Shop
The white building on the right used to be called Chiesmans. Trams used to run along the street. In the 1950s in thick smog I had to wait for hours for a bus to eventually arrive to take me as far as Well Hall, where I had to walk from there to home. I was in a train travelling from Cannon Street down to Falconwood on one line when everything stopped because a train from Holborn became derailed on the Lewisham viaduct. Never forget that night. Screams from people injured and some dead from the train crashing into a stationary one on the other line. We alighted from our train to walk along the track led by railway porters with lanterns. Shaken up I and other passengers found a milk bar around the corner from Chiesmans which was still open. Then the long wait for a bus. The walk from Well Hall took an hour to get home.
Memories Links
Other memories of High Street c1960
Add a Memory for another place
Tips & Ideas
How has this scene changed?
Do you know who lived or worked here?
Why is this photo significant to you?
Particular points of interest - transport, architecture, fashions etc.
Comments
3 comments have been shared so far in response to the memory "Shop".
Why not get involved and post your comments using the comment form below.
Comments
RE: RE: Shop
Hi Mary - I'm doing a history project on Lewisham and was wondering if you could tell me if you remember where Chiesmans was on a map and what it is now? Any help very much appreciated!
Comment from Lewisham Project on Saturday, 14th February 2009.
RE: RE: Shop
I was 13 years old at the end of the Second World War and that is when I was first taken to Lewisham on the 21 bus from Eltham. So if you can research the bus routes at that time, I'm sure Chiesmans was situated on that bus route, by the clock tower.
Comment from Mary Donnachie on Sunday, 15th February 2009.
RE: RE: Shop
Hi Mary and "Lewisham Project", I was born in Lewisham in April 1944 and lived there until 1968. From the Photograph of the "Clock tower" 1960, the white Building to the right is Tower House which housed both the Offices and Store of the "Royal Arsenal Co-operative Society {RACS}. Further down Lewisham High Street Was Chiesman's Departmental Store. This was a huge store, having a frontage which went from Granville Grove to St Stephens Grove and half way up both streets. It`s merchandise was endless and ranged from toys to furniture, clothes, carpets, kitchen equipment. You name it they seem to sell it. Sadly the store closed and was later demolished. The new building is now Lewisham Police Station, which must bring comfort to the visitor as it is the first thing that comes into view when alighting from the train. You also recall the terrible rail tragedy of December 4th 1957, in which 106 rail passengers sadly died and over 200 passengers were injured. The fast steam train from Cannon Street to Ramsgate ran into the back of an electric locomotive which was stationary between St Johns and Lewisham Station, immediately under the overhead viaduct. On impact, one of the carriages had reared up, smashing bridge supports, moments before a third train was approching. Luckily, its driver had slowed due to poor visibility and stopped his cab feet short of the crumbling edge. The cause of the crash was later determined that the driver of the steam train had missed 3 warning lights in the terrible FOG that prevailed that night. I myself was already in Ward A3 of Lewisham Hospital awaiting an operation. I met lots of the survivors who were brought into hospital. I trust the foregoing was helpful . All Best Wishes Frank Dignum.
Comment from FRANK DIGNUM on Sunday, 29th April 2012.