The Grounds, Valence House c1960, Dagenham
The Grounds, Valence House c1960, Dagenham Ref: D178032
Memories of The Grounds, Valence House c1960, Dagenham
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Dagenham & local memories
Read and share memories of Dagenham and Essex inspired by Frith photos.
Hummed to Sleep by A Factory
We used to live on what was called The Avenues on the Rylands estate. This was situated behind the Princess shopping parade, so called after the name of the local flea pit where all the kids went to Saturday morning pictures. It later became the Princess bowling alley. It was located on the old A13 New Rd opposite the road that led to the main entrances to Fords. The estate was originally built for the white-collared Ford workers plus foremen and was one of the few private estates in Dagenham. It sounds almost posh now, but believe me it wasn't. The blue-collared workers tended to live on the massive council Becontree estate that Dagenham was also famous for (that and the Dagenham Girl Pipers of course). My dad must have been one of the few dads who wasn't an Irish Catholic (although my mum was) and who didn't work in Fords. But the majority of my mate's dads were and did. During the weekdays at 12 noon the factory would... Read more
Not Much Money But Plenty of Happy Memories.
I moved to Dagenham with my family in 1949. We lived in Cartwright Road off Hedgemans Road. I have memories of long hot summer holidays off from Finneymore Road School. The days were filled with trips to Leys swimming pool, where we would spend most of the day. We would bag of crisps and a hot Oxo drink if we had enough money.
Parsloes Park was another full day out. The large sandpit was the favourite haunt, there were large square concrete blocks built into the pit, we would play 'King of the castle' games, where one would climb onto the block and announce they were king of the castle, only to be pushed off into the soft sand by the new king, this would amuse us for ages. We would eat packed sandwiches, and there was plenty of water to quench our thirst from the water fountain spout. The park wardens wore brown suits, trilby hats, brown leather boots up to their knees, and rode around the park on... Read more
Valence Swimming Pool
I remember Valence swimming pool from the late fifties. I lived in Bushgrove Road and went to Valence School and used to go early on a Saturday morning with my mates to be first in there before the crowds. I couldn't swim, but that didn't matter 'cos I had an old van tyre to keep me afloat (I've still got the damn valve marks in my ribs now). I remember jumping in and not being able to breathe for about a minute due to the temperature (normally about 55 degrees Farenheit, if I remember rightly). It used to be posted on the board outside to let you know what misery you were about to go through. A cup of Oxo and a penny biscuit afterwards soon warmed you up (if you could hold the cup still). I went over the park recently (Aug 2007) and you can still see the outline of the pool in the grass where it's been filled in!! Good memories.
Valence Park
Valence Park swimming pool I remember always being cold. It cost a couple pennies in old money, cup of oxo and a thick biscuit, and the old changing sheds by the pool, 2 foot gap top and bottom of door, freezing, haha. The noise in there - I can still hear it now. What fun we all had, I also remember the bandstand, and Sunday am people reading their Sunday papers, just relaxing, good times. My name is Bryan Cole, I went to Triptons year of 1966, I look forward to hearing from anyone from Triptons.
Church Street And Crown Street
So many years ago but I can remember everything like it was yesterday. Mrs Truman's cafe near the church, just a shed really, the sweet shops, hairdressers, bike shop, cafe, pie and mash shop, my mum ran that pawn shop, I lived above that in 1967, just 2 rooms. Park school we went to. Sparshots think it was called sweet shop so many and now it just breaks your heart to see how bad it is now. The betting shop which ended up as a vets, my dad worked in florist butchers. I was born in Blackbourne Road, my nan and grandad moved there when it was first built, the Walkers, I still think of that as home lol. Remember going up to Arthys the bakers for yeast for school to make bread. The old almshouses down Crown Street. That was the true Dagenham. Dawn Shiston (nee Liddall)
Valence Park And Pool
I lived in Henshawe Road so I could see the pool from my bedroom window. I cannot remember the exact year, but my friend Maureen and I learnt to swim there - no official lessons so Im not sure how, but we did. From then on we spent every weekend and every day there in the summer holidays - home for lunch and back again in the afternoon - buying a monthly pass for 2/6p, however if you reached a certain level at school along with the Certificate came a a full seasonpass. It saved the cost of 4d to get in during the week and 9d on Sundays. The pool would open in May and Close at the end of September I think, the same ladies worked there every year and knew us well. Hot Oxo and a penny arrowfoot biscuit was the order of the day follwoing a swim there. Such happy days, rain or shine we were there, better if it rained we... Read more
Oxo Cubes
The year is approximate, but friends and I used to swim at the pool in Valence Park in the hopes of being competitive. I lived on Valence Wood Road and attended Triptons Secondary School. My best friend at the time was Jimmy Stovell who lived across the street. I have now lived in Canada for over forty years. After swimming we used to purchase an Oxo cube for drinking. I would love to hear from anybody who remembers the pool or Triptons.
Wix Road, Dagenham, Essex
Lived in 2 Wix Road, Becontree, Dagenham until I was 23 from 1951 to 1974. My mum still lives there. Did anyone else out there live nearby? I have fond memories. People were lovely. No complications. Summers were summers and autumn was conker time. Winter was snowballs, and Guy Fawkes Night was amazing. You would make your own guy from an old shirt, trousers sewn together and stuffed with newspaper and put a cheap mask over an old stocking filled with paper for the head and stand outside Becontree station asking for 'A penny for the guy'. I went to Campbell Primary School where I was the top goalscorer and took our team to the final, got beaten by Manor School 2-1. I scored our goal, it was a great moment. There was a large crowd. Dagenham was such a beautiful place in those years, I have such beautifull memories. Had great mates to play with in the street.Hop scotch, hide and seek. We would make our own billy... Read more
Dagenham
We moved to Maxey Road, Dagenham from the Beacontree Estate in about 1946 and I was resident until 1961 when I got married and moved to East Ham.
My education started off at South Wood Lane primary school where I still retain vivid memories of Mr. Bond, the Headmaster, Miss Childs, Mr. Bateman and my first love, at age 9, Miss Jones. There must have been many more but these are the only ones that stay with me. I can also remember some of my contemporaries, namely Jimmy Greaves of footballing fame, Clive Gordon, Peter Benham, David Soul and a few more.
Church Street in The Late 1940s
There was a rag and bone man on Church Street whom we knew as Charlie. Every week local housewives would gather in his yard to buy secondhand clothing and toys which he would auction from the back of a cart laden with an assortment of items which he had collected earlier. The women would stand in a group around the cart yelling his name each time he held aloft an item of clothing or a toy they wanted. Charlie I recall was scrupulously fair, always distributing his goods evenly among the women There was as well a pawn shop in the High Road where many of the same women would hock whatever they could to make ends meet. I remember the strange mechanical pen the pawnbroker would use to duplicate the tickets.
Valence Park Swimming Pool
I learnt to swim in the pool with my school (Robert Clack) in September 1970. Our sports teacher, Mr George, used to tie ropes and pull you along....."Sink or swim", he would bellow. The water was freezing and the changing rooms smelt of chlorine, in the park was a bandstand where Punch and Judy puppets were performed in the summer holidays. There was so much to do in the park during the holidays, football, stilts, sand pit, swings, slide and the paddling pool for the little ones....great days. Does anyone remember the burly parkie who would chase you if you rode your bike in the park?
TOP OF VALENCE AVENUE
I lived at the top of Valence Avenue, which was 1.1/4 miles long. I was nearly into Chadwell Heath, but my address was Dagenham (and proud of it!) . I used to go to Lymington Road School and we went to Valence Swimming Baths for lessons, even though it was freezing cold and had to jump in! We went back recently and what a shock it was! The Advance Laundry has gone! (I lived next door to it.) The Limington School has gone! They were good old days! I got married at St Chadd's, Chadwell Heath in 1953. If anyone remembers me my name was Harris before I married.
Apprenticeship Days
I remember going out on the jetty and skiving off when I should have been working in the engine plant, mind you, apprentices don't do much anyway, wandering around the foundry and Frog Island.
Dagenham Civic Centre at Bull Lane
This is the view from the other side of Central Park, the main road ran alongside and Heath Park estate where we lived was opposite. I remember my dad and me waiting for a 103 bus to take us to Romford Market and me wondering why he had to ask me the number on the front of the bus. My dad picked up the keys from the Civic Centre for our brand new house on the Heath Park estate and we lived next door to the Hurleys and Jean and Richard on the other side. They were semi-professional ballroom dancers and fostered many children. A short distance from the 'civic' was the fire station and Beacontree Heath School where I was a pupil. Does anyone remember the school, and that teacher Mr Richards who was very handy with the cane? There were some prefabs close by and my mum was a barmaid in the local Ship and Anchor pub. Happy days.
Moving to Dagenham
My family moved to Dagenham from Northampton in December 1953. My first real memory of the borough was being lost on the day we moved in, after being sent to get some milk and sugar from the local shops, which would have been in Oxlow Lane. After our new neighbours gave me directions, I somehow ended up in Reede Road, managed to get the milk and sugar, and then spent the next hour or so getting back to my new home. My mum was frantic with worry, because I was only thirteen then. She asked me what had happened and I replied that all the roads looked the same to me, which was the case with Dagenham then. Most roads appeared identical to me. I came from a town where shops were on the corner of most streets, and the buildings were very diverse, and I found it confusing at first to find my way around Dagenham. However I soon got used to Dagenham, and the places like the Heathway,... Read more
Childhood Memories
I remember this scene very well, my two sisters and I spent many freezing hours (even in the summer) in the cold water of Valence swimming pool. We could buy a ticket in the morning and get a pass to go home for some lunch and then come back in for the afternoon at no extra cost. We lived just across the road to the park entrance in Becontree Avenue, my brother still lives in the same house we grew up in. I can remember the far end of the pool having diving boards and taking part in the school swimming gala when I was about 10 years old so that would be about 1969/70, I went to Grafton Juniors at the time. The pool was demolished some time ago and there are offices there now which are part of the council.
Debbie Metcalfe, nee Jack
Childhood Memories Valence Swimming Pool
Recently visited Valance Park with my sister Sheila who is visiting from Australia. I live in Bedford, we used to live at 3 Coote Gardens. Memories of the sandpit, paddling pool, bandstand, the parky, football and Valence Park Swimming Pool - cold water temperatures, hot Oxo and a slice of bread and butter for a halfpenny. Shared with great mates, cousins Brian and Pat Kearney, Johnnie Cates, Brian Casey, Eddie Watson. Great community spirit in those days, from 1940 to 1956.
September Wedding
I got married in 1968 at The Old Dagenham Church as it was known, although I believe its correct title to be St Peters and Pauls. (Correct me if I am wrong.) The marriage did not last, but I have 3 wonderful children and 2 fabulous grandsons and a new grandchild on the way. The pub opposite the church is the Cross Keys, which my dad Cliff O'Dell frequented with his friend Bill Chalk.
I lived in St Giles Ave, with my mum Eileen and dad, my 2 sisters and my brother Cliff, just a short walk from the church.
Crown Street was a wonderful road with lots of interesting old cottages & shops. The Vicarage I believe is still there, but all the buildings were razed to the ground and houses and flats were built in their place (not quite the same). My mother lived in the same house for 53 yrs. Happy memories.
Working at The Greengrocers
At the far end of this parade of shops stood Ledgers the greengrocers, which was owned and run by the Ledger family for many years. I worked there on Saturdays and holidays with their eldest son Jamie; he and I did a lot of growing up together over those years! Jim, Jamie's father, had a Ford Thames van with windows and bench seats, the forerunner of today's modern 'people carrier'. We would set off at some unearthly hour in the van to Spitalfields Market to collect fruit and veg for the day's business. Humping a 56lb bag of potatoes on each shoulder and lifting and carrying the wooden crates of goods were all part of what we just got on and did - no time for moaning! Then it was back to the shop to have everything set up for opening time, usually around 8.00 to 8.30. We were on our feet all day, serving the seemingly never ending queue of local ladies out doing their weekly shop. Everything was... Read more
It Must Have Seemed Like Bluewater Then!
It was either a long walk or a ride on the 174 bus from Oxlow Lane shops to the Heathway. It surprises even now just what variety there was there, no need to have to travel miles to get a new shirt or the new Beatles record, all here on the Heathway. My favourite shop was Palmers which was on the far side if the hill opposite the Gaumont. This was the local toy and record store as I recall (strange mix). Above it, or thereabouts was an opticians where I was fitted up with my first pair of glasses. There was a choice (?) of two styles as I recall, black or tortoiseshell plastic, or wire rimmed. No 'designer' frames then! I recall going to the Gaumont for Saturday morning pictures. I had sixpence in my pocket, threepence for sweets and threepence to get in! And the films - 'The Cisco Kid', 'The Lone Ranger', 'The Invisible Man'. It's a wonder we didn't all turn into gangsters! Later when... Read more
Grange Cinema
This photograph was taken from outside the Grange Cinema. There were three cinemas in Dagenham and The Grange was the smallest. We patronised all three in turn for the Saturday Morning pictures which cost I believe 6d (2 1/2 p.). The parade of shops contained the only bank in the borough and a very busy barbers shop called Viney. My Dad used to work at the Ford Motor Works and when he was on night shift would call at Coleman's the bakers in Goresbrook Road, front of picture, to bring us home hot rolls for breakfast. Just out of shot to the right was the Chequers pub, now alas demolished.
Heathway Life
I grew up within a few minutes walk of this our local shopping centre. The photo was taken outside the Fifty Shilling Tailors looking towards Dagenham Heathway Station. Some of the shops I remember were Day's the newsagents, Meyer's the greengrocers, Gillings the fishmongers run by a pair of identical twins and Jenners which was a general store selling all manner of household equipment, linens, clothing and toys. They also ran a club whereby you could pay for things little by little and when paid for could take your purchases away. On the other side of the road stood the Church Elm pub, the Post Office and Burton's the Tailors. Above Burtons was the Snooker Hall and above that the Doughty School of Ballroom Dancing where half the local population met their life partners as I did. The large square building on the horizon was the Gaumont Cinema known as the "Heathway" . This was usually the venue for the first date after the meeting at the "Doughty".
The photo... Read more
Valence Swimming Pool
I loved Valence swimming pool, I used to have swimming lessons there with Grafton junior school and still remember how cold that water was first thing in the mornings. My father used to buy me a season ticket which cost 7shillings & 6pence (37p) which allowed me to go swimming when ever I wanted. I was very sad when they closed it, the then new Dagenham swimming pool was never the same. A few years ago I took my dog for a walk over Valence Park and went to where the pool used to be and was amazed at how small it must have been. I would be interested to know when the pool first opened.
Valence Swimming Baths!!
I was bought up in Dagenham and went to Valence swimming pool regularly with my school. If you had signed up to go swimming at the start of the school year you had to go - whatever the weather!! I always had a cup of Oxo afterwards to warm me up!! When Dagenham indoor pool was built in the early 70's it seemed like sheer luxury!! What a shame it has become so run-down now.............
Old Dagenham Church
My Mum, Valerie Sands married my Dad, Frank Lyall, in this church in 1953. When they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary they made a lovely album each for us 3 children of their childhood, marriage and up to 2003. A sketched copy of this church made up the front cover. I don't remember going to Dagenham when we still lived in England, but next time I go on holiday to England from South Africa, we are going to go and visit my mother's brother, Mike Sands, who lives in their childhood house in Central Park Avenue.
Memories.
I was married in this church 40 years ago. It was where the Archbishop of Canterbury, George Carey, worshipped. the buildings on the right have been demolished. There used to be a bank, I think it was Barclays, and a small motor repairers called Davies Bros.
Prefabs in Ripple Road Dagenham 1947 to 1959
I was born in Upney hospital in July 1947 and lived in a prefab at 703 Ripple Road. Opposite was a bone/scrap yard and along the road the Ship & Shovel pub. I went to Campbell and Dawson schools and remember the shops in Gale Street. Went to Saturday morning pictures in Beacontree for 6d - there was a good fish and chip shop there too also remember going camping in Halinut forest. There were hundreds of prefabs along the A13 Ripple Road with fields behind. I did go back quite a few years ago but alas all the prefabs were gone !!!! I lived there with my parents 2 sisters and a brother. Winter months we had ice INSIDE the windows. The prefab only had 2 bedrooms my brother Tony slept in parents room and my 2 sisters Christine and Linda and I all slept together top to tail in one double bed!! Oh the rows we had about feet in... Read more
St. Mary's
Just an up-date to my previous memory. I wonder if anybody remembers St Mary's Church just down the road from Valence Wood Road. I was a choirboy there for a numbers of years in the late forties - early fifties. I was married there on Oct 1st. 1955. Alan Gammans
Valence Park
During the 1940's my Mother worked as a part time Park Keeper at Valence Park, I and my older sister spent many hours in the park, it was the safest place to be during an air raid, I remember the doodle bug hitting the houses in Valence Ave, as we were in the park at the time, we saw the doodle bug spinning round like a flaming cross as it headed towards Valence Ave, bits of debris were later found in the park, at the time there was a cricket match taking place, and one the the chaps showed us a large spherical piece of metal that had landed on the cricket pitch it was still hot, about the size of a melon. There was two "parkies" of note one was Buster and the other was Jeff, Buster lived in a cottage in the park, Jeff in Valence Ave I believe. Buster was a very authoritarian man and walked about with a stick and calf length leather boots,... Read more
Memory of Dagenham 1968
Dear Ron, I left for Canada that year, the old villege was still there, I came back in 1972 and it was all gone, even the Keys had changed, not the same gang. To tell you the truth I don't remember you, you know all about me? I will try to remember any way, Best regards, Cliff
Dagenham County High School
Greetings across the waves! My wife and I live in Seattle, Washington USA. My name is Steve Harris and I went to DCHS as did my parents (Bert & Vera Harris) and sister Susan. I am looking for a number of my school chums from 'back when'.
I was the lead tenor in the choir at school. Most of the names listed below are related to the music department. My wife and I have been all over the internet trying to find old friends/chums. Hopefully, by the power of the great internet, someone will recognize at least of the names and let them know I would love to make contact. Here goes:
Alan/Allen "Chalky" White
Sheila (Armstrong) White
Rob Sheehan
Graham Stannard
Jon Turner
Gary Wolfstone or Gladstone
Meg Thoms (not sure of the married name)
I would also love... Read more
Chequers Lane
My late father, Verdun Frederick Davis, was born in the Chequers Lane Cottages, I think it was no 9, on the 29th Feb 1916, one of 10 children with only Amy still living. His father was a Thames Lighterman who was employed by Sammies, he was also a good Quoits player. My mother Marjory Davis, now 91, is still alive and living in sheltered accomodation in Dagenham. I myself was born in Dagenham in 1937 in Hardie Rd, when it backed onto massive corn fields and apart from 2 years National Service have always lived in Dagenham.
Great Days And Fond Memories
It was with great warmth that I read the memory about the O'Dells at the Cross Keys Pub. I too spent some great times with young Cliff at the family garage and at the X Keys. My mother also worked for many years with Mrs O'Dell in the little factory in Crown Street next to the bank. It was indeed a great time to be around as school children and teens in Dagenham, we really did have it all. Fond memories. By the way, I lived in Reede Road and how I managed that railway footbridge some nights to this day still amazes me. But you knew you were safe. Ron H.
DOWN THE LANE
Not that I was around in the 1890's, but that is when building of 55 Cottages was started in CHEQUERS LANE.
Built for workers at SAMUEL WILLIAMS, who were based at DAGENHAM DOCK, which is where my father, BERNARD MILLER, my Aunt, Florence (Flossy), her husband Earl Cecil Barringer and my grandfather John Miller, all worked.
I am fortunate enought to still have Floss to talk to about 'The Lane' and at 94, she is amazing, she recalls so much. Between us we have remembered the names of nearly ALL of the families that lived in the cottages.
My daughter, Sarah, whilst reserching her family tree, has received an e-mail from Alan St Pierre, one of the people who lived there.
If anyone out there knows anything about CHEQUERS LANE, please contact me on MILLERIAIN@sky.com.
Those Were The Days.
I have so many memories of Dagenham that I could write a book.
I have already written one on this site entitled 'Shopping at the Heathway'.
My earliest memory of Dagenham however was when I was about five years old. We lived in two bedroom house in Valence circus. But then as more houses on the the Becontree estate were built, my father applied for a larger house, which isn't surprising since he now had six children plus a wife to consider. He was offered a house in Meadow Road, and on walking along this road found to his surprise that just a few houses along the whole road were taken and occupied, he could literally take his pick. Meadow Walk was just as sparsley occupied. Being a keen gardener, he chose one in Meadow Road with a lovely long garden.
Dagenham in those days was a rural district, and came under Essex, not like now that with Barking forms a part of greater London. Parsloes Park had sheep... Read more
Dagenham 1934 -1950
My mum and dad were married in Old Dagenham Church and I was christened in the church in the mid thirties. I was educated in Fanshawe School from the infants right through to the secondary school and left school in Xmas 1949. My father owned 'Alberts' boot and shoe repair shop which was situated in a alley, which was access to lock up garages behind 'Gyps' the greengrocers on the corner of Heathway and Parsloes Ave. We lived in Kingsmill Road and my grandparents lived in Fanshawe Cresent opposite the school, and some people might remember that my gran had a monkey which sat on the windowsill in the summer. I will stop at that otherwise I will bore you all with my exciting life story. By the way the Headmaster of the senior school at the the time was Thomas Allen.
Shopping at The Heathway
My mother asked me to go to the shops and get some bread at Barton's the bakers.
I was just ten years old. 'But' she said, 'if a raid starts, don't hang about but run straight back home'. I often had to go to the shops, it was never a lot I had to get - mainly just one or two things, and if a raid did start, providing it was relatively quiet, I would always try to get these things. So this day saw me queueing up for bread - you had to queue for everything in those days, when suddenly a distant siren was heard. Everyone shifted about slightly looking about them. Then a more closer siren joined in, the queue became more agitated. Then our local one blared out its warning, each siren getting louder and louder making you feel that there was just nowhere you could hide. But we still held our nerve and position. But then I picked up the sound of ack-ack gunfire -... Read more
Dagenham Swimming Pool.
My mum worked at Valence open swimming pool and my aunt worked in the buffet - what a result - in for free and free Oxo after the freezing water. My mum looked after the ladies locker rooms - she remembers the boys trying to peep over the top of the girls lockers! She remembers when they closed the pool and she lost her job, and saying 'no' to working at the Dagenham indoor pool, and a little girl drowning and the father saying it would never had happened in Valence pool. Brilliant childhood memories.
