East Street c1955, Barking
East Street c1955, Barking Ref: B440017
Memories of East Street c1955, Barking
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!
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)
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)
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... Read more
Durell Road, Martins Corner
What a place! If you're not born here, run for the hills! But I love it, I still see faces of long ago that do too, or why didn't we move away a long time ago!! My mum and dad were the best, I never got hit by them but this place turns you when all your school days are who's the best at beating up others. I encounted this as did all the children I went to school with, nice children turned by kids that got beatings from their dads and mums. People live here because there's no chance of moving to a better place, not because the parks so good or the houses are solid, I wish for one I had a childhood without a beating at school or on the street, and I feel so bad for the ones that got it in turn from me.
Thanks to All ....
Thanks to all for bringing back memories. I was born at 66 Napier Road, East Ham. I moved to Essex in 1958 and later emigrated to New Zealand. I have good memories of Muddies Pie and Mash, jellied eels and whelk stalls. I still remember people I knew back then, including my best mate Mavis who I have recently reconnected with. I often wonder what happened to others like my first boyfriends Eddie Manders and Alan Pearson. Memories have flooded back like trips to the local swimming pool and coach trips to Southend, holidays to Butlins Holiday Camps in Norfolk etc. Other memories like lighting fires in tin cans on the old bomb-sites, playing Knock-down Ginger (we must have been real pests). Dancing at the local Palais was a must too. Thanks for the memories guys!
J.Sainsbury Ltd
Sorry to one of your correspondents, males never wore hats in the shops of J.Sainsbury to my knowledge. The females wore nylon head scarves. I worked at the Barking branch for several years, are there any more of the staff still around ? I loved the Christmas's there, working with Mr Harris the super. We had the big front window open and yelled and served from it. Frank Smethins was the manager, Whip Henwood the assistant manager, Sal Sawkins the clerk. They were happy days, how the rest of the staff put up with me I just don't know! Was the cinema in Ripple Road (The Bug Hutch) called the "Electric"? It cost ninepence to get in on Saturday Afternoon, and we had to queue.
Barking & local memories
Read and share memories of Barking and Essex inspired by Frith photos.
1949-1966
I was born at 16 Roding Avene, the prefabs right next to the River Roding. Across the main London Road was Delayneys, also the Masters Match factory with its tall chimmney. I remember seeing the chimney being knocked down, the man at the top looked like an ant. I have many memories of Barking. I went to St Margarets C of E School [played the recorder in Mr Gray's Orchestra] then Park Modern Secondary. I danced at the Town Hall in aid of cystic fybrosis with The Joyce Williams School of Dance. Joyce lived in Bradfield Drive, next door lived Susan Bigwood who later went into the Black & White Minstrels by the name of Sue Lyn [Lyn I believe was Joyce's daughter who passed away with CF]. Susan's mum made our show costumes for ballet, tap & acrobat performances. I believe the Barking Advertiser took photos of our shows. My cousin Elaine's grandfather Alex looked after the boats at Barking Park Lake. My Aunt Pat worked in... Read more
Faircross And my Early Teens
I was born in Upney Hospital 1944, my mum and dad lived in Stratton Drive, went to Park Modern School as did my 2 older sisters and my brother. Most of my parents families lived in the same area ie on the so called 'Leftly Estate', we were considered to be upper class living there!! My best memories at that time are of Barking Park, the small train that ran at the end of the park, boating on the lake, and there was even a paddle steamer. Barking Carnival held in the first week of September was always special! I was sixteen and finding out what girls and rock'n' roll were about! Bright lights and Elvis and Buddy Holly - best time of my life! One last thought...Does anybody remember the fish and chip shop 200 yards from the park entrance? With 2 large walls covered in tiles depicting Lowestoft Trawlers in Heavy seas? Absolutely wonderful!! Probably in a landfill site now? In 1960, I now owned a motorcyle! But my... Read more
Saturday Morning Pictures
I remember going to the pictures on a Saturday and watching 'Old Mother Riley', also going to Timothy Whites and buying a Christmas present for my mum in there.
Fond Memories of Barking - Essex
I was born in Upney hospital in 1954, lived in Barking in Esex in St Aldrey Street, attended Ripple Middle School, loved going to Barking Park as a kid, we moved to Australia in 1966.
Born in 1946 in St. Mary's Road
I went to Eastbury boys school, lived then in Blake Avenue, had vert fond memories of Barking town centre, also played in Eastbury House. I remember the pie mash shop and the coffee bar next to the picture house called the Electric or known as the bug hole.
My Wedding
I was born in Upney Hospital 53 years ago. My husband and myself were married at this church on October 15th 1977. It was a very nice warm day and we were lucky to have a beautiful sunset when we had our pictures taken on the steps at the back of the abbey. There were about 100 guests all standing on the steps. As we walked through the tower they rang the bells of the church. My husband and myself still live in Barking, we lived just around the corner to each other and never knew it. His mum used to see my mum with me in the pushchair and say "What a lovely little girl". Little did she know I would grow up to be her daughter-in-law! We had three children and now we are waiting for the birth of our 6th grandchild....happy days.
Gascoigne Road
I was born in Gascoigne Road in 1946, right opposite the school, 2 doors from Molly's sweet shop. My sisters Brenda and Betty along with our parents Rose and Arthur Cox. I have wonderful and happy memories of our life in Gascoigne Road, all three of us attended Gascoigne School as did all the kids in the nearby roads. Everyone knew everyone, the houses in all the roads were very small, two up two down, with a scullery and outside toilet, with alleys running through the back of the gardens, where we ran in and out up and down, playing runouts. The roads nearby were Howard, Boundary, Perth and Keith, we would often venture to Greatfields Park to play. I remember walking up Gascoigne Road with my mum to get our groceries in Victor Value's, passing R,Whites, through the prefabs, near the George pub. I can also recall the Electric Cinema and Shindermans the shoe shop and the old Broadway market. Jimmy Leigh's, the eel and fish stall, and the... Read more
Barking Park
I have many happy memories of Barking Park in the 1950s; the lake with the paddle boats; the swimming pool where my school summer holidays were spent relaxing in the sunshine; the carnival with the huge fairground once a year in the park.
A meeting place where people could get together with friends & family; we used to walk from Pelham Avenue where I lived with my parents, two sisters & my brother; they were great times with none of the worries that are around today; children were allowed to be just that, children.
Childhood Fun
Eastbury House was just around the corner from where I lived in Pelham Avenue from my birth in 1940 to the time I moved to Kent with my parents in 1956.
There was a huge wall that concealed beautiful gardens of Eastbury House & we used to climb up on the wall to get to the plum trees that overhung; it was all harmless fun.
I remember my Mum & Dad having a row one day & my Mum said she was leaving; we went looking for her & found her sitting on the steps of Eastbury House, so she did not go far & came home quite readily as it was getting dark & it was a bit creepy there at night.
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... Read more
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... Read more
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... Read more
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... Read more
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.
MY MEMORY OF PESCIES
About 1944 my memory of Pescies starts with going to the closed-in swimming pool at the back of the now Law Court, to go there I would be running round to find jam jars from next door then change them in Sainsburys, 1p large and 1/2p small, it cost tuppence to get into the swimming pool then. When we came out if we could manage another tupence we would go round to Pescies for a bag of chips and ask them to give us some crackling. O how great it tasted.
Born And Bred
The summer of 1959 goes down as the hottest in my memory. It started at the end of April and continued right through until the end of September. I was ten years of age that year and I spent most of that glorious summer hanging out with my pals over the outdoor pool in Barking Park. I remember bus drivers and conductors who had finished work at the adjoining bus garage, asking the girl on the turnstile if it was possible to hire swimming gear so they could grab a swim before going home. All were disappointed of course. Barking council arranged with the pool staff for the pool to remain open until 9.30 at night to give more people a chance to get a swim and cool down. The bikini had just become the height of swimwear fashion and my pals and I soon devised a way to get our first glimpse of the female anatomy. The girls would make themselves comfy... Read more
How Good Barking Was in The 1950s
I was born in Shirley Gardens in 1935, right opposite Barking Park where I spent most of my childhood at Barking open air lido. What a magnificent place that was! My father was a policeman in Barking so we always knew what was going on! In winter we would go swimming at Barking indoor pool and always have Pesci's chips when we came out. How exciting to go to Barking football on a Saturday down the alley between the library and post office. When I was eighteen I grew up and became carnival queen princess and Barking football queen and the queen was crowned by Jimmy Young, but we met many film stars who came to the town. We all used to go dancing at the Princes Hall on a Sunday and Ilford Palais on a Saturday. The Roundhouse at Dagenham was another popular dancing hall where a lot of big bands used to play. I was married at Barking in 1955 and went to church with a police escort!... Read more
Memories
I was born 1954 in St Mary's Road, Barking and use to go to Saturday morning pictures with my friends and the Barking Park Lido. The town has changed a lot over the years, you might recognize some bits and a lot of the pubs have since closed, I used to go to Eastbury Comprehensive and left in 1969.
School Friends From Eastbury Comprehensive And Ripple Juniors
Tina Peacock, I knew all those years ago we went out once or twice in those days to a pub, Evelyn Sherwin, Steven Sherwin, Diane Little, Steven Little, Tina Murphy, Linda Platt, Christine Bunn, Jane Moore, Christine Bramley, Marina, Alan Talbot, Colin Cubitt, the two Raymonds who ended working in the butchers after leaving school near the old Barking Library, Simons stores were at the bottom of the market, there were many more people but the names are so far away now in my mind. I miss those days with all the people I knew and the laughs I had...it would have been nice to know how they got on in life...
Those Were The Days 2
It didn't change until the sixties when the station was rebuilt and opened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth 11 in 1961. I watched the whole building project from start to finish from the comfort of my bedroom window. When it was all done we had a new glass steel and concrete bright and airy modernistic station complete with Hedges newsagents between the two new entrances a travel information center and the Wimpey Bar moved from across the street to the Station a new parade of shops was built going down to Cambridge Road and a huge new Wallis supermarket replacing the Brick wall. Anyway on the corner was Lloyds Bank they had a chiropodists upstairs and a lawyers as well. Most of the shops in Barking had upper floors for storage and some were flats most were at least 3 floors high. So we'll turn right and head down Station Parade towards St Margaret's. Just past the bank was Alex Wheels toy shop I spent many a happy Saturday in there looking... Read more
Those Were The Days 3
There was a flower shop a fruit and veg shop furniture and household shops. It all smelled so rainy in there all the time. Next to Wallis's was the long alley entrance to Barking Football Club (Vicarage Field) and Barking library was on the right. Barking Library was an amazing gothic building all dark and scary and musty smelling but what a place to go and read and escape in the dimly lit central hall huddled on the floor all cold and shivery reading the Famous Five books but always looking out for the librarian. Next to that was Barking Post Office very drab inside and out, all the people seemed so angry banging letters with big rubber stamps making you wait for ever to get served. It's still the same and it's the same at post offices all over the world why do they do that? A power trip I think. Either that or they are all related. Then there was Barking Clinic where we all lined up for what... Read more
Those Were The Days 5
Come out of there and you were at the Magistrates Court in the square I remember a big tree in the back behind black iron fencing and thinking that's where they did the hangings right in front of Barking indoor swimming pool and Turkish Baths. (I don't recall too many Turks in Barking in the 50s. Although I had my suspicions about old Mrs. Sopp and that beard of hers) not a pleasant image of your final moments on earth I think, that's why they put a bag on your head. On the next corner was the Capitol Cinema. Saw many a swashbuckling film or Disney Film there. I think here was the ever delightful Marks and Spencer's Food, Apparel and House wares of a higher standard. We used to really enjoy shopping here One always felt so rich. Next door was the CO-OP and its Green Stamps, I recall mum saving those stamps for years to get a coffee percolator. Don't know why though, she didn't like coffee. There was... Read more
Those Were The Days 4
Then there was the greatest fish and chip shop in the world PESCIES. Decorated in true Italian style of painted scenes of the blue waters and gondolas of Venice with beautiful wood booths with frosted glass scenes and marble topped tables, tea and bread served with every sit down meal. I'm salivating now just thinking of Rock eel and chips with a big old pickled onion mmm. So being a lad an all. I go in one day and say "Hey I wanna buy some of you fish ana chips and a bigga de onion Ok?". To wit a very large man of unknown genealogical species leans over the counter and says "Are you making da fun ofa me eh?". I say "No, it's notta me?" and then smack he hit me in the ear'ole and told me to bugger off. Back to reality cos next to them was the Copper Shop, Barking's very own CID division and Police Station all foreboding with its steep steps and heavy doors and... Read more
Those Were The Days 6
Continuing up the street on the right was a long parade of various shops and we come to Salisbury Ave on the corner was a large modernistic furniture shop later the shop nest door became a KFC and across the street next to the station was the Spotted Dog and directly Across was the Magnificent towering Odeon Cinema where we spent many happy hours at the Saturday Morning Picture Shows for kids. We could go there and see a stage show usually a magician or singers and the like games competitions cartoons and a main picture usually a Buck Rogers cliff hanger film or a Laurel and Hardy comedy. It was always great noisy fun. I knew there at least my ear would be safe. Sometimes we would go with mum and dad to a feature film like the musicals of the era South Pacific and such like and mum would pack sandwiches and orange drinks and we would be allowed to buy ice creams bars from the tray ladies... Read more
Those Were The Days 1
Growing up in the 50s and 60s in London's East End (well the Essex side of it). I was born on April 14th 1952 at Upney Hospital. I attended Northbury infants and junior schools and then went to Eastbury Secondary Modern. I worked in lot of the places described herein. I left Barking in my 20s for Southend and Benfleet. I then left England in 1980 for fame and fortune in the USA where I still live, in Pasadena CA with my partner and our daughter and the prettiest little Cocker called Bella. But the heart of England, London and especially the East End still beats deep and loud in my soul. It's who I am. My earliest memories of Barking go back to when I was around 4-5 years old. I remember fondly riding the electric trolley buses with all the over head power cables that criss crossed the streets of Barking. Ducking every time it changed direction cos the arms would bang on the roof. Sounded like they were about to... Read more
Salisbury Avenue
I grew up at 90 Victoria Road, then we moved to 75 Salisbury Avenue, I remember it well. The front of the house was chocolate brown paint and the garden in the back was overgrown like a jungle. Over the years my dad painted and renovated it until it was the nicest house in the block. I went to Ripple Road School (in the 1960s), I still remember the teachers, there was Mr Burdett, Mr Clark (he drove an old Triumph Mayflower), Mr Aston was the headmaster. I would love to hear from any of the kids in my old class, Linda Crosby, Jeffry Archer, Paul Saul, and my secret crush Tina Peacock. I now live in Canada, last time I was back in Barking I noticed how dirty it was, all the old shops were gone. I remember Woolworths, they had a great cafe at the back of the store, and who can forget the ABC bakery near Barking station, their salmon and cucumber rolls were fantastic.
The Capitol Cinema
I remember being taken to the Capitol by my sister to watch the Disney film Bambi. We sat through it three times, I was taken ill the next day and my sister got the blame. The Capitol had a ventilation fan under a hole in the roof, when it rained the fan sprayed water onto a big circle of seats below. We sat in the middle of the circle to keep dry! I went to Ripple Road school near the level crossing and lived near the Harrow. I remember the sweet shop by the Westbury Arms was run by Pat and John Renn, they sold records there, I still have the first on I bought.
I'm told that when I was a baby my mother left me in a pram outside Sainsbury's in East Street and went home with the shopping.
