North Harrow memories
Here are memories of North Harrow and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of North Harrow or a North Harrow photo.
Air Force Brat
I lived with my family from 1959 - 1962 in North Harrow - I have never really left. Penny candy sixpence allowance! Gobstoppers! The fire station. We would walk around in Harrow school! What fun we had! I would love to hear from anyone else with a dad stationed at South Ruislip base.
Fire Station
Hi, I used to live in the Pinner Road fire station from 1948 until 1961, it holds all my favorite memories, going to Pinner Park school in Headstone Lane. I remember Mora Francis being picked up after school in a big black limousine to go to the film studios as she was one of St Trinian's girls. We used to play football on our way home in the park opposite and then go to Whites sweet shop on Northarrow Parade and buy penny gobstoppers and sit in the allotments behind the Woodlands or go down the air raid shelter. When I was growing up I then went to Headstone Secondary Modern and yes, Ihad the cane on numerous ocasions from Mr Manson or the slipper from the PT instructor Mr Macnab. I also got a Saturday job at Yaldens hardware delivering paraffin on a bike with a basket on the front. My friend and I would meet all the cyclists outside Iver Clark's bike shop or go and look in... Read more
Happy Days at Elmcroft Crescent
Hi, I came across this site by accident but I am delighted to recap on happy days spent living in North Harrow. We lived in Elmcroft Crescent off Headstone Lane and attended the comprehensive school at the boundary connecting George 5th Avenue and the Pinner road. The headmaster I still remember - Mr Manser! Two canings put me in order although our PTI (name forgotten) was also handy with a black plimsol. I recall doing well at sports - particularly shot-putting (I had developed the Parry O'Brien method of swinging at 180% to the front) and also at rugby when I had the unfortunate distinction of falling on an opponent in a ruck and breaking his arm - match cancelled and Day junior mentioned in assembly the next morning! My twin sister, Gladys, excelled study-wise and sports-wise; in fact she was a real clever dick! Her favourite trick was to bring a motley selection of netball buddies home to taunt me and pinch Mum's cakes. My dear mother was... Read more
The Tithe Barn
This picture is of the Tithe Barn at Harrow Museum and Heritage Centre. It is one of four listed buildings at the site and is part of the former medieval Headstone Manor estate. Harrow Museum can be contacted on 020 8861 2626
My Grandfather's Shop in Preston Road
As a large family and well known in the area, the Rogers of today are trying to contact any others from the past. There were 10 boys and 4 girls, all but 1 are dead now but most of us didn't know many of our uncles or aunties, so are you our relations? If you think you might be then please contact me, in particular we want to find the children of Peter and Queenie Rogers who lived in a flat in Kingsbury, Whippet are you out there, where are you? Please get in touch with me. Joan (my father was Ralph Reginald Rogers). joan@simmonscrew.co.uk
Preston Road Shops
My great Grandfather, George frederick Rogers ( c1880 ) owned the Newsagents ( still named Rogers ) on the Preston Road at Preston road station, way back in the 1920's ?. Before the parade of shops where built he had a wooden hut type building where he served teas and sandwiches to the train travelers. When the parade was built he got the rental of the shop on the first plot and the Rogers shop was born. I have heard from my father that the Rogers family was well known in the area and for years on the wall of the Preston pub there was all sorts of Rogers family history in frames ; namely the story of the 10 Rogers brothers who went to war and all came back safely. My grandfather had a window cleaning buisness for the area in his younger years ( Philip Rogers c1906)
Unfortunatly the pub has recently been refurbished by a company and I was just too late and all has been... Read more
North Harrow Shops
I left Pinner Grammar School in 1963 and well remember this view as I sometimes cycled this route back home to Hatch End. Mostly I would go home the direct way through Pinner but I can remember putting in the extra miles to go via North Harrow for a couple of very good reasons!
On the left of the picture close to the bus stop was a good toy shop with a window display of model railways. As I grew older my motivation switched from model railways to girls and I remember pedalling the North Harrow route in the hope of seeing Elizabeth Armstrong who sadly went to another school. I was lucky a few times but courage failed me so I never asked her out or we might have gone to the cinema which is on the right of this view (but now a supermarket and bowling alley!).
The tall building in the centre background was a car showroom and I think it may... Read more
The Tithe Barn And Harrow Museum
Moat Farm Park? I find this surprising as its claim to fame is surely the preserved buildings of the Tithe Barn and surroundings. The Barn itself is the site of Harrow Museum and hosts various fund raising fairs, events and concerts each year to pay for its upkeep. On many of these Bank Holiday Monday events the organisers invite local performers including Whitethorn Morris Dancers. I have played my accordian for the Whitethorn Band on all of these occasions - sometimes performing on the tarmac forecourt of the Tithe Barn, but in wet weather in the Barn itself. It is a lovely venue for community events.
Northumberland Road
We lived at 29 Northumberland Road in the 1950s with my grandmother. My sister Moira and I went to Longfield school and I have many happy memories there. My grandmother took me with her to St Albans church as a very small child and I recall sitting on one of the very long pews on the right side of the aisle.
We used to go to ballet classes at the Methodist church at the other end of North Harrow. Another memory is of Pinner Fair, that was an amazing experience at the time. I also recall my first experience of 'The Dentist'. The surgery was not far from Sopers, which was situated at this end of the Broadway on the right, (as you look at the picture shown). Anyway, the dentist used no anaesthetic for fillings which were done with the old grinding drill - I have been phobic ever since!
Any Keen Cyclists?
I lived near the Kodak factory, but I spent a lot of time in North Harrow as a teenager. I used to go to the Methodist youth club (until they got fed up with me) and developed a passion for building model aircraft there, started by a man who ran a class. I can't remember his name. Later though, as a school-boy I worked part-time at Arthur Clarke Cycles and found a life-long enthusiasm for cycling. The shop was a specialist light-weight road bike shop with a strong connection with Kenton Road Club. I met, and rode with, many of the members, but sadly again I can't remember any names. Clarkes had a second shop, I think in Harrow, and a strong competitor in Rohan Cycles in Rayners Lane. I think the latter might still exist. The shop was at the end of the parade of shops in Pinner Road as it joined Woodlands (according to my A to Z). Does anyone remember it, or perhaps worked there at about... Read more
A Wartime Child
I was born in 1935 at 25 Cambridge Road, maiden name Lee. There were six of us, parents, 2 older sisters, Beryl and Gwen, and grandmother.
I remember many of the shops from the late 30's to the early 50's when we moved to Surrey. Turning right into Station Road, opposite a hotel (or was it a pub?) there was a drapers and almost next door, a market which was held under cover about once a week. Near the first station entrance was a greengrocers and next to the second entrance, an opticians. There was a row of plane trees along the edge of the road and a chemist on the corner of Northumberland Road. On the other corner was a sweetshop. Turning left out of Cambridge Road there was a newsagent, a photographers, butchers, shoe shop, a United Dairies dairy- all cool brick red tiles and not much else - and where the road bends to the left, a small sweet shop next... Read more
My Parents Owned North Harrow Cycles
My parents June & Brian Cocklin owned the Cycle and Toy Shop at 14 Broadwalk from 1963 until 1975. I lived there with my brother Christopher and sister Leonie. The shop was next door to Diggi's Cake Shop and also the other side was City Electronics. (The organ / record shop). We lived above our shop and City Electronics. All of us children went to Pinner Park and Nower Hll High (Headstone Secondary school). It has been brilliant looking at this website and reading of peoples memories of the area. I remember the Old Thythe Barn Well from my school days. If anybody remembers us, they will remember that Christopher died of cancer in 1974, but the rest of us are all well and living in Essex, my parents still miss the shop and I suppose I do as well. Fantastic memories of the time spent there. I will definetly come back and tell some more memories of my time in North Harrow. Joanne
Memories of Middlesex
Born Here in 1947
I was born around the corner from the photo, at 15 Eastcote Lane, just off the Northolt Road, in 1947 (born at home, too, not in a hospital!) Remember going to school on Northolt Road, maybe a quarter mile west of the intersection of Eastcote Lane. A school still appears to be there, when I look at the images on Google Earth. Still remember buying a Beano comic book at the corner of Northolt and Eastcote. I also dimly remember seeing the last of the killer smogs in 1954. My family emigrated to Canada in 1954, when I was seven, and I have only been back to South Harrow once since then.
455 Northolt Road South Harrow
I was born at 455 Northolt Road during the 2nd World War where I lived with mum, grandad, granma and young uncle. My father was killed in Normandy Landings on June 6 1944 and was called Arthur Blerkom. My mum was Lil Blerkom and worked in munitions factory and later as usherette at the Odeon in South Harrow. After the war we had to move to Hayes as the house was only rented to us for the duration of the war, having been moved there during the Blitz from the East End. If there is anybody out there who remember my family of Arthur and Florence Hubbard, Les Hubbard and Arthur and Lillian Blerkom I should love to hear from you.
Doreen Walton nee blerkom doreen.w@tiscali.co.uk
Stanley Road, South Harrow
I lived with my foster family in Stanley Road South Harrow, during the war. Our house backed on to the gas works and I always wanted to climb the gasometer which I did eventually with a friend from across the road.
At the top of Stanley Road were all the usual local shops. Peacheys the grocer where we collected our rations and where I would take back empty jam jars and collect a farthing for a small one and a ha'penny for a big one. The fish and chip shop near by would sell a haporth of chips and give away batter bits to any hungry child that asked for them. I would get my hair cut in the barbers at the back of Hatherly's paper shop where I would also pick up a comic each week. At first it was Micky mouse and then either the Dandy or the Beano until I started to get the Hotspur. We children would carry comics to our friends and ask if... Read more
Northolt Road
I lived at 99 Northolt Road from my birth in 1954 until approx. 1961. My grandfather, Walter Taylor had a cafe there although it was closed when I lived there with my parents & grandparents. My grandmother was Florence taylor and she ran the cafe in the market for many years. I remember well some of the other stall holders, Henry at the fish stall, Brummy at the handbags etc. Grandad used to go to The Three Horseshoes which was opposite the house and I remember going to the rec to watch the steam trains. I and my Mum before me went to Miss Parnell's school in Corbins Lane. Only 2 classes - upstairs & downstairs . Sadly, when I last visited in 1996, little of the area around 99 was left and the school was gone.
Stanley Road
I lived at number 90 Stanley Road from 1964 until 1985. My dad worked at the Gas Board at the top of the road where the gas holder always seemed to dominate the skyline. Although it was an ugly building it was part of South Harrow and I think a few people were sad to see it taken down. Not many people knew that it was a nesting site for a pair of kestrels and they nested there since I was a kid until they pulled it down.
I can remember when they built Brember Road and knocked three houses down to make the new road and built industrial units round the back. The market was always an exciting place to go as kids and most of the market traders knew us and our parents. At the top of the road was an old antique shop called the Brass Monkey and I think Grahams the sweet shop was opposite. Just further down under the railway bridge was Toy Craft Seventy... Read more
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