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Purley On Thames

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Purley, High Street c1965 (ref: P121012)
 Year: 1950 Growing up in Purley
When I lived in Purley, there weren't many stores.  I can remember when Sainsbury's opened across from Purley Fountain.  There was a toy shop in the High Street called Morgan's.  I stole a whistle from there when I was not very old.  I can remember it to this day.  It was yellow plastic with one of those pea things in that made the whistling noice.  I must have taken it home but I was soon on my way back to Morgan's to return the whistle and apologise for stealing it!

We lived in Dale Road and there was a row of shops along the Godstone Road.  A greengrocer's, Mr King's the grocers, Mr Nicholls newsagents, Mr Burrough's the tobacconist and a couple more than I can't remember.  We were friendly with the Nicholls and went round there to watch the Coronation on their television.  We did not have a television at the time.  My Mom used to smoke and we often got sent round for 20 Churchman's No. 1.

There was only one restaurant that I can remember.  It was right beside the railway bridge.  I don't know that I ever went there.  People didn't eat out very much in those days.  We called it Bobby Crittendon's.  I don't know if that was it's actual name, but I guess it was run by Bobby Crittendon!

There was the Astoria cinema in the High Street.  That was a treat when we got to go there. I do remember there was a jeweller's in Russell Hill and my Dad used to have jewellery specially made for my mother.  There was also a pet food shop in Russell Hill that sold horse meat that my Mom used to buy for the dog.

We were never restricted in what we did or where we went.  We used to go up to the woods in Northwood Avenue and hide in the hawthorn bushes, and build "camps" in the flattened grass and spy on people!  I can remember once a whole crowd of us went to Grange Park and messed around in that canal type thing there and we all had to take our shirts off and run around to get them dry before we went on the bus back home again.  Grange Park was quite a long way away.  I think I was the oldest and I was probably around 12 at the time.  We must have taken the bus because it was much too far to walk there.

When I was in my teens, we moved to Meadow Hill.  We moved from 18 Dale Road to 18 Meadow Hill.  After that we had to catch the 234 up Foxley Lane and walk home.  After I started work I often used to take a taxi home because I didn't like walking in the dark.  When I went out in the evening I took the bus along to the bottom of Smitham Downs Road and I would walk up in the middle of the road because all the houses had big hedges and I was scared someone was going to jump out at me.  They never did!

Last edited: 18/03/2007 23:49 by Liz Williams  

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Purley, Reedham Orphanage 1903 (ref: 49455)
 Year: 1952 Swimming at Reedham Orphanage
I went to Whyteleafe Grammar school. At the time it was an all girls grammar school. We used to go on a coach to swim at Reedham Orphanage. I didn't know how to swim and I can remember to this day, telling Miss Edwards, the phys ed. teacher who was very strict, that I had read in a book that if you put your shoulders under the water, you would be able to swim and I asked if this was true! She said why didn't I try it and see! I can't remember if it worked. All I can remember is that it was an indoor pool but it had leaves and stuff in the water and the water was not very warm.

Posted: 18/03/2007 21:08 by Liz Williams  

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  Year: 1956 Reedham orphanage
My father died just before I was born and my mother had to put my brother and I into Reedham orphanage.  I was still on a potty as I remember complaining that I was now old enough to go on the toilet and have some privacy.  I remember a row of potties along a wall oposite the tiny 'grown up' toilets that had curtains not doors.  I remember a little baby called Paula being shown to us.  She was a black girl and so  sweet and pretty.

I was at the orphanage for 2 or 3 years and then my mother (against the odds) got a council house in Plymouth and we joined her and my older sister.

I would like to visit the school and talk to other people who went there.  Sadly my brother is now dead.  Whilst at the orphanage, my brother Peter stole a giant Easter egg for me (donated to the school) and shared it with me.  He was very naughty!  I remember a lady saying to him she would cut off his fingers with gardening shears if he stole again. The wicked boy! He was 3 or 4 years old.  Happy Days.

Last edited: 18/09/2006 16:41 by Kathryn Jackson  

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  Year: 1947 Royal Family travelling through Reedham Train Station
I remember standing on the station platform to see the Royal Family pass through on the Royal Train. I have no recollection of where they were travelling to and I'm a bit hazy on the year.

We all wore our best clothes and stood waving. The train slowed down as it passed through the station. Then about 3 or 4 days later we did the same on the other side.

Myself and my two sisters, Janet and Eileen Hall were all at Reedham Orphanage. We were at Reedham from 1935 to about 1947/48.

Posted: 18/07/2006 12:18 by Chris Wallis  

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