The Town Centre c1965, Morden
The Town Centre c1965, Morden Ref: M359056
Memories of The Town Centre c1965, Morden
1932-1973
I feel a bit of a gatecrasher here, as I've been living in Suffolk since 1973! Basically though, even though I'm a wrinkly/pensioner, I'm a South Suburban Surrey Boy, through and through! Born 1932 in 144 Garendon Road, our postal address was Morden but we were in the parish of Carshalton. My confused identity doesn't end there. Our milk was from Sutton Creameries, our gas from the Croydon Gas Company, our electricity from the County of London Electric Supply Company (CLESCO), water from Sutton & District Water Company. We paid our rent in the Green Lane Estate Office- to London County Council, but our school exercise books had the Surrey Education Committee's badge on them! In 1939, at the outbreak of the war we moved round the corner to 24 Reigate Avenue- we were now in Sutton! Our epicentre was the Rosehill roundabout and shops. Waste ground was on both corners of Green Lane. Allotments, and and orchard were on the intersection of Rose Hill and the Bypass. The Rose... Read more
Morden & local memories
Read and share memories of Morden and Surrey inspired by Frith photos.
MY LOCAL SHOPS
These were my local shops. We used to live in the flats adjacent to these shops called 'Morden House', then there was the 'White Bridge' which went over the railway lines to the Underground sheds. The first shop on the corner I remember very well indee,. it was my favourite shop. It was a camping/fishing tackle shop where I bought all my camping and fishing equipment. Can't remember the name of the shop now (does anybody out there?) It also did knives, air-guns and all sorts of 'dangerous' equipment that you wouldn't find in today's shops! At the other end of this particular parade was a good 'old-fashioned' sweet shop where we used to buy our sweets on a Saturday morning with our pocket money, and of course our coupons which always rather limited the amount of sweets one can buy. Funny, I don't remember any fat kids around at the time - that's the reason why! In the middle of the parade was one of the first ever gentlemens... Read more
Childhood
This photo brings back a lot memories. The photographer must be standing by the launderette in Abbotsbury Road, this was owned by my grandparents John 'Paddy' and Doreen 'Dorrie' Jones. I used to play on this street and in the alley way at the back with my sister Nicola and friends, Colin, Caroline and Jacquline.
My sister and our mother moved from Morden to Sussex in 1959. We had lived in one of the flats in Abbotsbury Road.
Does Anyone Remember Kango Electirc Hammers Ltd in SW19
My father worked for a company called Kango Electric Hammers LTD after leaving school (in 1962) as a Lathe Operator. I believe he worked for them straight from school so we are looking at late 1962 - late 1964 as he went into the army in September '64.
They were based at Lombard Road Trading Estate, Lombard Road, Mordon (or maybe South Wimbledon), SW19.
Does anyone remember the company or worked for them during this time? I am looking for any information I can find on them as they do not seem to appear anymore and I have spent many hours on the internet trying to find them without any joy.
I look forward to hearing from anyone with any stories
The Willows
Hi, my name is Jessie Peake (Nee Kent), I used to go to the Willows school between 1944 and 1952. The Willows was my favourite school, I can remember having to sleep on camp beds every afternoon .. boy, did that room smell from those that wet the beds ... One of the people I remember was a Mrs Lemon, a really lovely lady, you went to her if you was sick. I remember having the milk brought around the classroom, and in the winter you could have hot milk. The only thing I didn't like was some of the school dinners, only because you had to eat it all up - but at least I didn't have to have Semolina Yuk or 'frogs spawn'. I used to live at 54 Abbottsbury Road, our house backed onto the carpark of the Odeon Cinema and had a big pear tree in it (still there today). I remember playing in the 'round house' as we called it, outside the local pub on... Read more
Morden I Loved
I lived in Polar Road, South Merton, but at the end of this road was Morden. I went to school in Morden and my Headmaster was Mr How. I went on to Willows High School for girls. I later went back in the '90s and how much it had changed. My best friend, Alison short lived in Kenley Road, Morden and I could see us both walking to school at Willows. Jill Palfrey was my name then.
Trad Jazz at The Crown
What a wonderful experience every Tuesday night!! Kenny Ball and his Jazzmen (I loved the trombone player!). Trad jiving. No cost to get in. I guess those were the days.
Morden Hall Park
Around that time I'd have a sock on a stick and Mom taking me to the Mitcham side of Morden Hall Park to go fishing for tiddlers. I don't recall being too successful. But it was fun.
MORDEN, OH MORDEN!
Hello all. My name is Tony Rivers and I was born to the sound of German bombs in St. Helier Hospital in 1943. I lived with my parents and grandparents in Leominster Road. That was a good place to live because of the 'forest' opposite' . To us little'uns it was a huge great place to play, I don't know whether it's still there. I think it was called 'Morton Green'. My first 'girlfriend' was a girl called Ann Mallett who lived in the corner house in Merrivale Crescent. We were only six or seven but I remember going to the Co-op to see Father Christmas and actually still got the photograph! My grandfather kept chickens in the back garden, so with chickens, kids, parents etc. the place was a bit crowded but nobody minded. I went to Garth School in Lilleshall Road from primary right up to Seniors. That was a good school, we had many cricket and football fields and we even built our own cricket pavillion. The... Read more
Looking For Memories of Lines Bros. Factory / IMA
Dear visitors,
I am looking for persons who remember the Lines Bros. factory located in Morden, especially the period between 1935-50. International Model Aircraft was part of this factory, producing FROG modelaircraft: flying models and plastic modelkits called "Penguin".
I am writing a book on the history of these "Penguin" model kits and would like to get in touch with anyone who worked in this part of the factory, childhood memories, photos, etc.
Any information is HIGHLY appreciated!
Kind regards,
Peter van Lune
The Netherlands
Martin Way, Morden
I wonder if anyone can still remember me, I was born 1941 in the back bedroom of the flats at 47b Martin Way above Millers butcher shop. I still say today best years of my life, the shops along that parade where, Unwin's off licence, Alan's greengrocer, Millers butcher shop, small library, Lynne's ladies hairdresser, Partners provision shop, also last shop was Job's dairy, a bit further up the hill was a small newsagent's called Whittakers or Bixleys, then a baker's shop with post office, it was owned by Mrs Trustlove who lived over the shop. Going the opposite direction was a boot mender's and I can still remember the lovely smell of leather, next door was newsagents called Clarke's, then a small Co-op, then there was the Boy's Club opened by Frankie Fawn, crossing over the road which is Ashridge Road was Maxie's cafe, Quike's knitting shop which was owned by two sisters, Finch's estate agent, Mr harding's iron monger's, hair dresser, them Mearin's lovely bike shop right next to... Read more
Bela Lugosi at Moreden Hall Park
I'm researching Bela Lugosi's 1951 British tour of Dracula.
I would like to hear from anyone who attended the Sunday Pictorial Film Garden Party at Moreden Hall Park on Saturday June 16 1951 and saw or spoke to Bela when he attended with Burt Lancaster and Betty Davis, or has any souvenirs of the day such as a ticket, programme or photos.
I'd also be interested to hear from anyone who saw Dracula during the tour. June 26 was the last day of the play's run at the Shepherd's Bush Empire.
I have a blog dedicated to this at: http://beladraculalugosi.wordpress.com/1951-dracula-tour/
Regards,
Andi Brooks
The Crown - Jazz Club
In the sixties there was an excellent [trad] jazz club on Tuesdays in the Crown Pub near the Tube station - run by a Steve Duman. Anyone else remember it - Steve also promoted an early RnB club at the Queen Vic in North Cheam - I saw Alexis Korner, Cyril Davis, the Stones etc. before the landlord threw us out after it was gate crashed by the 'Grease' [aka Hells Angels]
Memories of Dad
Hello I am trying to gather information about a family named Harding who lived in CHURCHTON DRIVE Morden in the 1950s. My father was Michael HARDING, he married Doreen in 1960 and left the area, to live in Wales with his wife. They later went on to have several children and I am the eldest daughter. I believe my father had a sister or sisters but have very little other information except his address as above. If you can help, or are a relative of my father Michael I would be very grateful to hear from you. Please contact me at dee.whittle@sky.com.
Morden Memories
My grandparents moved into 12 Aberconway Rd when the houses were built at the end of the 1920s. My grandad picked the house off plan as it had the largest garden and he loved gardening. My dad and his sisters lived there until the war; both my aunts married and my dad joined the Navy. I was born in 1961 and used to spend a lot of time with my grandparents - every morning I would go shopping with Nan to Caters, or Sainsburys, or Woolworths, and every Christmas I went to see Father Christmas in the Co-op. Once a week we would go to the Library (now the doctors I think), and every Sunday I would visit with my dad, and Grandad would walk us to the Underground. My mum lived in Morden for most of her life, in Martin Way. After they married my parents moved away, but after my nan died they moved back in to Aberconway Road to help Grandad out. Mum survived the longest, passing... Read more
Morden, 1960s
I went to Poplar Primary School, the headmaster was Mr How - a great man. I remember Caters supermarket on the corner and was especially fascinated by the fish department which often included a tray of live eels. I remember one escaping and slithering down the shop aisles, scattering screaming shoppers in its wake, before it was caught and brought back to the chopping board. I also remember Hawes furniture store, the big Co-Op which is now Safeways, Woolworths, Bata shoes, Lilley and Skinner shoes, Disc Records, J Leon newsagent on the corner by the tube station, even the Odeon cinema for our Saturday morning pictures. Also the buses lined up to take everyone to the Derby at Epsom, and the big library at the end of Morden which is now a doctors' surgery. Morden Hall Park, before it was taken over by the National Trust, actually had deer in it and cows, as part of it was a working farm that you could walk through.
MORDEN
I lived with my grandparents in Central Road, number 57, from birth until I was 3 when we moved to Highworth for a few years. My grandparents lived in the house before the war. My brother and his wife and children still live in the same house, number 57. I had the fondest and happiest childhood memories in that house, my grandad had a shed at the bottom of the garden which used to be the old air raid shelter. It was an Aladdin's Cave, full of broken clocks bits and bobs. My grandparents grew all their own vegetables and summer fruits in that garden with a little bit laid to lawn with flowers for my Nan. Mrs Taylor lived next door and I remember cups of tea being passed over the fence during summer months. I have never been back there for the past 32 years but it is fondly in my memory, along with my grandparents. I was married in 1970 in St Lawrence Church there, as were... Read more
Jarvis & Sons, Morden Road Morden
I was an apprentice motor mechanic at Jarvis & Sons from 1957 until 1963, a most interesting time in my life. We had an unofficial motor bike club and did some lovely Sunday runs around the Surrey countryside. It wuld be nice to hear from anyone who was there at the same time as myself, either from the fitters at the time or from any of the apprentices. A Mr Fullock was the Foreman, he was very strict with us boys, but very fair. I worked with a fitter, a Mr Pat Simms, a Mr Charlie Upfield and others. I was at Jarvis & Sons when the first Mini came on the market, such a long time ago.
If any one is out there, please make contact.
Mick Williams
1948-1962
I was born in Morden - christened and went to Sunday School, junior church and youth club at St Lawrence Church at the top of the hill by The George backing on to Morden Park with the bandstand. I remember the old Club House that sold icecreams from a window and the paddling pool by the Club House and the pitch and putt course and the stream at the bottom of the hill! We lived in a house opposite the flats at the end of the parade of shops on London Road by the footbridge that went across the underground railway lines. I remember Caters and the other grocers down by Woolworths at the Morden Hall Park end of the town - they sold broken biscuits from the tin. I remember sitting in the little house outside the Crown Inn for women and children waiting for Dad to finish his pint. Went to St Paul's Kindergarten near the Woodstock then to St Davids at Raynes Park. Had a good childhood... Read more
Did You Know Jack?
I am trying to put together something special for a dear but frail old friend of mine and have been tracing the name of old employees of at his workplace Evan Cooks around 1952 - in particular at their garage which was 72 Queens Road, Peckham SE London. One name eludes me, I understand he may have been the manager and was named 'Jack'. I'm told he lived in Morden but cannot find his surname. If any of your readers have information, memories or photos they can share I would be so pleased.
Many thanks.
School
I went to school in Queens Road in 1949, it was called Hazelhurst, I was there until 1953 then when to Pitmans in Russell Road. I lived in SW20 as it was then and married in 1960 in Morden registry office, happy memories of Wimbledon. I now live in Three Bridges in Sussex.
Childhood Memories From 1947 to 1956
I lived with my parents and sister at 13b Abbotsbury Road, which was a top floor flat owned by a Mr Carsberg, who ran a carpet shop. We both went to Poplar Road school and my sister went on to the Willows.
I remember the Milk Bar in Abbotsbury Road, because we could look across the street from our flat. I wonder who also remembers Hawes Furniture Store, Perrins Record Shop, Bata Shoe shop, along with Martins Bank (that's a name you don't see now), all in London Road. We moved to Colchester in Essex in 1956. I then moved to Clacton when I married and now live in Penryn, Cornwall.
We always spent our summer holidays in Cornwall and I remember especially catching the Tube at around six in the morning to Paddington, for the Cornish Riviera Express, to Truro!
Morden
I lived in Morden after my parents moved there after the war until 1961 first St Helier Ave then Easby Cres, where my 93 yr old parents still live, and went to Canterbury Primary then Willow High School from 1954,I used to attend the jazz club at the Crown as a young teen, worked for a while at Disc Records and watched the old Crown demolished, then in 1965 before emigrating at worked Hudson Brothers in the new office block Crown House
I remember visiting Santa at the Morden Co-op, Morden Park had small childrens pool and Morden Hall Park as a child fishing for tiddlers and the fetes we had there with local film stars attending, remember "Roman Hill" in Morden Park and The George, I married in St Lukes. Remember attending Saturday morning pictures at the Gaumont Rosehill which later became a Bingo Hall, and the Odeon cimema repleced by a Supermarket
Remember Derb Day all the buses lined up outside the Morden... Read more
Morden Park
I lived near the Woodstock Public house between 1954 and 1965. Morden Park used to be a golf course before the second world war and the large house was the Club House, I used to go to the bandstand on a Sunday and once an American Air Force band played there. Musicals popular tunes and then in the second half, jazz. Everybody was dancing, a great Sunday out.
1953 - 1974
I was born in our house in Martin Way and lived there until 1974. My grandparents moved into the house in the 1930's, just after it was built, and it was ours for around 40 years!
I remember Morden before Crown House existed, when the old Crown pub was on the corner instead. I used to play in Mostyn Gardens and John Innes park, near Rutlish school. Hillcross was my school, with the field, willow tree and old bomb shelter. I used to walk there with my brothers and sister, down Westcroft Gardens. Martin Way had a small parade of shops - the fish shop, Levers hardware store, a barbers/hairdressers, grocers, greengrocers, launderette and Platt's the newsagents and sweet shop. After that was the Fina petrol station. Across the road was St James' church and I used to enjoy looking out of my bedroom window at the wedding parties arriving.
The main supermarket in Morden was Caters and there was an Express Dairy near the underground station that... Read more
Morden Park
I lived in Morden from the age of 3 to the age of 16. What I really remember is that I made model aircraft of many different kinds which I used to fly in Morden Park. I used to cycle to "Normans Model Aircraft" shop in Kingston Road, Wimbledon to buy my supplies and spend many, many happy hours building the aircraft. I used to fly them until it was too dark to see them and return home happy - even if they had crashed, as the challenge of repairing them for use another day was most pleasurable. That hobby made me so many friends and even today at the age of 74, I retain an interest in the hobby. A man called Albert lived in my road and he worked at International Model Aircraft in Merton and was very kind to encourage me in the hobby. He subsequently went to work for Wilmot Mansour who were making model kits of jet aircraft with the famous Jetex model engines.
The Willows
I lived in Morden somewhere around 1952, but don't remember much about it. I went to a school called The Willows. My only memory is walking down London Road, (?) crossing a footbridge and getting to the area of the school, full of beautiful Willow Trees.
Jean Philip (Kushner)
Childhood Days
I lived in morden from 1948-1965 and I have wonderful memories of Morden Park and the bandstand that always had a band paying on Sundays and teas in the big house, not sure what it was called or what it was used for. My mother always insisted I wore white gloves and my best dress and as it was Sunday I was never allowed out to play so going to the bandstand was such a treat. (How times have changed.) Also I remember a paddling pool around the side of the house, I wonder if that is still there or if anyone remembers it? There was a stream that ran through the bottom of the park and I remember we used to jump across it and hope that we would not fall in or we would be in trouble when we got home. I haven't been back to the park for many years maybe one day I will but I expect it has changed a lot.
