Ilford, Essex

Really good days

I lived in Ilford in the 1970s, the place was magic, and it had a bus to the place. I could walk down the Broadway at night without any worry, and I was always in the Cranbrook pub. I went back last year to the Cranbrook pub and just made it in time, it closed just after. That was in 2008,... [more]

Sally Lunn Restaurant, Cranbrook Road

Does anyone remember the Sally Lunn Restaurant in the Cranbrook Road? It used to be next door to Russells Garden Nursery that later became the Prudential Offices, at the time one of Ilford's tallest buildings

the pioneer market

I have very fond memories of the pioneer market ilford my aunt & uncle peggy & ernie holmes owned the veg stall they had no children so as there only nephew i was a very spoilt 4 year old an added bonus was that my nan daisey macCarthy worked on the oppsite hardware stall again as her only grandchild i was... [more]

Pioneer Market, Ilford Lane

I used to work at Memory Brothers in the Pioneer Market. I cannot remember the exact year, but it was around 1964-65. Right opposite our shop was Holmes fruit and veg shop. I seem to also remember that they had two shops. Our shop was open counter on three sides, grocery, bacon and cooked meats which was the counter I worked... [more]

Cleveland Road School

I was born in Ilford in 1933 living in Elstree Gardens near Loxford Park. After attending Woodlands Road Primary School, I went to Clevend Road School off Ilford Lane. The headmaster was a very kind man called Mr Edwards and our teacher was Mrs Strachan (pronouned Strawn). We were very well behaved so at the end of lessons we hurried to... [more]

Ron's Music Shop and Redbridge Photographic

The former Ron Pakeham (spelling?) owned one of the stores in Pioneer Market and sub-let half (and eventually all) that store to Redbridge Photographic, where I worked some evenings and Saturdays whilst at school and later college. The manager was Val Goldstein, who knew everyone in the trade! Chick ran the musical instruments side for Ron, and was a real character... [more]

lford lane

I was born in Ilford in 1928, I now live in Australia, came here in 1948 so my memories are of that time. This picture is of where we used to shop every week.
We lived in Dunedin Road.  Is the railway close by? I was in the Gaumont Super cinema when it was bombed. But that is another story.
I... [more]

Harrison Gibbisons Fire

Though this picture is dated 1955, I think its actually later than this. The reason for this is that about 1960 the Harrison Gibbison shop had a big fire that not only destroyed that shop but also Selfridges next door. This picture shows the Selfridges store after it had been rebuilt after that fire. Also looking further down the high road... [more]

Enfield - A History & Celebration

WHAT of Enfield's future? We have already seen that in the first years of the 21st century, redevelopment is probably going to be the by-word. The former offices of Eastern Gas have already undergone a dramatic change: Tower Point is now 11 floors of one- to four- bedroom flats in the main area and a fitness centre at the south end. Plans have already been submitted for the redevelopment... [more]

Enfield - A History & Celebration

The Roman Catholic Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St George in London Road, originally built in 1901, suffered major damage in the war - it was virtually demolished by a landmine. The site was cleared, and eventually a new church was built in 1956 in a style that would not look out of place in a new town. St Paul's, New Southgate was repaired, and Ponders... [more]

Enfield - A History & Celebration

Chestnut and Waltham Abbey. A new Edmonton Union workhouse was erected in Silver Street, and opened in 1842 for able bodied paupers. The site is now occupied by North Middlesex Hospital. Photograph E263701k (above) shows some of the original buildings. From the time of the Domesday Book, Southgate had been part of Edmonton; in 1881 it finally became an entity in its own right. In 1885 Highlands Hospital was begun; it was... [more]