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Battersea
Battersea maps
Historic maps of Battersea and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Battersea maps
Battersea area books
Displaying 1 of 13 books about Battersea and the local area. View all books for this area
You can read extracts and browse photos from these books.
Memories of Battersea
Displaying a selection of personal
memories of Battersea.
There are 26 shared memories to read.
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Good Old Days
Most of my mother's family lived in Old Battersea, from cousins to auntie and uncle, to nan and grandad. There were cousins in a 4 poster bed, with their nan and mum. There were my auntie and uncle sleeping in the same room as their 2 children. There was the man of the house who could not walk up the stairs to the bed room to sleep any more so he had to take one of the rooms downstairs. 8 people, 3 genarations, in 2 bedrooms, no bathroom and an outside toilet that from the youngest child to the older all had to use, and it was freezing out there in the yard with a small wooden door for privacy and Izal toilet roll and you were lucky if the family could afford that - otherwise it was newspaper sheets, cut into squares, on a bit of string. It was all after the Second World War and there were not many houses, so everyone just huddled together, stuck together, and... Read more
I Remember my Friend Charlie Keeble of 1 or 2 Dickens Street
I want to find my childhood friend Charlie Keeble who lived at 1 Dickens Street SW8. He will be 65 or 66 or 67 now. My phone number 0208 679 2746. You were a wonderful friend Charlie and I am so sorry I let you down like I did. Ernie. PS you are in my book and whilst writting it I missed you so much. Take care mate and hope to find you soon
Granada Clapham Junction
I lived in Auckland Road, Battersea Rise. My late mum was an usherette in the Granada. I used to go every Saturday morning to the cinema. My late dad had a request played on the organ for his birthday, 'The Sabre Dance'. He was so embarrased, bless him.
Battersea Today.
Battersea is so different today. My dad was born in Battersea in 1922, Earnest Edward Lovett.
Falcon Road
We lived in 'The Queen Victoria' pub on the corner of Falcon Road and Ingrave Street. I attended Falcon Brook School. Very near to the school was a little sweet shop where you could buy penny sweets, penny halfpenny lollies, teddy bear lollies for 3d and 6d could buy a jubbly or jungle juice that were huge! Gartons Glucose Factory let out a very nasty smell and my Mum would buy all her candles from Prices. Does anyone remember Schoolings the bakers on Este Road? I was sent their every Saturday morning (before going to the Granada for Saturday morning pics) to buy bread and buns. The bread was always hot and smelt soo... delicious that it was half eaten by the time I got it home, and I was always sent back to get another! There was the home made sweetshop on Battersea Park Road (next to the butchers with the sawdust on the floor) where we would go with our 6d to buy the broken sweets. The school... Read more
Battersea Born And Bred
I was born in the flats at Stewarts Lane by the dogs' home in 1950. My mum was born in Tidemore Street and my grandad in Curry Street, Nine Elms in 1897. My dad was born in Livingstone Road, the other end of Battersea, and also lived in Maysoule Road. My mum and dad met whilst queing outside the Granada in 1945. Although I wasn't a 'Grenadier' at this one, I went every Saturday morning to the Granada at Wandsworth Rroad. As a teenager the junction Granada was my local, my friend who lived in Usk Road and I probably saw every film they showed between 1965 and 1970. Does anyone remember the miserable old chap who was the usher who used to shine his torch straight into people's faces? He threw us out one time because some boys behind were throwing bits of paper at us and we all got our marching orders, oh what memories.
School Days..
As a boy in the 1950s I went to Christchurch Primary School in Este Road. I remember vividly going to church in a hall in the old church grounds while the new church was being built. The old church (shown in this photo) was destroyed during the war. I even remember nagging my mother to buy a brick with my name on it as a donation for the new building. I just wish I could remember the Vicar's name at that time so if anybody can remember him or any of his staff at the time let me know.
Granada, Clapham Junction
I have fond memories of the "British Granadiers" on Saturday mornings at the Granada, great fun. I also remember later on a Sunday, as a teenager, going to the Granada with my mates. We jostled for what we thought to be the best seat in the house. This seat was in the front row of the balcony, and had a plaque noting that the Duchess of Kent had sat there during the opening in 1937. All pretty harmless by today's standards.
In 1948 I attended Wix's Lane school and lived in Marmion Road. Later I went to Emanuel School and lived in Vardens Road.
I'm now a retired engineer living in Houston, Texas.
