Barkingside memories
Here are memories of Barkingside and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Barkingside or a Barkingside photo.
Barkingside 1952-2007
I lived in Barkinside from 1952 until 1969. My parents were there until 2007 so I have seen so many changes. We originally lived in Clayhall, St Claire Close and my parents moved to Brandville Gardens in the 90s. Both my brother and I went to Fairlop and had a really sound eduaction there. I became a Civil Engineer and Stephen ran his own very succesful IT company. Marments had to be my favourite shop and I used to look at all the Dinky toys in the window and wonder if I would ever be able to have any. Pocket money was saved to buy Airfix models from Woolworths. Friday night became shopping at the new super self service Key Markets but I missed watching the ladies measure and pat and wrap the butter in Sainsburys. A real treat was to go to Rossi and have an Ice Cream Soda for 1 shilling.....happy days. The only time you would eat hot cross buns was on Good Friday and special orders... Read more
Barkingside High Street
I remember the fish shop/butchers in the High Street, it was called Gurrs and they used to smoke the fish out the back of the shop. It was situated between Boots and Rossis. Before the swimming pool was built, the land was full of trees and bushes where we played as kids. We always went over there after coming out of the Saturday morning pictures at the State Cinema, 6d downstairs, 9d upstairs. I used to be a "milk boy" for a milkman in 1964 and we always stopped at Pithers Bakery for a cup of tea and a cream cake halfway through the round. It all looks a bit different now!!
Fullwell Cafe
Does anyone remember the Fullwell Cafe? it was on the left hand side of Tomswood Road just past Albany's wood yard. My father Peter Full owned and ran it between 1960-1968. It was pulled down to make way for the bungalows that are still there. Those were the days!
Barkingside in The 1960s
I remember growing up in Barkingside in the 1960s, going to the State cinema on Saturday mornings, the trolly buses that ran along the high road, Green & Dyson groceries where my mum worked, Fairlop School 1961-66. The wasteground before the swimming pool was built, Barnardo's village where a lot of friends stayed, Pages model shop and Marments. Many fond memories of Barkingside and I still live there.
Mossford Garage
I started work at the age of 15 years as 'the boy', apprentice mechanic at Mossford garage. I remember going down the High Street to Pither's bakeries to get ham and cheese rolls, as well as pies for the mechanic's tea breaks. The woman that used to serve me would always pop an 'extra' roll in for me, with a wink of an eye, with a whisper,"That's for you!". I also glimpsed at the girls that used to work in Boots the chemist, a blonde and brunette. I remember the Westminster wine shop where my dad worked part time as a delivery driver and I helped on a weekend delivery until he got me the job next door in Mossford garage. My dad's full time job was as a fireman in Hainault. Mossford garage was a National petrol garage, which you don't see today, also a Ford agent. Bobby Moore did bring his Ford in for a service, also his wife's car. I also remember going to the other... Read more
Growing up in Barkingside
I spent most of my childhood in Barkingside and I lived above Pithers Bakeries from 1960 (when I was born) until approx 1973, we moved to Fairlop Road when Sainsburys was built. I do remember fondly Marments the toy and bicycle shop and the original Rossi's, just a couple of doors down at that time. The Frith Photos do take me back and I remember the garage on the corner of Westminster Gardens. Seems strange it was there now. The plot that the Swimming Baths is on was like a kind of wasteland in the 1960s also. Probably Pages the model shop was one of the most facinating things, they had a train set in the window and you could put a penny in and watch it go around for a minute or two. How times change. Steve Thomas
JJ Double And Gearies Scool
What an amazing site! I went to Gearies in 1949 and left in 1953 and if I remember correctly Doubles was the motocycle shop on the corner. It is now nearly sixty years ago so my memory of the streets in the area is a bit hazy but the photos certainly brought back a load of memories. The Rossie's I remember was an ice cream parlour which used to shut for about six months of the year and re-open in summer. I lived in Clayhall so most of my memories centre around Barkingside and Redbridge. Such memories - such nostalgia. Alan Harmsworth Brisbane.
Victoria Road
I grew up in Victoria Road in the 1950s and 1960s. I remember the fish shop that has been written about. There was an off licence on one corner of Victoria Road and Cranbrook Road and Williamsons stores on the other side of the road. My mum used to clean for Mrs Williamson. By Doubles, across Cranbrook Road, there was a Political Committee shop/office, Ciltom Furnishers (who later moved over to Williamsons stores) and Folgreens hardware shop. There was a sweet shop by the fish shop, and a launderette and hairdressers close by too.
Cranbrook Fisheries
My dad used to run the fish shop in Cranbrook Road (Cranbrook Fisheries), it was opposite Gaysham Avenue, with Warwick Doubles on the corner. I went to school at Gearies Junior School and grew up in and around Barkingside and Gants Hill. I went there a few weeks ago, it's now a Chinese take-away and the only shop that's still there is Frank Barnes car sales on the corner of Icknield Drive. Has anyone got any photos of the shops around where my dad's shop was?
John
Bakingside Round About
I know this is a picture that was taken 25 year prior to when I was born, yet I still get amazed at the dates of the pictures around my home town! The progression just amazes me!
Barkingside as it Was From 1937 - 1950
I lived in Barkingside from 1937 - 1950. I was 5 whan we moved to Merlin Grove from Forest Gate. There were fields and woods within a few minutes walk, sadly built over now. The library was a shop on the opposite side from Sainsburys, another small shop in those days. The library and swimming pool shown in photos didn't exist. Trolley buses plied to & fro along the High Street. There was a fighter station (airfield) in Forest Road behind the railway line (Steam trains). I attended Fairlop school from 1937 till 1943. The air raids were bad during the blitz and later the flying bombs & V2 rockets. Our houses all sustained blast damage, and we used to pick up shraptnel after a night of bombing. My friend & I would go to Newbury Park on a Saturday afternoon to watch Ilford Football Club play in the Isthmian League. My parents are buried in the cemetry adjoining the recreation ground, as it was called then, where I used... Read more
Barkingside
I have lived in Fullwell Avenue, Barkingside all my life. I was born in 1949. Who remembers where in the high road was W H Smith or Pollacks or where Sainsbury's was orginally? How about the garden centre that was opposite the old police station. Mossford Garage was where Somerfield is now. What about Fance's the bakers? And Eastwells the greengrocers. How it has all changed but not for the better.
Barkingside History
Can anyone help me. A book was written on Barkingside about 2 years ago but I have not been able to get a copy can anyone help?
Barkingside Library
The library was adjacent to the swimming baths where I swam regularly. I understand that the glass in the library "beacon" needed to be replaced in favour of heat-deterring glass. But before that happened it could get stifflingly hot!
Memory of Fullwell Cafe
I used to live in Colvin Gardens, so I knew Fullwell Cafe very well. My mother, brothers and I used to go in there often on the way to visit my Aunty. I have many memories of walking up Toms Wood, Hill Road from Barkingside High St. There was Fairlop Primary School on the corner of our street, and on the other corner was a phone box! We now live in Australia since 1967, I was last in Barkingside in 1979.
Fish Shop on Barkingside High St
I remember the butchers/fish shop called Gurrs.They had this little area to right that was built up in front of the counter, and my brother Colin and I used to fight over who was going to stand on the step. Next door in the 50's there was a dress shop and apparently I loved going in there when my mum was getting us fish n' chips. A lady one day, tried to take off with me - my mum came out and couldn't find me and the woman was walking me towards Fullwell Avenue. Another lady told her she saw me being taken off and mum ran down the road to find me. The woman told my mother she thought I was lost, and was taking me home. I think I had a close shave there! I have many happy memories of going down Barkinside High St with my mum, and also going to the park at the end of the High Street near the Police Station. I went to... Read more
Rossis
This was an American style ice cream parlour next to Marmits the pram and toyshop. It was run by Peter Rossie and his wife Lynn, together with Peter's cousin. In later years it moved down the High Street to where Kingsway Sports was.
Italian Cafe - Rosa's??
I am convinced there used to be an Italian style restaurant, possibly called Rosa's, in Barkingside High Street around the area where the Rossi/ fish and chip shops is now. Can anyone confirm this or have I just imagined it?
Fish/butchers Shop
hey there I wondered if anyone can help me I grew up in Barkingside and remember lots about it but my mum and brother were having a conversation about Barkingside high street the other day and they couldnt remember the name of the fishmongers/butchers one side of the shop was fishmongers the other a butchers my mum thinks it wasn't far from Boots the chemist and rossi bros I wonder if anyone could help answer this question for me as I tried every search engine I can think of to find the answer. Please please help me as it would be great to be able to put a name to a memory. many thanks. sarah
My First Job
I worked for Green and Dysons/FC Dysons in the high street during 1960/61. I can recall the manager's name as being Tom Lott. Mrs Hearn worked in the canteen, well a corridor really rather than a proper canteen. From memory I think that we had 3 people including myself with the first name of Vic. Mac worked in the warehouse, does anyone out there have any more memories of this shop around this time? It would be good to hear.
Fullwell Avenue Street Party
I have 2 photos of a Street Party in Fullwell Avenue. Might be VE day or just a street party. Anyone who wants a copy then just contact me.
Thanks
Bob Burgess
Memories of Essex
Lford Lane
I was born in Ilford in 1928, I now live in Australia, came here in 1948 so my memories are of that time. This picture is of where we used to shop every week.
We lived in Dunedin Road. Is the railway close by? I was in the Gaumont Super cinema when it was bombed. But that is another story.
I remember the Hippodrome too.
Wow, I Used to Work Right Here
My first job as a teenager was with ICT, which subsequently became ICL and I think has now disappeared. I used to repair punch card equipment at Ilford Film, Plessey and Ilford town Hall back in the early 60's. I probably have walked up that piece of road a hundred times. The town hall is just visible on the right.
In the entrance to Ilford Film, Roden Street I believe, there was a working blacksmith's shop in the early 60's.
Born in Ilford
Ilford Town Hall is on the corner of Oakfield Road where I lived throughout WW2. The public Air Raid Shelter we used to sleep in was opposite the Town Hall in Oakfield Road. A very large department store called Moultons was opposite, in the High Street. T remember when Moultons was on fire one night & flames were pouring from its windows, the firemen looked so small on their ladders as they fought (successfully) to save the building. I remember there was a pantomine on at the Ilford Hippodrome but the night we were going there we had to canceI, that night it got a direct hit from a bomb. Ilford was badly bombed during WW2 but even as a child I remember the incredibly brave spirit of the people, I always felt safe with them, though I realise now that I'm lucky to be alive, so many were killed. I live in NSW Australia now, but Ilford will always be so special in my memory.
The Pioneer Market
I have very fond memories of the pioneer market ilford my aunt & uncle peggy & ernie holmes owned the veg stall they had no children so as there only nephew i was a very spoilt 4 year old an added bonus was that my nan daisey macCarthy worked on the oppsite hardware stall again as her only grandchild i was spoilt i remember going home with bags of sweets and toys. sadly ernie died of hodgekins disease in 1955 he was 29 aunt peg married louis amato in 1958 they had fruit & veg shops in romford road and walter hurford parade manor park they retired to barking louis died in 2004 peggy in 2006 they were 80 & 78. nan died in 1983 aged 90 her son my father benjamin brown who is from her first marriage is still alive he lives with my wife jean & i near spalding lincs he will be 94 on boxing day 2007
Harrison Gibbisons Fire
Though this picture is dated 1955, I think its actually later than this. The reason for this is that about 1960 the Harrison Gibbison shop had a big fire that not only destroyed that shop but also Selfridges next door. This picture shows the Selfridges store after it had been rebuilt after that fire. Also looking further down the high road I can the Marks & Spencer store this was not built until 1965.
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