Brentwood, Essex

The Parade

We lived in the Parade, down by the station.  The fish and chip shop was run by a rather large gentleman. eventually something happened, and we took it over. The soldiers would pack it out and there would be a long queue outside on Friday nights, and anyone seeing that would think we were making money hand over fist, but in reality we were dirt poor and had  hardly any furniture upstairs, just mattresses. There was a wonderful automatic piano on one of the floors though, and it played Back to Sorrento and other classical  music. One of our neighbours was Edie. There was an alleyway at the back of the parade and as I walked up there one day, someone shot me in the chest with an airgun. It stung, but my sternum stopped the slug from doing serious damage. I used to walk all the way to Barnstables at Upminster Common ( called Tylers Common now), and beyond, just to be with horses. On  some evening of the week I had to take fish and chips to the cop shop in Brook street, and come scampering back in the dark. The coal-yard was opposite the Parade,  a butchers just at the bottom of Queens Street. On the corner of the Parade was a barbers, maybe, run by two brothers one, or maybe both of whom had been in a German concentration camp and still bore the number on  one wrist. Next to that was a sweetshop and tobacconist, where I was always having to go to get my mother some more fags. I used to go up Rose Valley and then the  private lane to get to Shenfield Common with our dog. I remember  there were  a lot of wood ant nests in certain parts - you could hear them rustling they were so large. I didn't like Brentwood, or school ( Doddinghurst Road) but it was made bearable by riding horses through Thorndon Park, or  bringing the cows in for Mr Farmer ( his real name) down Sawyers Hall lane behind the school.

i remember this as st faith's hospital for epileptics

i remember this not as brentwood hackney schools but as st faith's hospital for women and children with epilepsy and other mental disorders. my father worked in the administration offices until he died in 1959 and my mother worked there as a nursing auxiliary after that. i remember going to children's parties (both for the patients and staff's children and have photos of my brother and I and parents at these functions. I remember one Matron, a Miss Hopkins, who was a lovely kindly lady and friend to my parents. She gave me a gold cross and chain which i still have to this day. it was her own cross and chain and i can remember feeling so touched that she should give it to me. she probably had very little money so it was a lovely thing to do. Although a massive place with huge long dayroomsl which today would not be allowed, the atmosphere was happy and the staff gave a lot of their own private time to the patients to make their lives happy. the ground were enormous and included a children's play area with swings, slide etc. the functions at christmas and summer fetes were entered into wholeheartedly by staff and patients alike. St Faith's had it's own kitchen garden so was quite self-sufficient and when my mother worked there the garden was run by a lady gardener, quite something in those days. The only part of the grounds that i can see remains today is the gatehouse where, when i was a child, a young scottish couple lived with their children. i have many happy memories of this place - as forbidding as it looks in the picture! Janet Aldridge (nee Leggett)

My House

I live in this house now, have restored it to original and I love the place. How unbelievable to find 2 pictures on this site.

Sam

In Loving Memory

I remember going regularly to Brentwood Cemetery. My Father would take us to visit the grave site of my baby Brother Barry who died at 8 months. My Sisters & I would help my Father maintain the grave. Lots of pretty floweres. I always remember the quietness, stillness, the total peace on our visits. May you continue to rest in peace Dear Brother Barry.

Essex Pocket Album

The High Street was not developed in a major way until the 1880s. Boys pose for the camera in the middle of the road, which is almost devoid of any traffic.The overpowering but rather dull Town Hall, with obligatory clock, dominates the right hand side of the road.

Essex Pocket Album

A further view of the High Street taken eight years after photograph 35669, this time from closer to the columns of the Town Hall. Little has changed except for the awnings.The White Hart, towards the middle of the picture on the left-hand side, was a Conservative stronghold during the 19th century, while the liberals frequented the nearby Lion & Lamb.

Romford Photographic Memories

In 1799 Edward Ind bought the Star Inn which had a reputation for brewing fine ale. He developed a prosperous brewing business and in 1845 Octavius and Edward Coope joined the firm. The Ind Coope Company became the town`s major employer. Brewing ceased on the 40-acre site in 1993 and was replaced by the Sainsburys Hypermarket complex.