Basingstoke in the 1960s - In Colour - Streets & Buildings

A video of images taken of Basingstoke in the 1960s

[@Jo1066milton]

There are probably not many people whose childhood memories are so well preserved. When my dad heard that Basingstoke was going to be a "London overspill town", he made immediate plans to move away because he didn't like London or Londoners (he was from the Midlands). We moved in April or May of 1966, when I was 7, before the major clearances and demolition began. We'd already had one house compulsory purchased from us for demolition, in New Road, and had been forced to move elsewhere in Basingstoke. Dad and I returned for a wedding at which I was bridesmaid around 1967. I wasn't really aware of the huge changes going on. I did not return until 1984. The town of my childhood was almost unrecognisable. I was back again for a Golden wedding anniversary, and then a funeral just a few years ago, and again, huge changes. My memories were fixed in the spring of 1966. Watching these videos is like reliving my early childhood.

[@grahambrown5013]

A very nostagic video, I was born in Basingstoke in 1956 and lived there until my parents moved to Reading in 1966. I went to both Fairfields and Brook Vale schools. The family moved a few times during our stay, firstly Penrith Road, then Worting Road and finally Shooters Way. Long after we moved away, my paternal grandparents still lived at Baynards Close. Despite the architectural carnage inflicted upon the town, I always regard it as my home and would love to go back to visit those old schools and addresses. Thank you for the memories.

[@mickberniston7267]

The little boy in front of maroon truck at the beginning is me mick Burniston .I worked on the market then .l had to load out a stall selling curtain material and nets half a crown for a Saturday good times .

[@lindapearson9979]

Thanks for these photos. We moved to Basingstoke in 1960 when dad got a job at Aldermaston. We lived on Oakridge estate, went to Southview primary then Basingstoke High School for girls. Left in 1966 to live in Australia. These photos brought back so many memories of a happy childhood, would love to see more !

[@asuonval]

FAIRFIELDS! I'm in year 8 now and i remember learning about its history

[@johnsomerset1510]

I used to be so thin I could squeeze between the iron railings and get out! The boys used to compete to try to pee over the top of the open-air outside toilets on to the girls in the playground outside. In those days we were still allowed to play cowboys and Indians and run around chasing and hitting each other for fun.

[@grahambrown5013]

@johnsomerset1510 ahhh yes, the toilets, I too remember the "competitions"....

[@johnsomerset1510]

I lived there in the 60s and remember it well and attended Fairfields Junior School and the Methodist cub pack. I thought it looked awful after the heart was ripped out for the redevelopment work and filled with acres of concrete. The new multi-storey carpark was the biggest in Europe at the time and had about 5 entrances and exits and at least 4 passenger lifts to the shops below and adjacent. I still have some of the control equipment odds and ends they were throwing out from the power station when they demolished it (Flaxfield Road area). The pistons in the diesel engines where as big as dustbins.

[@michaelburniston9033]

I miss the old town

[@flachi32]

Tragedy what became of Basingstoke from the one my parents moved to in 1960s to what the khazi it is now. Architectural suicide, a few bungs (in my opinion) and now eating up the villages in all directions. Watching this fantastic clip makes you realise the extent of how much the town has been ruined.

[@Unknown-vg4nz]

@@fivecylinderperfection5060 I go to the vyne right now I heard something happened to it in the past

[@johnsomerset1510]

@@Unknown-vg4nz It used to be Charles Chute school and was a disfunctional hell-hole filled with London over-spill kids. They used to fight and knock the teachers down the stairs.

[@mickmasters1686]

Who remembers jims Chinese takeaway the first one in Basingstoke jim and George wong

[@leedorey3768]

1980s Ford Sierra on one shot but otherwise excellent.

[@leedorey1490]

Beat me to it lol.

[@fivecylinderperfection5060]

Hard to believe that so much was acquired and then demolished in one go, it looked like it had been bombed flat.

[@Annonymousslay]

I went to Fairfield’s!

[@asuonval]

SAME!

[@benmcdonnell4167]

Very good, where do you get these?

[@paulgavin3603]

Good old St John's School. Should never have been demolished.

[@lorenzotheboss1963]

I go to one of them schools now

[@johnsomerset1510]

.....'those' schools now. I see the standards have slipped.

[@oconnellfamily9338]

Im watching this in 2021 LOL

[@ronboult8947]

Anyone know of any details of Rooksdown House Basingstoke? I was in hospital there during the war?

[@johnsomerset1510]

@@ronboult8947 Yes, it was in the Park Prewett mental hospital grounds and the hospital had its own branch line from the Alton railway which went to the south coast to bring in the wounded. The hospital also had workshops where my dad bought some cheap but good fence panels the patients used to make. Hope you recovered ok.