Memories of Harlow

Butchers

To the bottom right of the picture looks like a butcher's shop, I started my career in the meat trade in the same high street but a few shops up in 1975 as a boy! I think that shop with the two butchers outside later became Muffetts wet fish shop.

Happy days!

My parents moved into Chippingfield in 1969 and still live there. Their house is just to the right of the photograph out of shot. Needless to say, the road is full of cars now!

Cool, clear water!

What a lovely surprise for us youngsters from Northbrooks - a beautiful new place to swim! No big scary fish or slimy weedy things to twist around you in those early days. My adventurous brothers even rode their bikes over the iced-up water one winter ... until one went under and had to be rescued by the rest! Happy days!

Washing Cars

I used to wash cars in the big car park on the right of the photograph, and charged 5 shillings a car. Mind you, the worst day there was when some clown of a driver went and drove over my bike, and that was that.

Where I learned to Swim

Is the pool still there? I bet it isn't ... I'd like a pound note (sorry, Coin!) for the Ttmes I went here swimming and generally fooling around. I also learned to dive from the top board too, and my faves were the bombs (jumping in and curling up a certain way to make a bloody great SPLASH) - and also getting banned many times for doing it!
Barrie Brooks

Fishing and Swimming

I remember going down to the River Stort with my brother Steve and mates like Tommy Hughes to fish and swim  - wow, when I saw this photo it was like it was yesterday. I wish I could go back to happier times...
Barrie Brooks

Pardon Hall

Parndon Hall WAS NOT demolished - the Victorian house still lies at the centre of the hospital site and is currently used to house the Past Graduate Medical Centre and Trust offices. Paintings done by Elizabeth Arkwright in the late 19th Century still adorn the doors walls and ceilings of the house. Sadly Parndon Hall is not accessible by the public.

Edmunds Tower

This photo and the one next to it showing St Pauls must have been taken from the top of Edmunds Tower. I lived there from 1970 - 1974, the views from the roof were wonderful. It was then a walk away from the town centre over the big car park and then back of the big shops (Woolworths was one of them), the view now is very different and the town centre is on the doorstep!

The blacksmiths we took Kitty to to get new shoes

The doctors (Dr Busby) we went to was to the right of the blacksmiths. The Pub is called the Green Man had many an orange juice and crisps from there. It was one of the pubs my dad used. Next to that was a big field where they had the fair cicuses and rodeo shows.

THE VETS WAS DOWN THIS STREET

Where we took Judy to the vets when she cut her stomach open on barbed wire.  She was stitched up and was good as new.

THE HIGH STREET

This is where mum shopped and got toys, records 78s, fireworks, sweets etc.

THE BLACKSMITHS TOP OF OLD ROAD .Can any one remember the name of pub in picture please let me know

This is where my dad used to take Kitty for her new shoes.  One day while on our way home I was riding her and dad was leading her, when she trod on his foot and broke it.  He had to ride her back to the doctors which was very near the blacksmiths. On the right of the blacksmiths there was a big field where they put on shows etc and we saw the cowboy show in there one year, also the circus. And down Old Road was the Royal British Legion club where we used to go every year for the childrens Christmas party.  

THIS IS THE BUS STOP WE GOT OFF TO GO TO JUNIOR SCHOOL  

We used to always walk to school in the summer and walk home.

ONE OF MY BEST SCHOOL FRIENDS HOUSES

This is where one of my best friends still lives. His name is Michael, he's a Spurs supporter.  Still get a Xmas card and from 5 years old until I left in 1961 we stayed friends with our little gang of mates Colin, David, Gary, Christopher, Wiggy and a few others . We all went to Forbert & Barnards and Mark Hall schools . We had many a good day together outside of school hours.   

THE TOWPATH WHERE THE BOATS WERE MOORED LATER ON

This photo is NOT 1955 as stated .This is about 1949 - 50 notice there is no garden on the left.see photo of cottage .my father built that from nothing and won prizes for it. Also there  was no towpath on the other bank in 1955 there was a very large weeping willow there that used hang over the river .We used to cast under neath it as fish used to congrgate under it ,and the rowing boats and canoes were moored garden side 1955.Also the the railings with wooden post were not there in 1955.So this is either before we moved in, in 1950. This is the bank where I did most of my fishing from. On the left of picture was our flower garden ,a  pear and apple tree a Water Well then a lawn then a veg garden right to the top.where the horse grips are.In those the barges were pulled by shire horses ,not until the late 50s did monkey boats come in (Narrow Boats)  and over the bridge are the telephone wires where my dad saved a swan which got caught up in them.  It broke both wings but survived and when better (it could not fly any more) But it came down to the lock gates every single day as if to say thanks to him. I've got photos of him feeding it with bread. When I was 3 I lost my toy speed boat under the bridge. It sank but was never found. I cried my eyes out over that.  

THIS IS HOW THE LOCK LOOKED LIKE WHEN MY FAMILY LIVED IN LOCK COTTAGE 1950 - 1961

This is where I spent my life from 2 yrs till I was 13 yrs old. Fishing, rowing boats, paddling canoes and riding Kitty the horse in the field behind our cottage that my dad looked after and stabled at night for the owner who lived in the big house in Old Road. See the picture at top of Old Road - that's where we took Kitty and the horse we later looked after to be shod.

THE BOATS WE LOOKED AFTER

While my family lived in the lock house 1950 - 1961, my father rented  the rowing boats out and also the fishing permits. This is only one place where they were moored. At various times they were both sides of the bridge and on both banks. On the left bank of this picture there was the swimming pool and on the right they built a boating club in the late 50s with kayaks & racing rowing boats from 1 to eight people.  Most of my childhood was spent either in the canoes, rowing boats or I was fishing, with my sister or mates .Finish this story later

THIS IS WHAT OLD HARLOW MILL LOCK LOOKED 47 YEARS BEFORE MY FAMILY LIVED IN THE LOCK COTTAGE

MY FAMILY MOVED HERE IN 1950 TILL 1961 MY DAD WAS THE LOCK KEEPER 1950 - 1961
SEE OTHER PHOTOS OF HOW IT LOOKED IN 1955  

Where I grew up with my Sister Christine & Dog Judy

This picture is the view from the main road of Harlow lock, Old Mill Resturant and weir and the towpath where the rowing boats and canoes were moored when I lived there. They were moored both sides of the bridge at various times, next to the swimming pool and then by the boat house that was built late 50s. I spent many a long hour fishing on that towpath, rowing the boats and paddling the canoes. They were all wood in those days, beautiful boats then kayaks came in.  They built a rowing club shed where they kept the boats. Big long rowing boats.  

Messing about on the river

With my sisters, catching tiddlers on warm summer days. We would have picnics beside the river. We loved helping to change the lock for the boats that came through. Later, when a little older we would swim and for a while joined the canoe club. After my marriage and when I had children myself, my husband and I would take them for picnics. He would fish while they played and caught their own tiddlers. As they got older they too would fish or swim. On a trip back to England in 2005, my husband and I walked again along the riverbank and it was just as magical to us then as it was before. I have so many happy memories of growing up in Harlow.