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Croydon
Croydon maps
Historic maps of Croydon and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Croydon maps
Croydon area books
Displaying 1 of 13 books about Croydon and the local area. View all books for this area
You can read extracts and browse photos from these books.
Memories of Croydon
Displaying a selection of personal
memories of Croydon.
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Kennards
Was there really a live donkey in Kennards Arcade at some point? Was that just a childhood dream I had? One highlight of my childhood was going to one of the big department stores with my grandmother and mother. Ladies dressed in black played violins while we ate coffee and cake. For a few brief hours we were rich, had a huge house and all the other things I once thought made life fun. I cannot remember if it was Alders, Kennards or Grants. One day I wanted to take my grandmother there for coffee. Alas that wonderful experience had been replaced by a self-service cafe. I have no idea of dates, but was born in 1955 and the self-service cafe disapointment happened when I was a teenager.
Kennards
My mother Kathleen Reeve used to work in Kennards and I remember that at the end of the day over the loudspeaker system they would play "Now is the Hour". In later years she always used to say how much she disliked that tune! I was only 7 but I too remember the arcade and the sights and smells and how wonderful it was for a child at Christmas time.
Dees Ford Dealer South Croydon
I purchased my first vehicle at Dees in 1959. I was twenty four and really wanted a car but the prices were high for used vehicles and the registration fees also. I went to Dees with my friend Graham (we met while working at Mullard in Mitcham) and one of the the employees told us they had some used vans for sale. In those days the registration fees for vans was a lot lower than a regular car. We were directed to a location about a mile away where Dees had a body shop and a storage area. On arrival we discovered they had a lot of used Thames vans for sale. Apparently there was some sort of contract with the Singer Sewing machine company whereby they exchanged their vehicles annually for new units. As a result Dees had a lot of vans for sale, in some cases with low mileage. We bought one each. Only problem was the color,... Read more
Wandle Road
Although I was born in Newcastle on Tyne, I came to Croydon when I was nine - about 1958. My maiden name was Fawley, and my parents (Ron and Irene) had a sweet and general shop at 6 Wandle Road. It was near the swimming pool in Scarbrook Road, and a lot of trade came from there after swimming (do you remember how hungry you were after swimming?) The shop used to advertise what was on at The Grand Theatre, and sometimes we used to get free tickets. I went to Howard school before South Croydon Secondary Modern - Mr de Voile was the head and he was always telling us 'how lucky we were' - heavens knows why. I have very fond memories of old Croydon - the market, the town hall and library, Turtles in Crown Hill, C & A, Swears & Wells - the fur shop, Lyons tea shop in North End where Macdonalds is now, Wilsons coffee shop in North End where you could smell the... Read more
James And Horner Newsagents
I was bought to live in Croydon when I was about 5/6yrs and my parents actually ran the newsagents James and Horner (if my memory serves). I remember living next door to a furrier, and only just having found this site my memories are very happy ones. I do remember visiting the Davis Theatre to see "Swan Lake" with my mum; also do a photography shoot for Jack Setty Furrier which I think was also opposite..
Croydon Train Crash Sussex rd Sth Croydon Oct 1947
I well remember this crash, I had just walked past where the crash happened to buy bread for my mother. I was only seven years old, but ii will always be on my mind, because ten years later my first job after leaving school was to become a signal box boy at South Croydon signal box.
Kennards Arcade And Surrey Street Market
My dad had a shop in Kennards Arcade, mending, making and selling dentures. I helped him on Saturdays selling his own brand of denture cleaner called 'Sparkdent'. My first half-crown pay was spent on a Buddy Holly album that I still have. A family story goes that one of his lady customers came dashing in and asked for a new pair of dentures as hers had fallen into someone else's basket of veg/fruit in Surrey Street Market and she did not dare to ask them for them back!
Surrey Ice Cream Parlour
I wonder if any one remembers the Surrey ice cream parlour, half way up Surrey Street on the left bottom of the steps leading up to the main road. Oh how I wished we could get ice. This was just after the war. I was born 1935. Also does anyone remember the lady who used to sell fresh boiled beetroots? This was later but I have no idea when. Anyone with any info please get in touch, my e-mail is: honkharling21@googlemail.com
