Memories of Barking

Halcyon Days

I spent many an hour floating around in a boat on that lake and dreading the second when the voice of authority would call out: 'Number 3 (for instance, your time is up.' We'd then make our way back to the boat house, as slooooowly as was possible.

Bitter-sweet memories

I was born in Upney Hospital in early 1951, the youngest of six children. We lived with our parents in North Street. When I was two our parents split up and my dad eventually 'won' custody of myself and the brother next up to me, four years my senior. Dad had been disabled during the Second World War and, as such, was no longer able to do his job, in civvie land, in the building trade. So he was at home a lot and his passion for breeding birds and small animals became his trade. He had a stall in Brick Lane market in the East End. My aunty ran the Milk Bar, which I believe, was situated in East Street - does anyone remember it? She was the most wonderful pastry maker and her meat pies and sweet pastries were very well known locally. She would always treat me to having a go at rolling out the dough when my dad took me to visit at the bar. I would also get treated to a tasty treat whilst there.

Another of my aunties on my mum's side and her husband, had the Pie and Mash shop and as my dad remained on good terms with Mum's family, I would often go there too with Dad and my brother, and be treated to some delicous 'grub'. "Eat up", Dad would say, "It'll put hairs on your chest". Why I never doubted or questioned that, remains a mystery to this day, haha.

Now for the bitter... Dad had to do odd jobs as and when he could as well as his animal breeding, selling etc. I remember the day he took me to Eastbury House and told me to be a good girl and that he'd see me later. The manor house was imposing and very very daunting to a totally unsuspecting, unprepared, toddler. I was greeted and taken in to the nursery nurses and put with other children of my tender age-group. The nurses all wore uniform and I was scared and felt sick. Meal times were good unless, and until, a nurse made you eat something that you really disliked. I loathe marrow to this day! I remember trying to be a good girl and not cry but being overwhelmed at parting from my dad and watching through one of those huge windows, I think on the first floor, as my dad walked down the long path and away from me and sobbing until I was exhausted.

I do have some happy memories of being in the day care nursery at Eastbury House. Christmas was SO magical.  Presents and Father Christmas and party food and singing Carols and Christmas songs and, and, and ... ooo, I'm being transported back there now in my mind!

I remember how we would be lined up on benches and then served a spoonful of Cod Liver Oil which was then swiftly followed by a spoonful of Malt. Everyone loved the Malt, or so we thought! Haha. Most of the nursery nurses were kindness and warmth personified, but one or two were controlling and totally unaware of childrens needs and emotions.

I graduated on to Westbury infant and junior schools in Ripple Road and on from there at eleven, to Eastbury Secondary, the latter I refer, fondly to as Eastbury Academy For Young Ladies And Gentlemen. Haha. I loved school and did quite well, even being awarded a literary prize at one stage.

I would pass Eastbury House thousands of times in the years that followed.  Always, as now looking at that photo, it could evoke  a headful of memories and mixed emotions.

Barking

If I remember rightly, coming round the corner from Ripple Road into East Street, there was a hole in the ground courtesy of the German bombers. Later, Timothy Whites was built there. Anyway, as youngsters, we used to head for the Capitol cinema for the Saturday morning club, but before we got to the cinema we used to stop at a covered arcade (market) where we used to swap and buy comics - Beano, Dandy, Marvel Topper, you name it, there was a comic of your choice. Does anybody remember the Saturday morning shows at the Capitol cinema? I would be interested to find out.

There used to be a pie and mash shop in Ripple Road just past the police station on the right hand side. I used to have to carry a large pudding dish and plate to cover it with (the type mother used to steam-boil the Christmas puddings in in an old gas copper. It was my task as a young lad once a week to walk from home to the pie and mash shop to get the bowl filled with liquor (the liquor was a form of sauce, best with mash potato, pie and eels). Like fish and chips once a week, pie mash was also a delicacy.

MY MEMORIES OF HOME

I remember going to the Ripple Road School. I started in the middle of the year 1949 I think. I left about the middle 1950s. I remember going to the corner shop to buy sweets like false teeth and the like. Then walking home with my friends up over the rail bridge waiting for the train to come and enjoying the steam on our face.
With my friend Ann we would then walk to Chalmers Avenune where she lived and I would go on to Longbridge Road, number 102 in fact. It was just  before the park, a very old 3 storey house, I loved that house so much and it holds so many memories for me. My dad sold it to a car sales firm and they pulled it down and built a car sales room. I often think of the wonderful times I had in the park, at the Odeon and the shops. Caters the grocer was one of my favourites and then Abrahams, the shop that had Gingernuts, that is all I could remember. They used to let me have one and then I used to go down the back to the mystery of the back room in this shop. I was first introduced to Gingernuts there and to this day I still love them. For some reason I can remember there was a pram shop somewhere in Longbridge Road, I do not know why that has stuck in my mind. Oh yes, and the doctor who was Dr McDonald. I can remember the Saturday mornings waiting in line to go to the pictures. The wonderful church, St Margaret's (I was always going to get married there).
We left Barking I think it must have been about 19955, and went to live on the Elm Park Estate in Rainham.
I could go on and on. I now live in New Zealand and often tell my grandchildren about Barking but now I have found this web site I will be able to show them the places that I have often talked about.
My maiden name was Pat Beech.

Memories of growing up

My first real memory of the town was Mum taking me to Blakes corner which has been bombed and me peering through the wooden safety wall, to look at the hole down below. I think it became Timothy Whites & Taylor after that. I was born in 1946 and lived in George Street, off Linton Road, and went to Northbury infants school, the headmistress being Mrs. Biddis, her hubby was a local vet. The Capitol was in the town, next to where the old mortuary was, my grandad painted that cinema when times were tough. Of course Jimmy's the chemist was there; I happened to be that way some years ago and his son was there and it was thrilling that he remembered me and my family from so long ago. Sainsburys was a treat, they were in East Street next to Home & Colonial, but Sainsbury always won. The smell of the shop was amazing, hams, bacon, spam and cheeses and butter. I watched in awe and amazement as the lady used her butter paddles so accurately.  he walls were all tiled white and it was so clean. All staff had uniforms and boater hats. Sainsburys doesn't smell like that any more. Worrickers toy shop was heaven on earth, I still have treasured toys from there. Barking Park was beautiful with a lovely paddle boat on the lake. The carnivals were wonderful, I remember Stewart Granger the movie star crowning the carnival queen and one year Diana Dors was the guest of honour. I remember Willets shop, Killwicks, the beautiful ladies' dress shops and the market opposite the Abbey where the eels were chopped up and kept wiggling. But next to that was the record shop where I went on a Saturday afternoon. All gone now, just a memory, it was good then.
Victoria

Ripple Road

I was born in 1948 and lived behind Wallis's undertakers in Ripple Road, where my dad was the manager. I went to St Margaret's Church of England School in Back Lane, and was married at St Margaret's Church in 1970. I also did my nursing training at Barking (Upney) Hospital, before moving to Colchester. I have memories of losing my Easter bonnet into the Town Quay one Sunday morning after church.
Carol Harding (nee Leith)

Shopping in Barking

I was born in 1947,  so anyone that reads this of that era can relate to the great shopping and Barking people. You could never walk through the shops without seeing a friend or neighbour and through a child's eyes everything was 'right with the world'. My mum and I would have a cuppa and egg and cress roll in Woolworths, they had a cafe along the width of the shop at the far end. Does anyone remember it?  Jimmy's the Chemist and the wet fish shop next to Burtons. The joy of looking in the market, Blakes and Broadway. And remember the live eels! And the lovely smell of fresh baked bread at Arthy's.
All lovely memories of happier days.
Edna (nee Miller)

Living in Tanner Street Barkng

When I was four years old our family moved from Benfleet Essex to Barking. M y Farther took a position as Manager of a Corn Chandlers In Tanner Street, and we lived at number 81 next door.
I can recall starting school at Church Street primary, although it was called an infants school then. my memories are so many it's difficult to pin down the best, but I will try.
I used to walk down Taanner Street and over the railway bridge to school. Times were hard then and many of the pupils were very poor and badly dressed.
High lights were the the school holidays, when my father used allow me to go with the horse and cart to the London Docks to collect corn and molasses for and other supplies for the corn chandlers, we had two horses in the stables, I only recall Mary who was a large shire horse she used to carry the Mayor of Barking at the Lord Mayors show. This is only a very small part of my memories, perhaps I will add to them latter. Living now in Norway aged 82 I look back on a long event filled life with no regrets.

Lawrence J Rand

St John's Ambulance Brigade

In the early sixties I was a member of the St John's Ambulance Brigade and often on a Saturday morning I would don my uniform and present myself (as instructed by my leader) to do my duty at the Odeon.

Often there would be 2 or 3 willing volunteers and we would always pray that no-one would get sick or ill so we could enjoy the movie as well. Great days.

In those days the Odeon was massive with a balcony and lower stalls, it was huge and most times everybody behaved themselves - it would only show one film maybe with a cartoon or something unlike todays Odeons.

The Capitol cinema

I used to look forward to the weekend so I could pay my 'tanner' and go to the Saturday morning pictures at the Capitol (now Marks & Spencer I believe). I was born and raised in Barking, Sutton Road (off Movers Lane). Went to school at Northbury (infant)/Westbury (junior) and finally Eastbury Secondary Modern schools.
Looking at these old photos brings back a lot of happy memories for me.  Haven't been back to Barking for many years, it's nice to see the old place again though.
I would love to hear from anyone who lived in the town in 'The good old days' of the 1950s and early 1960s. I used to spend a lot of time at and near the town quay, I was drawn to water and I still am. My local waters are now the Norfolk Broads but I still look back often and think of the quay. Happy days!