Kennards 2
Reminiscences of Kennards Arcade brought back memories for me too. As a child, I was in Croydon for most of the war and "ponies", as we called the arcade, was a favourite spot when shopping. It helped with the war effort by displaying informative and morale-boosting mini-exhibitions along part of its length. Three of these stand out - a "daring" live silhouette of a glamorous young lady, probably inspired by cartoon character Jane, taking a bath in the recommended meagre depth of water; a reconstruction of a coal mine, through which one could walk, to encourage the recruitment of "Bevin Boys" who were detailed to the pits instead of to the armed forces; and the exhibition of an intact "doodlebug" - the flying bomb to which we were subjected.
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Other memories of Surrey Street Market c1955
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RE: RE: Kennards 2
Does anyone else remember the "cat and mouse" tableau in Kennards (Tudor?) arcade after the war? As you went down, about half way on the right, was a sort of stage set, something like a castle, with several (7?) model dwarves standing in a semi-circle, pulling bell ropes.
In the middle sat a cat, over a hole. When a coin was inserted (a penny, maybe) the bell-ringers rang their bells and the cat started swishing his tail. Suddenly, and I could never predict when, a mouse popped up out of the hole, but of course it never was caught!
Comment from Roy Lee-Faulkner on Wednesday, 24th August 2011.