Soundbites
Choose a soundbite to listen to below
The memories of a Portishead doctor in the 70's
In the 1970's the doctor makes a visit on board a ship in Portishead Dock.
Uploaded 30/10/2021
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Fire at derelict Phosphorus factory in Portishead
Dr. McLeod sees a cloud of white smoke, causing serious pollution. With all the phone lines jammed she eventually gets the Medical Officer of Health out of his bath. The land is ultimately decontaminated to build the village quarter.
Uploaded 01/11/2021
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Cows in the High Street
Joan describes cows being driven to the fields which are now Brampton Way,
Uploaded 08/11/2021
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How Portishead's public art came about.
Sue describes the decisions about public art were kept away from the planners
Uploaded 08/11/2021
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Nigel describes the old Portishead Rectory
It had about 30 rooms very cold in winter and plumbing problems.
Uploaded 08/11/2021
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Heating the Outdoor Pool
Sue Haysom remembers how the the power stations provided hot water for the Outdoor Pool,
Uploaded 08/11/2021
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September 3rd 1940 we were bombed out.
Joan Herbert describes the night the bomb dropped on Albert Road.
Uploaded 08/11/2021
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The Long Swim.
Joan describes her husbands remarkable swimming achievments.
Uploaded 09/11/2021
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Odd customers for the Bicycle Shop
Pauline Simper describes a couple of characters who used to visit her shop
Uploaded 04/12/2021
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Christmas at Simper's shop.
Pauline describes the build up to Christmas and the joys of delivering bikes on Christmas Eve.
Uploaded 04/12/2021
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Shopping in the High Street in the 60's
Pauline and Nigel describe how they used to buy groceries.
Uploaded 04/12/2021
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Carrots from the Churchyard
Pauline describes being tempted by the carrots growing in the allotments which used to be next to St. Peter's churchyard.
Uploaded 04/12/2021
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Tying St. Peter's Church Gates
Pauline Simper and Pauline Cooper describe how the choirboys would not let the bride and groom out until they had been given pennies.
Uploaded 04/12/2021
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Albert Road c 1983
Memories of staying with a great aunt in Albert Road and the family concerns of a new housing development called Brampton Way:
Uploaded 28/02/2022
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Roman remains.
Emma recalls her families stories of finding roman remains.
Uploaded 28/02/2022
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How connected is Portishead?
How do you feel the ‘newest’ part of Portishead (where Emma works) connects to the rest of Portishead?
Uploaded 28/02/2022
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Does Portishead feel like a community?
Emma is asked Do you think that there is a community feel in Portishead?
Uploaded 28/02/2022
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The birth of the Village Quarter
Helen is asked what the Village Quarter looked like when she first came.
Uploaded 28/02/2022
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The beginnings of Trinity School.
Helen is asked what she remembers about the new school being built.
Uploaded 28/02/2022
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Station Road memories.
Peter remembers Mrs. Robertson and her husband as well as the Legge brothers
Uploaded 05/03/2022
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Going up the chimney
Mary Dyer, born 1937, describes going to the top of Portishead "B" chimney.
Uploaded 11/04/2022
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In 1956 we built our own house, 3 Harmony Drive.
Mary Dyer born 1937 describes how she and her fiancé built their own house, builty
Uploaded 11/04/2022
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Battery Point after the war
Mary Dyer born 1937 describes Battery Point as it was after the war.
Uploaded 11/04/2022
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St. Barnabas School in wartime
Jenny (born 1935) remembers her first days at St. Barnabas School and "refugees" from London.
Uploaded 16/04/2022
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The big guns on Battery Point
Jenny Sainsbury remembers living near the big guns in wartime
Uploaded 16/04/2022
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Coming to Portishead
Xander tells how he came to Portishead and what he likes about it
Uploaded 26/04/2022
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Cows in the meadow and a long walk
Jane remembers the cows crossing the High Street and a long walk across fields to West Hill
Uploaded 26/04/2022
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What I like about St. Peter's
Ben tell us what he feels about his local church.
Uploaded 26/04/2022
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The Loaf bathing beach.
Jenny remembers swimming at the Loaf bathing beach in the 1940's.
Uploaded 10/05/2022
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Rowing on Portishead Lake
Jenny remembers her mother who was a champion rower.
Uploaded 12/05/2022
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