Happy Childhood Days

A Memory of Chislehurst.

I moved to Chislehurst in 1936 in our "brand new" house in Oakdene Ave. Cost about £475. Primary school was Willow Grove, long since gone. Secondary school was the new Edgebury School, very big, even had a playing field. With the advent of war the village became a tempy home to lots of Londoners living a simple life in the Chislehurst Caves. The main attraction for the young was the Cinema opposite the library. It cost 10d in the front and 1/9d at the back. Mr Cripps, the owner, kept a constant patrol to keep the kids in order whilst his son, Roy, ran the projector. I remember "Smokey Joe", the mobile tramp reputed to eat children. Well I believed it!
The 1940's saw bombs falling, one in Walden Avenue killing my best friend. Just opposite his house a V2 destroyed some buildings later in the war. The houses in Oakdene, Elmstead and Cranmore Avenues all suffered roof damage with whole groups of tiles missing. Very few casualties though as most people had either Anderson or Morrison shelters. The Andersons in the garden cost £14 (installed) and saved many lives although they were damp smelly and crowded. Ours saved my life. Dad was in the "Home Guard" and worked on the Ack Ack guns in Petts Wood. With the end of the war I passed my 11+ and attended Beckenham Technical school travelling on the infamous 227 single decker bus. Squeezing through the Water Tower at the top of Summer Hill. The land on either side of the hill from the top to the station was on offer at £10 per acre!! If only!!!
My life in Chislehurst was one I will always treasure and look back with affection.