St Mark's Church 1899, Battersea
St Mark's Church 1899, Battersea Ref: 44045
Memories of St Mark's Church 1899, Battersea
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Battersea & local memories
Read and share memories of Battersea and Greater London inspired by Frith photos.
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
Battersea
I was born in Church Road, Battersea in1939 and went to Bolingbroke School - 1944 to 1950, then on to Surry Lane. Did not have much in those days, but were very happy times. Swimming in the Thames, looking for old iron on the beach to sell to the rag and bone man, all good fun. Good memories of Battersea, always lots of things to do - building dens on the bomb sites.
Growing up in Battersea
I was born in 1951 and lived with my parents Gladys and Bill Thompson at 39 Nansen Road until I married in 1970. The Queen Vic pub was my parents local and I remember the landlord at the time being an Irishman called Pat, who allowed me to sit inside as long as I was well behaved. I also remember clearly a small shop opposite the end of Nansen Road - Cox's - where I would spend my pocket money on sweets each weekend. I went to school at Wix Lane Infant and Junior School and then Marianne Thornton Comp. School. I was married at St. Barnabus Church facing Clapham Common in 1970 and moved to Kent a few years later. I revisited Battersea about 18 years ago but hardly recognised it as it had changed so much, but on being allowed to go inside my old house by the tenants there at the time, found nothing had changed really, it was still haunted by the spirit that terrified... Read more
Saturday Morning Pictures
Guessing around 1069, I'd been about 10 then. I have many memories of going to Saturday morning cinema with my sister, and I remember my dad telling me of having similar memories. I lived at the top of St John's Hill, just before the town hall, so it was a fair old walk. I remained in Battersea/Clapham until 1985.
Memories of Battersea
I was born in Battersea in 1939. We lived at various addesses. There were five of us. I was the youngest and my eldest brother Charles was born in 1930 in Victoria Dwellings. I went to William Blake Secondary Modern School. Our last address before I got married and moved out of London was 89 Surrey Lane. I remember my mother saying as a girl her mother used to walk passed the house that had a grid down to a cellar. I checked the census and found in Victorian times our house along the house next door were mens lodging houses. Outisde our backdoor there were steps that led down to a very large cellar, there was a big step up to get inside which had a large cooking range. I remember there were rings in the wall of the cellar. When it was high tide and rained the cellar got flooded and the fire brigade had to be called out to pump it out. As a... 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.
Battersea Town Hall
The impressive entrance on Lavender Hill actually led into the Council Offices, where I started work when I left school in 1966. At that time they had changed very little since their Victorian origins; there was a grand staircase opposite the main door, with a half-landing then curving wings sweeping up on each side to the first floor. A larger than lifesize statue of a reclining woman, who I seem to recall was rather scantily clad, was in place of honour on a marble plinth on the half-landing. The rooms were high ceilinged with huge high windows and marble floors. The senior managers were allowed a small piece of carpet under their desks; the rest of us had to put up with cold feet.
I was the 'Office Junior' and my main job was to go round the offices once an hour and collect the papers from the 'Out' trays on people's desks, sort them according to who they were to go to, then go round again to... Read more
Lavender Hill
My uncle and aunt had a house in Beaufoy Rd, number 5, tucked into the corner next to the Fish & Chip shop. When I was home on on leave from sea that is where I lived, for about 5 years. Usually up the smoke to the jazz clubs I would often walk down from a late tube at Clapham Common underground across the Common. Ladies of the night would ply their trade there and although I never became a customer (honest) I did get quite friendly with one and we'd have a smoke together. Life seemed simpler then.
Peter Troy
My Favourite Haunt
My memories scan over 50 years, I lived in Anhalt Road and then Ethelburga Street and spent countless hours in the Park. The funfare, with fireworks every Friday night for the end of war celebrations, the tree walk along the riverbank. The smell of the leaves composting in the big bins near the gardeners lodge, the swings down the "posh end" and of course the lake. Having moved to Australia in 1957 it didn't seem likely I would return but, when I was lucky enough to pay a long overdue visit, I walked through the autumn leaves down this avenue and realised you can never truly leave any place you have lived. I felt right at home scuffing the leaves and smelling those old familiar smells. Our house in Anhalt Road sold recently for an obscene amount and Ethelburga Street is barely a shadow of it's former self. I was at school at the Salesian College which is now part of the general education system. Unfortunately one loses contact with... Read more
Help Beatles Film
This is where I first went to the pictures with a friend.
We saw The Beatles film 'Help'.
Durham Buildings York Road Battersea
I grew up between 1946-1957 in Durham Buildings. I wonder if anyone else who reads this website has similar memories. Playing on the bomb sites across the road, Saturday morning pictures (Flash Gordon etc.), St John's Primary school in Usk Road (I think!). Love to hear from anyone else with similar memories. As we get older it all seems to fall into place doesn't it ha!
THE LION IN PLOUGH RD
Pathe News covered this on film, we saw it at the Granada Cinema after - I lived opposite where it happened.
Battersea, 14 Oulton Street
Does anyone remember me, John Simmons? I had a brother called Teddy, sisters Jean and Val and a little brother that was killed in Henley Street, when a shelter fell on him. I remember Maggi Browns and Jills clothes shop. Does anyone remember Arthers clothes shop in Falcon Road? My mum was Anni, and my dad Ted, who have now passed away. I had mates Colin Huwitt, Stanley Thomson. I went to Latchmere Primary School, then Battersea County. It was safe in those days - I would go to town with my uncle Albert Gurney. Does anyone remember the British flag?
Porkie's Flower Stall
Hi, haven't got much info, but does anyone remember Porkie's flower stall Near the Latchmere pub? He had a son called Stevie and an old lady helped out, her name was Bridget Frost (Biddy).
Wycliffe Road
I lived in 31 Wycliffe Road just down from where the chimney sweep kept his soot. A number of films were shot in the "courts" between the streets Beaufoy Road and Bassnett Road. I moved in 1965 aged 11 not long after the area was razed to the ground to make way for a new much needed housing estate. I went to Wixs Lane School, was a grenadier at the Granada in St Johns Hill. So much freedom is my longest serving memory and I often wonder where the people I knew and the children I played with are today. There was a sweet shop on the Queenstown Road by the crossing outside the greengrocers that had an allsorts blind that was pulled down to protect the sweets in the window. "Barkers" decorating and ironmongers shop, they also fixed my bike after I killed the wheels on the "bomb debris", who remembers the bomb debris? Those were the days. I am 57 now and look back often.
Grandmother Lived in Battersea
Hello - year approx. 1945 or earlier. I used to visit my grandmother Maria Reading in the Battersea flats. They would be unlivable now by today's standards. No indoor plumbing, no heat, but they did have gas lights (which one day while visiting I "tweaked" the little pockets, not a good idea). I was pretty much in awe of my Granny. She had long grey hair which she wound around and around, and wore long grey skirts. She drank her tea out of a saucer, but she was a great cook. She had a huge stove, and her pastry would win prizes today. I seem to remember being told that she sold violets in the street and that someone painted her doing this. I would like to find out where it is today. She died alone (I was told alone), probably by influenza, at approx age of 95. She had two children, John and my mother Helen. ... Read more
60 Gonsolva Road.
60 Gonsolva Road...I lived here from 1947 until my family had to move out in 1960. Slum clearance they called it. One car in the road. The Batty family, who lived further down the road, went hopping every year. A flat back lorry arrived and they all bundled on top with their gear for their 2 weeks holiday! Us kids played marbles along the gutter, and flicked fag cards at the wall. Whoever knocked the other kid's card down won. Our bread was delivered by a horse-drawn vehicle. The rolls were warm and delicious. The milkman also had a horse-drawn vehicle. The milkman used to let me drive it back to the depot which was in Acre Lane, Brixton. The rag and bone man used to come down our road with his pony and cart. The coalman also had 2 big black coal horses which were stabled in the corner property in Gonsolva. I was friends with the coalman's son Malcolm,I have forgotten his surname and would love to... Read more
VE Day Tragedy And The Lion of Plough Road
I'm a Battersea boy, born 1938. Two memories I have and would like to know if anyone else can remember are: firstly, at the VE Day celebrations in Winstanley Road, do you remember the runaway horse and cart, probably Leggets the coal merchant's, when a uniformed soldier attempted to stop the horse by leaping onto its neck and grabbing the reins? Unfortunately he lost his grip and the horse and cart ran over him and he died; the second one was when a bomb hit a circus train stationed a the junction but the coaches straddled the bridge in Plough Road, a lion escaped down the embankment and was trapped behind a fence bordering the road. He was trapped there for a number of days and I would look at him through a knot in the wooden fence as I lived just across the road. The smell of the lion hung around for weeks after he was released. I seem to be the only person who remembers these incidents so... Read more
My Grandparents' Home
My dad was brought up in Battersea, he lived in Roydon Street, just off Battersea High Street. I remember the street well but can find nothing about it on the web or even find a map with it on. It was a weird kind of street, it was split down the middle and where my dad lived was in the middle of the road so to speak, it was a sort of triangle in the middle of the street, the front door to the house was in Roydon Street but the back gate opened in to a different street and along the bottom of the street was Southolme street. The railway bridge ran across the middle. The house was a big old house and had 3 floors, I always remember, my nan and grandad lived on the ground floor and the upper part of the house was converted into a living area and then the bedrooms were on the top floor. I have vague memories that when any of my... Read more
My First School
I remember my nan taking me to meet Mrs Hughes the headmistress of John Burns Primary on Wycliffe Road, Battersea, the school is now flats. I also remember being in a school play with the famous actor Tim Spall. We lived at 115 Beaufoy Road until 1969 when we moved onto the York Road estate, a block of flats called Chesterton House on Ingrave Street. I also remember a film being made with the late Oliver Reed, and Edward Woodward called 'The Sitting Target', but I missed John Wayne filming on the estate for the film 'Brannigan', but I did get to meet Sean Connery when he made a film called 'The Offence'. I used to play in a playground between scholey and Holcroft House and a small one behind Shepherd hse and the one next to sporle court the shops i remember on falcon rd were gross the opticans, Dunklemans, Iles carpets, Newmans furniture, Sunrays opticans, dentists, Dr Blonstein, my wife says a shop where you could buy trusses,... Read more
Lavender Hill Mob
I was born in Lambeth hospital in 1936. My parents moved into Nepaul Road off Falcon Road. My first memories of the Second World War were the blitz and air raid shelters. We were not bombed out but the estate was saved by Christ Church tower, I am not sure what date but believe it was the time of the V1s. I remember going to school in Mantua Street and in 1947 going to Lavender Hill, leaving home and crossing the railway lines and through the bomb site which I believe used to be a cinema. My dad took me to my first football game in September 1947 at Fulham and for my sinsIi am still going to the games at Fulham.
My Mum
My mum was born in Battersea, I know she lived at 9 Surrey Lane, Battersea, I am not sure where she was born, I think it was in Wandsworth. Her name was Dorothey Camp, born in 1923, her father was William (Bill) Camp, her mother was Beatrice Camp. She had sisters Violet, Llilian, Winifred and a brother William. Maybe someone knows my mum's family or maybe my mum? I would love to know more on her early days. She married my dad in around 1946, they lived with my grandmother at 9 Surrey Lane for a few years and had four of her children there. My dad's name was Henry, he sometimes used his middle name Reuben, Fisher, he lived with my mum there and also worked there so maybe someone would know both my mum and my dad as Mrs Dorothey Fisher and Mr Henry (or Reuben) Fisher.
Battersea Rise 1954
I was born at 66a Battersea Rise above a TV shop. I worked at Goys Chemist and Arding and Hobbs in 1969. I hold many happy memories of my life in Battersea.
Woodman And The Butcher's Shop
Does anyone recall a butcher's shop in Bridge Road and the name Woodman in the Lavender Hill area? Cheers.
Granada & Lavender Hill
I remember going to the Saturday morning pictures at the Granada, my family lived in Wickersley Road off Lavender Hill and I remember walking from the Granada home. I went to Wix's Lane School and later Lavender Hill School, and as a boy I worked in the London Co'op on Lavender Hill in the greengrocers and also William's greengrocers and also on Piggy West's barrow. My first fulltime job was at Nico's Engineering in North Street, then I went on the railway, then at seventeen and a half I went in the Army and that is another story.
Battersea
I remember the Granada, 6 pence for the Saturday morning flics. I always felt sorry for the plonker that had to do his bit and make us sing along before the flics started. After the show, down to 'Notarianni's for a 3 penny wafer of ice cream, then walk home along Lavender Hill re-enacting the main film or the trailer and trying to suss out what the hero would do to get out of the predicament he was left in for a week until we could return next Saturday. I remember the Grand Theatre. Mum and Dad if they had enough cash would take us to see a live show, I was enthralled. One drama that has remained in my mind was called "No Room At The Inn". One line sticks in my memory, this woman had charge of two refugee kids, this woman liked to drink and then took her anger out on the kids. The line was "Who broke me bleeding fevver", she had damaged the feather in... Read more
Lavender Hill
As a family we moved to 10 Lavender Hill in 1948, dad managed the butcher shop, Dewhursts, before that it was Chalks. One side was the fish shop Hitchcocks and the other side Maplesden the funeral parlour. Our back 'yard' opened on to Beaufoy Road, it had the chip shop to our right and on the left garages where the hardware shop people in Queenstown Road stored vehicles (Fordson truck and BSA combination). When I became a teenager (1951ish) I discovered girls! One in particular was Jeannie Partridge, she lived in a prefab at the end of Beaufoy Road, we cycled many miles. I left the nest in Lavender Hill in 1957, moved to Littleport in Cambridgeshire for 6 months, did not get on with the rural life and moved back to 6 Wixes Lane across the road from the butcher shop but nearer to the common and stayed there until 1963. The GL council requisitioned the property and I was forced into deciding whether to live in a multi-story... Read more
