating a little "graveyard" there for my deceased pet white mice. There's a path up to the canal from behind ...see more
My name is Monica Sekulka, I lived at Oaken Royd, Triangle, on the Norland side of the valley. Our house was one of 8, back to back - which the local council decided to demolish in their haste for modernity sometime in the 70s. We moved to Dodge Royd Farm, just a couple of hundred yards from Oaken Royd in the 60s. I remember walking to Triangle primary school over the old bridge by Rough Hey Woods ...see more
Great to see the old school again,I remember harvest festivals and punch and judy shows in the hall behind,house martins building nests in the eaves.School sports,egg & spoon,sack and wheelbarrow races.Wet clothes drying on the radiators in the winter,Happy days.Lived at 29 Peak road,my father worked at Mercury navy station,now living in Auckland New Zealand.Any more photos of the school or the village please post them.
How wonderful to have my memory jogged by the lovely pictures of Clapham Common. After school, most days we (my brother Lance) and my mother would have such fun. We would play spot the park keeper, (always nicely turned out in their brown suits) now sorely missed ! But the playground picture with the 'umberella' in the background(did anybody else call it that ) where you would sit on the ringed seat and ...see more
I am currently researching my family history and my gt gt gt gt grandfather is registered as the publican keeping this pub. his name was William Kerby and his wife`s name was Mary. The year was 1841. does anyone have any further information regarding this.
I have no memories of West Ashling but somewhen before 1860 my G/G/Grandfather James Hare started the watercress beds there. It was not untill quite recently we found out what we know about this family. My G/Grandfather George was not infact registered as a Hare he had his mothers name which was Mayhew. All his children from his first marriage were all registered as Mayhew's and were all born in the East End of ...see more
I first came to Lower Swell as a 16 year old boy; that would have been 1967. I had attended Wilsons Grammar School in Camberwell London. Austen Nichols had worked at the school teaching metal work. He told me that he lived in Lower Swell and had a forge there. He and I got on really well. He was a good teacher and became a good friend. When he left Wilsons he invited me to visit him and that summer I did. I had ...see more
I'm wondering if anyone can provide me with the exact address of the Small Arms Corps (I believe this is the Camp featured), that existed during the Second World War? My father was a weapons instructor stationed in Netheravon between 1941 and 1945, and I'd like to take him on a trip down memory lane in February. I believe the Military no longer exist in Netheravon, but if anyone has any ...see more
Upon passing frogmore recently the other day, I, Fred Whatmore, saw a small sign directing me to what I would later come to call Frogmore; home; the land of my dreams The luscious green fields spread before my eyes, and fromore mausoleum doors wide open welcomed me in. . . ? I sat for a while with Willy the keeper of the Mausoleum grounds, we ate Frogmore stew and discussed the ...see more
It has now been little more than three moons since glorious Frederick Francis, arrived home; eyes shining; hair wild (per usual), to tell me of a small village he had encountered. The spirit of the place had completely encaptured him, I too felt a rush of desire as tales of green fields as far as the eye could see, & wild men. I LOVE FROGMORE TO BE CONTINUED
I lived in Barkingside from 1937 - 1950. I was 5 whan we moved to Merlin Grove from Forest Gate. There were fields and woods within a few minutes walk, sadly built over now. The library was a shop on the opposite side from Sainsburys, another small shop in those days. The library and swimming pool shown in photos didn't exist. Trolley buses plied to & fro along the High Street. There was a ...see more
I stayed at Crossways (a beautiful 1920/30s? bungalow) on a family holiday for 2 weeks in 1961 with my parents, sister, grandparents, great-aunt and a family friend when I was 6. I remember it as one of the best & happiest family holidays I ever had - despite my sister (then 2) having sunstroke after a boat trip around Brownsea Island and going hysterical over a grain of sand on the car rug! We also met family ...see more
This Oxfordshire village has a fine brewery and one summer's day they organised an open day, tours of the brewery, ale sampling and entertainment. I was part of that entertainment playing my accordian with the Whitethorn Band. The acoustics were absolutely fabulous as we sat on the kegs of beer and provided music for Whitethorn Morris and their repertoire of clog dances. When we had finshed both our tour ...see more
I was born at Dixon Street, Blackfyne, Blackhill, County Durham. My memories are from when I started school in 1943 at the Tin Mill School, Derwent Street, Blackhill, as far as I remmember I did not like it. Blackhill was shadowed by Consett Iron Company as it was then known (later known as Consett Steel Works), most of the men worked there. It made Blackhill a dirty place to live in because of the red ...see more
This is May Cottages and the home of my gt.grandparents James and Jane Childs.  James was a shepherd on the Adhust Estate for John Bonham Carter and Jane looked after the sick and the poor here for 36 years.  She also raised 6 of her own children including my grandfather William Childs.
I used to have my hair cut in the barber shop on Bridge St usually before going to Saturday morning cinema. I also did a paper round for the newsagent on the bridge, the round was in Caversham Heights where I lived in Albert Road. School was at Caversham Secondary Modern, I really enjoyed school great time. Left there in 1959. any one remember the school plays and ballroom dancing?
Each summer we would set off, my mam and dad and I and the dog, Raq, in our 1938 Morris 8 to travel from Hartlepool to Rickmansworth to stay with Uncle Charlie and Aunt Sally Charters who had the grocery shop in Norfolk Road (number 55, I think it was). It was a huge adventure every year, setting off at 6 a.m. and travelling down the A1, stopping for tea on the cobbles at Biggleswade, just beneath the house martins' ...see more
I was born in July 1942 at 2 Church Road ,the youngest of eight children,the time I remember best is around 1952,being a kid in the Beach then was brilliant,so many things to do, Boating Lake,Minature Railway,Swimming Pool,Funfair and all the normal things,the highlight of our week was the visit to the Galvanised Gaumont picture house,it would cost 6d on a Wednesday & Saturday and was situated at the back of ...see more
I have been a piano accordian player with Whitethorn Morris for almost 30 years and sometimes I need help in getting repairs done! In the summer of 2004 I managed to snap the leather straps of my accordian - not through any accident, just simply the wear and tear of many years music!  I found a local man to help me: the replacement straps were made by a local ...see more
I am researching my husbands family tree. His great grandad was Samuel Wright who was a coal hauler in Grimsby in 1883, on looking at the census further I found he came from Sudbourne in Suffolk. Terry [my husband] had no idea that his Wright family had originated from there. Does anyone know of any of Sam Wrights family still around there or have any knowledge of the Wrights. Is Sudbourne a small place? What is it like now? We intend to visit one day. Many thanks Chris Wright
I remember walking in deep snow in Watford in January 1982. I had to carry my son David Norfolk on my back through the snow to reach Field Infants School. When we got there I discovered that the school had tried to close for the day by phoning parents to warn them. The message failed to reach our family as we had very recently moved into Oxhey Village from Northwood so our David (coming up for his fifth ...see more
Our great-grandfather, Somerton grocer and corn factor George Frederick Hatcher, was born in Somerton. George and Emma Peddle married and with their two boys - great-uncle William and our grandfather Frances- they came to Canada in the early 1900's. That branch of the Hatchers spread throughout Western Canada, currently in Winnnipeg and Vancouver area. A couple of us have been to the UK a few times but not ...see more