Gransnet forums

Genealogy/memories

Recording my family memories

(37 Posts)
NanKate Tue 11-Feb-14 20:24:11

I have just started writing my family history, just in case in years to come some family member is interested in knowing about their ancestors, as I am in mine.

I want to write about my early life in Birmingham just after the war. I was born in 1946.

Also I have started noting down all the funny things my almost 3 year old GS says each time we see him.

At present I have just got lots of computer notes as things jump into my head. One moment writing about the 1950s, the next last week ! My mother called this a grasshopper mind.

So what I am really getting round to is have any of you written your life story? Also do you have any tips on organising these notes ?

margaretm74 Thu 13-Feb-14 20:00:05

www.francisfrith.com/uk/ has old photographs of Britain. I even found some photos of the village my GGPs lived in and probably their cottage too. Certainly the church they got married in. I hope to visit the village again properly one day having visited briefly years ago before I had so much information.

NanKate Fri 14-Feb-14 07:23:37

Have you discovered Google Street view ? Just type in an address and USUALLY you get a the street not always the exact house.

Although they are all recent photographs it is fun to find places from your past.

Get Googling !

margaretm74 Fri 14-Feb-14 09:26:55

Haven't looked at places where I used to live, but I did look to find DD1's new house in Australia when she was telling us about it, only to find a view of a building plot.
When PC is connected again I'll go exploring again, thank you NanKate

durhamjen Fri 14-Feb-14 11:15:29

If you want old maps, there is a company called Godfrey, which works from Leadgate, Consett, and sells old ordnance survey maps.
They have maps from about 1850 to 1930, and they cost £2.50 each, with coloured ones £3.25. Postage £1.25 per order, so order as many as you want for £1.25 postage.Their website is
www.alangodfreymaps.co.uk

durhamjen Fri 14-Feb-14 11:25:28

Actually, I've just looked on their website, and I'm going to get some for my sister for her birthday next month.
I found out last year that one of my 2xgreat aunts was in the workhouse in Driffield, so I got the map. The workhouse is enormous, the biggest building in Driffield. Fortunately my relative was the school mistress. The census shows her living at the workhouse.

Tegan Fri 14-Feb-14 11:51:59

Thanks; I've just found the S.O.'s birthday present on that site as well smile.

durhamjen Fri 14-Feb-14 14:13:03

Tegan, there's a lot of information on the back of each map as well.
It's usually a list from Kelly's Directory for a few streets on the map. If you are lucky, the street you want is on the back. It still makes interesting reading even if it's not the right street.

nigglynellie Mon 24-Feb-14 17:27:25

I've been going through family photo's (I have a suitcase full of them some dating back to 1883!) and picking out people I knew and writing all that I know/remember about them. Some are pretty brief as they were elderly great aunts/uncles (probably younger than I am now!!!) so I didn't know them that well, but others I did know, and hopefully it will make for interesting reading for someone in the future. Google street view is brilliant, again I've managed to find out where people lived way back!

alchemillamollis Mon 24-Feb-14 23:01:15

I'm just starting with mine, so reading with interest. smile

durhamjen Mon 24-Feb-14 23:10:21

Hope you did not know the ones on the 1883 photos, niggly.

nigglynellie Tue 25-Feb-14 11:24:38

Yes I did actually!!! My Great Aunt Winifred is there on her parents knee as a baby!!!! She died in 1966 aged 84! A spinster lady, (they were always too fat, too thin, too rich too poor too tall too short!! nobody pleased!) she used to come and stay with my Granny who was her younger sister by 10 years, (Aunt Win was the eldest of 5 daughters!)and I also have a photo of her with me sitting in the garden in deck chairs! I remember she bought me a Mickey Pop (does anyone remember these?) on an outing to Windsor, can't remember anything more about that day!!!!