Harlow
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Harlow memories
Read and share memories of Harlow and Essex inspired by Frith photos
THIS IS WHAT OLD HARLOW MILL LOCK LOOKED 47 YEARS BEFORE MY FAMILY LIVED IN THE LOCK COTTAGE
MY FAMILY MOVED HERE IN 1950 TILL 1961 MY DAD WAS THE LOCK KEEPER 1950 - 1961
SEE OTHER PHOTOS OF HOW IT LOOKED IN 1955
Contributed by eddie tait
THE BOATS WE LOOKED AFTER
While my family lived in the lock house 1950 - 1961, my father rented the rowing boats out and also the fishing permits. This is only one place where they were moored. At various times they were both sides of the bridge and on both banks. On the left bank of this picture there was the swimming pool and on the right they built a boating club in the late 50s with kayaks & racing rowing boats from 1 to eight people. Most of my childhood was spent either in the canoes, rowing boats or I was fishing, with my sister or mates .Finish this story later
Contributed by eddie tait
Fishing and Swimming
I remember going down to the River Stort with my brother Steve and mates like Tommy Hughes to fish and swim - wow, when I saw this photo it was like it was yesterday. I wish I could go back to happier times...
Barrie Brooks
Contributed by Barrie Brooks
Messing about on the river
With my sisters, catching tiddlers on warm summer days. We would have picnics beside the river. We loved helping to change the lock for the boats that came through. Later, when a little older we would swim and for a while joined the canoe club. After my marriage and when I had children myself, my husband and I would take them for picnics. He would fish while they played and caught their own tiddlers. As they got older they too would fish or swim. On a trip back to England in 2005, my husband and I walked again along the riverbank and it was just as magical to us then as it was before. I have so many happy ...read more here
Contributed by Julie Taylor
THE BLACKSMITHS TOP OF OLD ROAD .Can any one remember the name of pub in picture please let me know
This is where my dad used to take Kitty for her new shoes. One day while on our way home I was riding her and dad was leading her, when she trod on his foot and broke it. He had to ride her back to the doctors which was very near the blacksmiths. On the right of the blacksmiths there was a big field where they put on shows etc and we saw the cowboy show in there one year, also the circus. And down Old Road was the Royal British Legion club where we used to go every year for the childrens Christmas party.
Contributed by eddie tait
The blacksmiths we took Kitty to to get new shoes
The doctors (Dr Busby) we went to was to the right of the blacksmiths. The Pub is called the Green Man had many an orange juice and crisps from there. It was one of the pubs my dad used. Next to that was a big field where they had the fair cicuses and rodeo shows.
Contributed by eddie tait
THE VETS WAS DOWN THIS STREET
Where we took Judy to the vets when she cut her stomach open on barbed wire. She was stitched up and was good as new.
Contributed by eddie tait
THIS IS THE BUS STOP WE GOT OFF TO GO TO JUNIOR SCHOOL
We used to always walk to school in the summer and walk home.
Contributed by eddie tait
THE TOWPATH WHERE THE BOATS WERE MOORED LATER ON
This photo is NOT 1955 as stated .This is about 1949 - 50 notice there is no garden on the left.see photo of cottage .my father built that from nothing and won prizes for it. Also there was no towpath on the other bank in 1955 there was a very large weeping willow there that used hang over the river .We used to cast under neath it as fish used to congrgate under it ,and the rowing boats and canoes were moored garden side 1955.Also the the railings with wooden post were not there in 1955.So this is either before we moved in, in 1950. This is the bank where I did most of my fishing from. On the left of ...read more here
Contributed by eddie tait
Where I grew up with my Sister Christine & Dog Judy
This picture is the view from the main road of Harlow lock, Old Mill Resturant and weir and the towpath where the rowing boats and canoes were moored when I lived there. They were moored both sides of the bridge at various times, next to the swimming pool and then by the boat house that was built late 50s. I spent many a long hour fishing on that towpath, rowing the boats and paddling the canoes. They were all wood in those days, beautiful boats then kayaks came in. They built a rowing club shed where they kept the boats. Big long rowing boats.
Contributed by eddie tait
THIS IS HOW THE LOCK LOOKED LIKE WHEN MY FAMILY LIVED IN LOCK COTTAGE 1950 - 1961
This is where I spent my life from 2 yrs till I was 13 yrs old. Fishing, rowing boats, paddling canoes and riding Kitty the horse in the field behind our cottage that my dad looked after and stabled at night for the owner who lived in the big house in Old Road. See the picture at top of Old Road - that's where we took Kitty and the horse we later looked after to be shod.
Contributed by eddie tait
ONE OF MY BEST SCHOOL FRIENDS HOUSES
This is where one of my best friends still lives. His name is Michael, he's a Spurs supporter. Still get a Xmas card and from 5 years old until I left in 1961 we stayed friends with our little gang of mates Colin, David, Gary, Christopher, Wiggy and a few others . We all went to Forbert & Barnards and Mark Hall schools . We had many a good day together outside of school hours.
Contributed by eddie tait
THE HIGH STREET
This is where mum shopped and got toys, records 78s, fireworks, sweets etc.
Contributed by eddie tait
Washing Cars
I used to wash cars in the big car park on the right of the photograph, and charged 5 shillings a car. Mind you, the worst day there was when some clown of a driver went and drove over my bike, and that was that.
Contributed by Barrie Brooks
Cool, clear water!
What a lovely surprise for us youngsters from Northbrooks - a beautiful new place to swim! No big scary fish or slimy weedy things to twist around you in those early days. My adventurous brothers even rode their bikes over the iced-up water one winter ... until one went under and had to be rescued by the rest! Happy days!
Contributed by K Black
Edmunds Tower
This photo and the one next to it showing St Pauls must have been taken from the top of Edmunds Tower. I lived there from 1970 - 1974, the views from the roof were wonderful. It was then a walk away from the town centre over the big car park and then back of the big shops (Woolworths was one of them), the view now is very different and the town centre is on the doorstep!
Contributed by Sue Spiller
Pardon Hall
Parndon Hall WAS NOT demolished - the Victorian house still lies at the centre of the hospital site and is currently used to house the Past Graduate Medical Centre and Trust offices. Paintings done by Elizabeth Arkwright in the late 19th Century still adorn the doors walls and ceilings of the house. Sadly Parndon Hall is not accessible by the public.
Contributed by Ursula Myers
Where I learned to Swim
Is the pool still there? I bet it isn't ... I'd like a pound note (sorry, Coin!) for the Ttmes I went here swimming and generally fooling around. I also learned to dive from the top board too, and my faves were the bombs (jumping in and curling up a certain way to make a bloody great SPLASH) - and also getting banned many times for doing it!
Barrie Brooks
Contributed by Barrie Brooks
Extracts From Harlow & Essex books
Churchgate Street lay on the main route from London to Newmarket, Cambridge, Norwich and the North. Until early in the 19th century, travellers in horse-drawn carriages from London would see the welcome sight of the Queen’s Head and the spire of the church of St Mary and St Hugh in the background as they rounded the bend in the road. Stafford Almshouse, now privately owned, was originally the home of a priest until 1548, when it became an almshouse for ‘two poor widows to be given 20s for wood and 20s for clothing every year’. Anyone standing on this same spot now would find that Churchgate Street looks almost the same now as in the photograph.
An extract from from"Harlow Town and City Memories".
The road to Harlow was a turnpike costing 1s for a coach and horses, and 1d for a horse. The eight daily coaches would have passed the Bull and Horseshoes at Potter Street, the Queen’s Head at Churchgate Street, the Green Man at Mulberry Green and the George at the end of the High Street. The road then led down to Harlow Mill on the Stort and the bridge into Hertfordshire.
An extract from from"Harlow Town and City Memories".
The George, built in 1598, was situated at the junction between the High Street, Market Street, and Fore Street, and was the main focal point of the village.
An extract from from"Harlow Town and City Memories".
The college was in a lovely setting, and was within walking distance of the river, where the boys were taken for swimming lessons. This view now would include houses on the field and the school area. St John’s church is in the background.
An extract from from"Harlow Town and City Memories".
Harlow College was situated in the area now known as Jocelyns. It was originally called St Mary’s, and was planned to be a boarding school for fifty middle-class boys.
An extract from from"Harlow Town and City Memories".