The High Street c1965, Hornchurch
The High Street c1965, Hornchurch Ref: H115076
Memories of The High Street c1965, Hornchurch
Spar Shop Run by Eric Pearce
My father used to run a shop in Hornchurch. I have lovely memories of those days, playing in what I think was an old quarry at the back of the shop. The lady who ran the sweet shop gave me a bride doll which I adored. Helping my dad pack the cardboard boxes for home deliveries. I have a photo of my twin brother and I playing at the front of the shops. We moved away when I was seven and unfortunately I have no memory of where the shop was or the name of the road. If anyone remembers the shop or my father I would love to hear from you.
Hornchurch & local memories
Read and share memories of Hornchurch and Essex inspired by Frith photos.
Aley's The Bakers
To left of the bus is the bakers.
Boyhood Reminiscences
I was born in Vicarage Road and went to Rainsford Way Primary School. This was near the Hornchurch Bus Garage and us boys would watch the big red Routemaster buses swinging round in that tight space with screeching tyres. We used to play in the streets or have dens in our gardens. We would climb trees in Harrow Lodge Park and get chased by the Parky. We had to keep a look out for the Teds, who would throw boys into the boating lake. My father made me a box-cart out of pram wheels and bits of board. Our shoes were the brakes - so, they got well and truly scuffed. Crossing the main road at speed, unable to stop, meant the soap box was thrown on top of the garage and I got spanked for trying to liberate it. Rocket cap bombs were thrown up in unison to explode in the road - they were confiscated. We went through the roller skate craze, the cycle craze, collected car numbers - boring!... Read more
Milk Delivery
I lived in Minster Way from 1947-58 in one of the bungalows in this photo - but there were trees along the front of the house by this time. I remember milk being delivered by horse and cart - the milkman would go quickly up and down the front paths to put the milk bottles at the door and call out to the horse when he wanted it to move along. My father used to go out in the street with a shovel to pick up the droppings for our garden.
Happy Days
I lived in Hornchurch 1946-58. Went to school at North Street Primary and then for a brief time to Dury Falls before we moved in 1958. My father ran Cramphorns Corn and Seed Merchants, which can just be seen in this photo. My best friend was Elaine Collett whose parents had the Toy/Pram Shop opposite the White Hart Pub. Aleys Bakers was directly opposite and Enid Aley and I used to go to Madam DeVere's School of Dancing near Harold Lodge Park. Later I attended Shirley Dunton's Dance School. I remember The Dell and St. Andrew's Church where all our family's weddings, christenings and burials were held. Also in the High Street were Fentiman's Greengrocers, Boots,Pollards, The Green Lantern Cafe, and the Home & Colonial Stores. Further along was Timothy Whites and Burton Tailors. Going toward Billett Lane was The Bull, Woolworths and Finlays (my friend Janet lived above there). I had friends in Grey Towers and we all played in the woods opposite Harold Lodge (where... Read more
Elm Park 1950-1985
The MORLEY family of nine who squeezed into a new house in Rosewood Ave, Elm Park 1950s - 1980s, did a 'down memory lane' trip 28 July 2011 (Romford Recorder), brilliant to go back to your roots. Some shops literally have not changed and some shops are long gone. Harold Lodge Park still beautiful with lake, Maylands Girls School now called Albany. Did the trip to school from old home, which was long and tiring after school but today its only a hop, skip and jump. Dunningford School now sadly demolished (our infant and Jnr.School). Mum had job at Hornchurch Fire Station, Dad at Elm Park Coach Works, Fossies. Saw an old friends Dad in his front garden and exchanged phone numbers. Some people never move away. We had lovely neighbours and still think of them. Old Airfield was our playground, bare-back riding on wild horses near Bretons Manor and nights out at the Elm Park Hotel. Ancestors lived Lambs Lane Cottages, South End Road, Hornchurch and... Read more
School Days in Hornchurch
I was born in Hornchurch and attended North Street School, I can still smell the greens from the canteen. We had little beds put up in the hall and after dinner we had to have a little sleep before afternoon school, then they changed the boundaries and I had to go to Suttons Junior School. I was at school with the Wilton twins and Mrs Wilton who was very gentle and kind. I also remember all the teachers that Elizabeth mentions and I also liked Mr Moore. So many menories came back when I was reading her story, the horse and cart with the milk and the baker who had to pull his cart along and the lovely smell of the cakes. We shopped at the Towers end of Abbs Cross Lane as I lived in the Avenue, there was Clarkes the butchers and the Yorkshire Cake Shop and a greengrocers so you did not have to go right into Hornchurch, then on other days we would go to the... Read more
The Pool House
I was a resident at the cottage homes from about 1960 for a few years, and again in the later 1960s and early 1970s. The building on the right is where the swimming pool was. We used to collect the key from the lodge at the front gates. There were 12 houses, all named after trees. Hawthorn House, Laurel House, Laburnham House and so on. We had orchards behind the houses on the right, a sports field and sick bay right up the top on the right. Behind the houses on the left you could see Harrow Lodge Park and the swimming pool complex. I remember the Candy Box sweet shop, Hornchurch bus garage and my first school, St Mary's. I think they were happy years, even though we were in care. I remember the years fondly.
Suttons Secondary Modern Boys' School, Hornchurch
My Dad, Dennis (Den) Smith lived at 69 St. Andrews Avenue with his widowed mother Iris and his younger sister Mary. During WWII the area suffered bomb damage and dad and his sister were evacuated to Birmingham. However, dad soon got homesick and returned to Essex. During the war his mother worked at the Munitions Factory at Dagenham. Dad attended Suttons School, Hornchurch, Essex between 1943-1945 and was in class the day the Spitfire crashed. He joined the Naval Cadets in 1943 for 1 year. In 1949 he enlisted with the British Army at Romford with the R.E.M.E. He served for 5 years with Colours and 7 years with the Reserves and the British Army of the Rhine (BAOR) in Germany between 1953-54. In 1954 he attended a dance at The Kings Head Tavern in Romford, where he met my mum. They were married the following year and have lived happily together ever since. The family emigrated to Australia in 1964. Dad has many fond memories of his childhood and... Read more
Wilton Memories
Like Gloria Friend, I spent a happy childhood in Hornchurch, attending Suttons Primary School where my mother (Mrs Wilton) was deputy head and Mr Occomore our headmaster. We were carefully drilled in our tables, phonics and acceptable social behaviour like never dropping litter nor biting our nails and keeping our bikes in good working order. My favourite teacher (not counting my mum!) was Mr Moore who loved natural history and was a good artist. I also remember Mr and Mrs Thomas, Mrs Pharoah and Mrs Croxford. Mrs Croxford was my very first teacher and we would be given small balls of rather grubby plasticine and expected to roll it out and play with it (always staying in our seats) for quite long periods of time along with probably forty other small children, some of whom were crying as they missed home. There were no induction courses for reception class children in those days nor toys, though there were percussion instruments which we were allowed to play when we reached Miss... Read more
My Hometown
I was born in Horncurch in 1938. I lived in Kent Drive for 14 years and attended Suttons Primary and went onto Romford High in 1952. We backed onto Suttons school and were very near the aerodrome. Kyles the green grocer on the corner of Stanley Road. Oxos (I think) the sweet shop. Maisie the milkman's horse who delivered daily along with the baker and on Fridays the fish man with cockles and mussels. Doctor Crainer our marvelous GP. As a child I would walk with my mother to the White Hart in the village where many shops had been destroyed by air raids. The Home and Colonial Stores was my mother's favorite port of call. Burtons tailors was on a corner with a billiard hall above. At 14 I moved to Upminster Bridge and after leaving school I worked at Ford Motor Co in the drawing office. I was both confirmed (1948)and married (1960) in St Andrew's Church. When as a child, I had attended the church often and... Read more
Tony Wonfor
If anybody knew my dad and reads this site, please tell others, Tony died on October 31st 2008 at home in the arms of June, his wife of 57 years and my mum. It is now nearly a year and I still miss him so much, I lost a mentor and friend.
On www.archive.org there are two short movies of him and his family, one taken at 18 Priors Park, Hornchurch when he must be about 30 years old, and another in his home in Basildon when he was in his 50ish years.
In his later years he was plagued with ill health, and spent most of his time at home. His last holiday was with my wife and I in Scotland, a place he loved with a passion, he made many good friends there.
Dad also had a few plays recorded by the BBC and wrote some short stories, some are very funny.
He left June, 4 sons, 1 daughter, 3 grandsons, 5 granddaughters and and a great-grandaughter. They... Read more
SUTTONS SECONDARY BOYS SCHOOL HORNCHURCH
I attended Suttons Secondary School whilst living in Elm Park from 1946 to 1948, after that we moved to Scotland. I enjoyed Suttons and can remember several of the teachers. Mr Lovatt was the Principal, his secretary was Miss Swan (an attractive lady). Mr Ward, Vice Principal, taught us technical drafting.
His greased-back hair and mouthfull of bad teeth gave him a fearsome look, if a pupil got out of line Mr Ward would throw chalk at him or rap his head with the blackboard ruler. I enjoyed sports events, especially the 100 yards. Frank Isaac was the school's best runner. Mr Cook was our House Master, Mr Bird taught woodwork, Mr Gee taught chemistry, we used to let off stink bombs in his class, that got me to the Principal's office once, Mr Ward was there but he didn't give me the cane. It was while I was at this school that I was lucky enough to be chosen to go to Kennylands Camp School with my friend... Read more
8th Hornchurch Scouts
I will always have fond memories of the Dell as our scout hut was located there. Also I lived a few minutes walk away at Ravenscourt Grove. I moved there in 1948. The Dell was a boy's dream place to play in.
The Bull Hotel
I lived in Elm Park from when I was born (in Oldchurch Hospital) in 1950 to when I was dragged away to Australia, kicking and screaming (inside) at the end of 1964. I often went to The Bull with a couple of my friends from Maylands girls' school. Of course, being only 13 or 14, we had to stay outside but we went to listen to the groups that played there, from time to time.
The Bull
Lots of happy times (and a few hangovers ) in the Bull pub in the early sixties. In the days when the door was in the front, there used to be a small bar to the left with a dart board and pin table with a small hatch/bar where you got your light and bitter or Watneys Red Barrel. I left hornchurch in the mid 70s, must go back one day...
I Now Live Here
I now live in Hornchurch, since 2003, and the High Street looks nothing like this (apart from the pub, the Bull, still the same but is now the Fatlin & Furkin) picture in 1955.
Christmas Tree in Hornchurch
I too was born and brought up in Hornchurch and remember the bakers - it was called Alies and the daughter was called Enid who went to our school. Just by the bakers was waste ground and I am sure I can remember seeing a christmas tree there, does anyone else remember this? Carol Board (Westbrook)
I Just Started School in 1950
I grew up in Hornchurch, born in 1945. As a child I got my first eye glasses right up the street from where this picture was taken. Odells I think it was called.
My mother used to send me out to get bread right next to where the bus is located in this picture. Allies or Aylies Bakers I think.
