Nostalgic memories of Croydon's local history
Share your own memories of Croydon 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.
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
Displaying Memories 191 - 200 of 242 in total
I lived at 86 St. Saviour's Road - early 50's. I've so many memories of the area - the small garage halfway along the road, the local Greengrocer's (Pacitis), the shops on Queen's Road - including the Fish Shop as well as Jacobs' Sweet Shop in Queen's Road and so on.
I was born in Croydon (St Mary's Hospital I think) in 1948. We lived in St Saviours Road until I was aged approximately 5 or 6 when we moved to the West Midlands. We would always go back though and spend some of our summer holidays there with my Aunty Gwen (Wood) who was my mum's (Eileen Partridge) sister.
I was born in Mayday Hospital in 1938 and was brought up in Clarendon Road, West Croydon. I went to the Croydon Parish Church, Waddon Secondary Modern and Stanley Technical Schools. I would walk over Pitlake Bridge taking my sister Christine and myself to the Parish Church school and like her, I remember well how it all used to be before it became the current Jubillee Bridge. ...see more
I was born in Clarendon Road and live there now. Pitlake bridge years ago before it was changed to Jubilee bridge had shops on either side, provision shop Hallidays?, the butchers, a hairdressers, Wally Whitbourne's grocery shop, sweet shop, Weenole's newspaper shop, fish & chips, the right hand side had another sweet shop, a tv etc shop, the pubs were down further and the Alms Houses, Cottons?, the baby ...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
My mum worked as a telephonist at the Davis Theatre, probably in the 1960s, and I used to go and meet her there. I remember watching 'Giselle' performed by Galina Ulonova and Nikelei Fediachev (sp?) of the Bolshoi Ballet. I think it was on stage but it could have been a movie. I also met Eileen Joyce the pianist and Mum came home one day with a signed copy of her book which I still have.
Oh how wonderful to come across this site. I was born in Beckenham but worked in Croydon. My first job was receptionist at a solicitors office - Stuart Hunt & Co. - I met my first boyfriend there and there was a wonderful clerk who took me under his wing and he and his wife stayed in touch with my mum for a number of years. I also worked at Ellis Kensington in the Whitgift ...see more
Did anyone ever go dancing in the Orchid Ballroom, back in the 1950s? I most certainly did, even though I was only approaching my 17th birthday! This superb dance venue, with its huge floor, revolving bandstand and some of THE best dance-bands in the country was hugely successful in those long-gone days and was the place where many lasting relationships were formed. One evening I was ...see more
Hi all, I am trying to trace my family, does anybody know of the Union Infirmary? I think it was a poor house. Any info or pics would be gratefully recieved.
Year: 1956
I was born in Croydon and used to go to Gonville School where I sat next to a boy named (I think) Geoffrey Green. My father moved us to Sussex before I went on to secondary school. A few years later, the Lanfrancs air crash happened. I believe that I knew most of the boys who died on that day. Had I still been in Croydon, I would have been one of them.
I also knew some girls whilst ...see more