Family memories with Fay Hampson...

My grandfather, Herbert Hampson, was born in 1885 at Overton Bridge. In the photograph of this house, grandad is the babe in arms.

I don't know where my grandmother was born but my brother discovered that at the time of the 1911 census grandma was a 20-year-old dressmaker living at 22 Empress Road, Wrexham with her widowed mother, her elder brother William who is named as the householder and a little girl aged three, called Gladys.

They all have the surname Jones. We knew of cousin Gladys who tragically died "of the measles" as a young teenager, but her parentage remains a mystery.

After they married in 1911 my grandparents moved in over the shop in Charles Street, Wrexham. Their four children were all born there and this was the family home for many years.

Plas Acton was the next house and I love this 1933 photograph of grandad taking a break from cutting the grass to play with his beloved dog Prince.

In 1936 the family were living in Salisbury Road, but the photograph dated 1936 is of poor quality. The one I have here shows the house's splendid tower; it was probably taken in the 1960s.

The next stop was Gatefield and I know the family lived here from 1938-1941. I love the wonderful greenhouse running along the length of the house. This is where grandad grew his tomatoes.

In 1941 the family moved to 6 Chester Road. This is the house of my childhood. We loved visiting. We would scare ourselves silly creeping down into the cellar and explore the attic where grandma had her sewing room.

It had such marvels as a shower- which sometimes worked, a gas fire in my grandparents' bedroom and bells! If you pressed a button in any of the rooms a ping would sound in the breakfast room and a little flag would wave to summon help to the appropriate place.

I have to say that it didn't really work either and as there was nobody to summon it remained a bit of fun for us children.

But the garden! Oh the garden! Hens, a pigeon loft, greenhouses, blackcurrant bushes, vegetables, and flowers - beautiful flowers.

My grandparents downsized to 64 Park Avenue around the mid 1960s and that was their final home. Here they are with Max the staffie.

There were always dogs...