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Buckhurst Hill
Buckhurst Hill photos
Displaying the first of 2 old photos of Buckhurst Hill. View all Buckhurst Hill photos
Buckhurst Hill maps
Historic maps of Buckhurst Hill and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Buckhurst Hill maps
Buckhurst Hill area books
Displaying 1 of 18 books about Buckhurst Hill and the local area. View all books for this area
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Memories of Buckhurst Hill
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memories of Buckhurst Hill.
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Trolly Times
Most young boys at sometime rode and or built their own trolly. My experience growing up, living on the edge of French's Yard on Epping New Road in Buckhurst Hill, was full of good times riding my home-built trolly down the long slope in the yard after working hours and on weekends. My main difficulty back then was finding at least two matching pram wheels. Having one wheel was useless, but finding two the same size was like gold! Many times the two front wheels were the smallest, and the bigger pair were for the back. A good wide plank was to sit on, a six inch nail, or a proper bolt through the centre of the wooden front axle allowed us to steer it, by a rope nailed to each end. Brakes? The best kind was a stick nailed into the side of the plank, and pulled up on so it dragged on the ground.
I can't recall how many trollys I built back in those wartime days but... Read more
The Two Bob Gun.
At the top of Queens Road in Buckhurst Hill is a small newsagents shop. It was owned by the Mr & Mrs. Silk. The shop sold papers magazines cigarettes, sweets and a few toys. Situated right across the road from where Princes Road branches off. The little shop did a roaring trade. I attended school at Taunton House about half way down Queens Road., and of course passed Silks going to and from school. My Mother always let me stop for a minute to look in the shop window.
One day I saw a toy revolver, like the cowboys used in the wild west. It was a cap gun and with the holster cost two shillings. I asked my parents so many times if I could have that gun. Each time I was told No, as it was too expensive. After several months of hoping and asking I still recieved the same answer. One day I looked in the window and it was gone ! I was heart broken, someone... Read more
W & C French Ltd Contractors.
My father Leon Lalonde was Mechanical Engineer for W&C French from 1928 to 1947. He was responsible for the repair and maintenance of all Mechanical Equipment and Heavy Machinery. The large yard was located between Fairlands Close and The Reindeer Pub on Epping New Road. The yard housed every different kind of machine and piece of equipment a construction company might need. It also had a major repair workshop, paintshop, welding shop, and wood working shop.
During the war Mr. Charles French was naturally very concerned about the safety and welfare of his staff and employees and their families. He ordered a series of Air Raid shelters to be built into the natural side of a hill within the yard. These were to be four side by side concrete shelters, reinforced with tram lines from Walthamstow, which had switched to trolley buses. They would have a roof several feet thick, and walls of equal strength. One was designated as a Womans and Childrens Shelter, the second for Men. Each... Read more
Going to Church
I went with my family to the Congregational Church all my life till we got married there in 1970 and then moved away. I remember the new hall being built and Harold Johnson getting cement on his cassock whenthey laid the foundation stone. Of course both the old hall and church have now been demolished. The church used to put on shows in both the old and new hall which we took part in. My friends were there and I have many happy memories of church, singing in the choir, Sunday school, collecting for missions and sitting next to my mother and Mrs Cowley in the same pew every Sunday.
Grandfather Had Relation Who Lived Here
I have not had the pleasure to have seen Buckhurst Hill, Essex to date but my grandfather Robert Martin Taylor had a relation who lived there. His son Everard William Taylor was born Scotland 28th August 1885 and died Perth, Western Australia when I was seven, 10th Sept 1963. I will like to hear from anyone who may have known my relatives. My email: margaretgoode@hotmail.com Kind Regards and Hello to all Margaret From OZ.
W&C French Ltd
I was a motor vehicle apprentice with W&C French Ltd fromm 1958 to 1964 at North Farm Loughton which is now a private housing estate.The fleet was mainly Ford but I did work on heavy vehicles such as Foden, Scammel & AEC & also plant.I have tried on many sites to contact any employees of that period without success.There were some great characters employed in the transport department highly skilled that set me on the road for my future career in the motor industry. I did visit the Harlow yard after the operation moved there but later lost touch.I owe a great deal to the Guys I worked with there & the skills I was taught as most operations were carried out in house unlike today where most repairs etc are carried out by specialists.A good al round apprenticeship which would be envied today
Knighton
My great-grandfather & great-grandmother lived in one of the lodges at Knighton. If my memory is correct (as none of the family are still alive to check with), he was the butler to the Buxtons, their surname was Clarke. When my grandparents got married they lived in Queens Road, their surname was Waterman. I would be interested if anybody has any information about them. My brother has an oil painting of the lodge, it was the one pulled down to build the housing estate.
St John's School.
My primary school years were spent at St John's school until the age of 10, when during the summer, we moved to Berkshire. I never got the chance to say farewell to my friends who were moving into the final year in the September of 1964.
My memories of life in Scotand Road where we lived for 10 years, were blissful. I was a brownie, I danced and spent much time in Knighton woods or in the Kingfisher pool in Woodford, the Grange in Chigwell or larkswood pool in Chingford where my grandparents lived.
I too remember Silks the sweet shop-we used to ask for 'The tray' and from which I used to ask for 2 chews and a penny flat licorice, we weren't greedy in those days.
I remember playing with my friend Janet Robershaw who lived on Forest Edge, Hazel Henry and Joanne Cooper all of whom I never bid farewell too.
I also remember the High Street where as a treat my mother bought us... Read more
