Memories of Croydon
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Little Road, Addiscombe.
I moved to 11 Little Road when I was three. Opposite our little Victorian house was the playground, attended everyday by a lady who used to sit in her little hut and make tea. The road was a cul de sac, two rows of Victorian terraced houses, our semi detached 2 up 2 down house, and then a detached house at the top of the road. It must have been very old, thinking back the date it was built, probably around the 1700s. The road ran under Windmill Bridge and underneath were lock ups which the local green grocer used to house his horses that pulled his cart of veggies. Mr Boxall, I think, was his name. The playground had a large slide which, when the Queen's train passed through for the yearly races she attended, us kids would sit on and wave to the Royal train as it went through. She never did slow down and wave back! We had the biggest conker tree in the area, and we would hungrily collect the fallen conkers in the autumn, daring the children that came to the playground to pinch our brown shiny conkers. In the 1950s we still had gas light and I can remember the change to electric light. I can also remember of course when the yellow lines were being painted on the road so we couldn't just park our little cars anywhere any more. One gentleman who lived in one of the houses, we used to call him 'Uncle', would give me 3d pocket money whenever he saw me. I think he felt sorry for me as both my mum and dad worked from when I was about 7, so I spent a lot of hours alone. Then in 1967 the council bought the land, and the little houses were all knocked down and Little Road was no more. Now the site is a grey block of council flats, and all the memories have been wiped out. Little Road cannot be found on the web at all as if it didn't exist, but to us kids during the 1950s and 60s it was a little world all on its own. Does anybody out there have any photos of Little Road? I was known then as Anne Goddard, my bestest friends were Cassandra Jeal and Catherine Mccloughlan. Where are you now? Anne Offor Last edited: 20/11/2008 12:17 by Anne Offor |
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 Croydon, the Underpass c1965 (ref: C201170) |
Year: 1967
underpass
I remember going under on my scooter en route to Beddington only to find the wind turned me completely round so I was facing where I had come from! Posted: 22/07/2008 11:42 by Barry Puttock |
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lost
, Sonja, I have lost your phone number, this is Margaret Matheson-Redpath. I live on canturbury road Please send your email again, Marg Posted: 03/07/2008 17:43 by Margaret Matheson |
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Year: 1965
Memories
I was born in Croydon in 1962 and lived in Milton Road. I can remember visiting my nan and my dad's two brothers Reg and Ken. They were really happy times and I can remember knowing I was near nan's when on the train I saw the playground in Addiscombe!! My uncle Reg used to work at the Fairfield Halls and my Uncle ken & great uncle Stan on the buses. My dad Ray and mum Rita lived in Croydon until about 1965, when I was three when we moved to Lincolnshire. Lovely to read things on this site, I just wish dad was still here to have a look. Kaye Last edited: 30/06/2008 10:37 by Kaye Baberf |
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Year: 1961
Lanfranc School for girls
Yes me too! Having just stumbled across this website and having read your stories. My dad was born in Bute Road just off the Mitcham Road and then moved to Albion Street number 7! He is now 99 and lives in Ewell. I was brought up in Aurelia Road my best friend Joyce Lucas, Michael Cocklin Robert Cocklin and his little sister Mary Cocklin, Beryl Mitchell Linda Tanner Christine Doors Eileen Morris and Tommy whose surname I have forgotten but his sister died of diabetes aged just 16. Anne Condon whose father had the off license in Thornton Road. How us kids used to play cricket, rounders hop scotch until it was too dark to see, jacks, two balls and we even used to climb up on top of the "Acan Tab" on the roof to see the workers down below, health & safety then, dont think so! We used to go "rabbiting" over the cemetery, ride our bikes all over Mitcham Common and beyond. Fish for newts and sticklebacks in the pond on the common and in the Wandle Park too. I went to Boston road school then onto Lanfranc I also went to the funeral of the poor lads that lost there lives on that fateful day inAugust 1961 the Lanfranc Boys air disaster. How free we were then, life was for living, I had a brilliant childhood and brilliant parents I couldnt have wished for better, even now life is good as they say "life is what you make it" Keep smiling. Glennis K Posted: 09/06/2008 15:57 by Glennis Spencer |
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Year: 1946
Fish and chips
l was born at Westfield Rd. My dad's brother and his wife owned the fish and chip shop on Pitlake Bridge (which is now renamed Jubilee Bridge). There was also a paper shop called Weanholes, it belonged to an old woman, she was about 80, no teeth, always looked as if she was chewing her gums ah ah. l went to Croydon Parish Church School. And Sunday School at St Edmond's which was at the bottom of our road next to the park. We would all gather there to play hop scotch untill the street lights came on or we heard our mums calling us in. l remember the slaughterhouse and yes you did have to run inside your house if one got loose. Does anybody remember the sheep that was killed and they fould a baby that was a few days away from being born and the men saved its life and bottle fed it and would walk it about on a collar and lead for many years. Trudie O'Hara. Last edited: 12/05/2008 09:25 by First Name Last Name |
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the pictures and being young & stupid
Hi Keith, I had actually written to you two months ago, but they (the site) must have sensored my message because I had written my e-mail address. I had mentioned that when I told Ken (my brother and your fellow mate) that you had responded Ken wanted to contact you. Ken is fine and living in San Fransisco, Marg is fine and living in a suburb of San Fransisco, and I recently moved to Tucson (out in the hot desert). Unfortunately, Ralph died of a viral infection of the heart about 15 years ago, my dad died in 1970, and mum past away 5 years ago. Tell Sue that I had a crush (thought she was sweet) on her while growing up, and tell her I remember Marg getting into big big, BIG trouble over taking the cutains down, but funny on hind site. I guess Marg must have been inspired by the movie, "Gone with the wind"! Sorry to hear about your dad. Thanks about the update on the sweets, I had foregotten about the chewing tabaco candy. When I get off this site I will lookup where you live. I'll tell Ken to read this site to read your comments, he will be thrilled to hear from you. Talk about doing unhealthy things while being young and stupid, like tearing apart fireworks to build bombs with the gunpowder. Steve Posted: 10/04/2008 20:19 by First Name Last Name |
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Year: 1962
Rex cinema Norbury
I was so excited when I discovered this site I just had to join! I lived in Melfort Road from 1942 'til 1956 and went to Winterbourne and the Manor. The story about the Rex echoed mine. My wife worked in the office block for CITB in about 1960/2. As kids we alternated between the Rex and the Granada and bunked into the Rex to see Blackboard Jungle, so much like the Manor! My first job was at Loverings opposite the Granada. I have been on Friends ReUnited for years but not had much luck. I was a street kid (my dad died when I was 9) so TH and Norbury was my stamping ground. I look forward to seeing; and adding, more memories of the old place, last visit 2004. Bert Barnes Posted: 03/04/2008 00:07 by Bert Barnes |
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Kennards
Kennards had the little zoo where a monkey in a tiny cage reached out and pulled my sister's hair. This was about the year of Queen Elizabeth's coronation. We went down to Woolworth’s and were given free Union Jack flags. Upstairs in Kennards there was another area with penny slot machines. Inside each glass case there was a scene that was activated when you put the penny in. One scene was a haunted graveyard with a drunk drinking from a bottle with his back to a gravestone. When the scene started to move the drunk would take a swig from his bottle and a ghost would arise from behind the gravestone. Posted: 25/03/2008 03:11 by Julian Hamer |
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Year: 1954
Wonderful memories
What an unexpected pleasure it was stumbling quite by accident upon this website this evening! I was born in Croydon in 1948 and lived in West Croydon till 1955. I have very vivid memories of the high street, even of being 'bumped' down the Surrey Street steps in a push chair! My very first memory in fact.. Siselys sweet shop was at the top of Oakfield Road, where I lived ... and a visit there after a shopping trip was a treat indeed ... watching the soft molten sweet being poured onto the huge (to me) copper slab to be cut and cooled into sweets was magical. There was a pawn shop on the corner of Oakfield Road, the brass balls hanging above ... and I also remember a dress agency next door to that, where high quality second hand ladies clothes were sold. I still have a handbag of my late mother's from there. Kennards arcade was the best place to be sure, ponies, exotic perfumes sold in the Indian shop and, in later years, the place I had my ears pierced... the wonderful smell of coffee as you passed Wilsons ... the cake shop around the corner, which I can't remember the name of, but their rhum babas were amazing. The luncheonette in Kennards where all us 13 year olds hung out on a Saturday afternoon circa 1961.. the sample shoe shop where they had a pair of winklepickers in the window that must have been well, a sample ... they were sooo extended! Martin Fords where they sold the perfect stockings, over blouses, tight skirts to drive teachers crazy ... Surrey Street where I went shopping to Caters supermarket on Friday evenings with my father ... I am now living in Cyprus, but this web site has brought back such a rush of memories, emotions and happiness along with a few tears ... many many thanks! Last edited: 19/03/2008 10:31 by Yvonne Kolessides |
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Waddon ponds and Kennards
I remember beautiful Waddon ponds with its ducks, and coots and swans, and cycling around the park. I also remember the trolley buses that went up to Croydon, and going to Kennards, and the ponies and the arcade, I still dream of it even now, and the Walls ice cream factory in Purley Way with the ice cream machine outside, and the sound of the factory hooters and the sound of the aeroplanes. I think they built a big Sainsbury's on top of Purley Way but Sainsbury's used to be in Church Street with the Co-op and lots of other shops. I also remember going up to Crown Hill where there was a big coloured lighting sign in the evenings, I expect a lot of this is gone now, it was all so beautiful. Looking back now, I remember how they tried to demolish the Town Hall and everything, but that it is still there now. Dad had the bike shop in Purley Way, Coopers, when everyone cycled and we sold Trojans mini motors too and motorbikes, a long long time ago. They used to sell evening papers on the corner by the junction and we could actually count the cars in those days and take down their numbers! I hardly ever get back there now and our shop has been combined with two others, the old sweetshop on the corner of Lodge Parade and the Greengrocers and now it is all one big mini-supermarket. Last edited: 18/03/2008 13:59 by Clara Greed |
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Year: 1959
Pitlake Bridge
I was born in Cuthbert Road, West Croydon, next to Pitlake Bridge, and have a vivid memory of when the manholes on the bridge exploded. Wandle Park was our playground, and a fairground or circus had its winter storage next to the park. I was christened in St Edmund's Church which was also next to Wandle Park, but I think must have been demolished. On the two corners of Westfield Road, where it met Cuthbert, were two shops - one a grocers and the other a 'fancy goods' store - they were run by two brothers (twins?). The slaughter house was at the end of our road, and it was awful to hear the terrified animals squealing. They often escaped, and people used to leap into our gated sideway for safety, especially when it was a bull which had escaped! No wonder I'm a vegetarian! Alison |
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Year: 1940s
Growing up in Croydon
Through WW2 we lived in Stanley Road, number 73, at that time an off-licence which my mother ran whilst my father was serving in the RAF. I went to Boston Road school and remember we had small boxes of emergency rations in case we were trapped in the school by an air raid. We were bombed out in 1944 by a V1 that hit further up the road and severely damaged no 73, for a time we lived with relatives in the Birmingham area and then moved back when the house and shop were repaired. When my father was demobbed we moved to Midhurst Avenue and he worked as a lorry driver. I remember the winter of 1945 as we had serious fuel shortages and we went and bought coke directly from the gasworks and collected wood for the fires. In the 1940s I attended Selhurst Grammar School leaving in 1950 to work as a medical laboratory technician. Last edited: 11/02/2008 09:07 by Ned Cordery |
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Year: 1955
Childhood Dreams
I came across this website by accident, what a treat. I was raised in Croydon, actually Addington. My nana and granddad lived at 195 Purley Way in Wadden. I spent many happy hours there as a child. I would spend several weeks with my grandparents just before Christmas every year while my mom worked at the post office in Croydon for extra Christmas money, my dad was a postman there for many years. One thing in particular that stands out is lying in my nana's bed and listening to motor cars and bikes on wet pavement going over the bridge in front of the house. When we visited them, every Sunday for dinner we used to walk up Purley Way past the gasworks where my grandad Stagg used to work. My mom would toss small stones up at the windows and my grandad would look out. Anyone remember Walls Ice Cream in the machine? We would always stop for a sixpenny chock ice on the way to catch the bus back to Addington. I also remember Surrey's Ice Cream, the rag and bone man (I always got a goldfish), the greengrocer's bus, the coalman, going to Broomfield's for bread and like many others I too remember Kennard's, especially the pony rides both the roundabout and outside, does anyone else remember the horsey smell and the tinkling of the reins? As I got older I would go to town with my friend Susan and buy those little Hovis loaves. I also vividly remember Surrey Street and the barrow boys, my big thrill was a little pet shop where we would go to see puppies, I also seem to recall chickens. I got my first ring from a jewelers on Surrey Street. We moved to Canada in 1956 but returned to Croydon in 1960 at which time I went to Lanfranc School for Girls for a year, I am sure many of you remember the horrific plane crash with the kids from Lanfranc Boys School, I believe that was in 1961? Anyway we came back to Canada at the end of 1961 when I was thirteen. I still get homesick to this day, 46 years later, and this website has brought back a lot. Like the old song says "Thanks for The Memories" Posted: 11/01/2008 06:08 by Christina Jackson |
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Year: 1958
The Pictures
I was born on Clyde Road in 1950, and in 1954 moved to Caterbury Road in West Croydon, where I attended school Elmwood, and then Lambfrank (spelling?). Mr Reeves was a teacher at Elmwood, and always answered anything he didn't like with a WHACK on the bottom from one of many different shoes that he kept for punishment (depending on how much punishment he wanted to inflict that day). But the good thing about him was that, all we had to do was to ask a question and the war and he would talk for the next hour non stop about the jerry's. I like other writers here also remember Kennards and what a joy it was to be there. We didn't shop too much, because funds at the time were very limited, and Kennards was not the place where we went to buy, (only look at what others could afford). But I do remember going to the pictures, and seeing "Old Yeller" at the Davis, "The Horse Soldiers" at the Savoy, and every Saturday morning at the Granada, to sing songs, see an old B&W serial, a movie, and stomp your feet shouting, "We want film, We want film". Serials, like Zoro, Flash Gordon, Buck Jones, and Hopalong. My family and I moved to San Francisco, California in 1962. Today I live near Hollywood, but wouldn't trade my memory of Croydon for anything. From what I understand a cousin still manages a barrow at the Market, his name is "Redpath". Does anyone know of a Michael Gooch, Paul Bigrigg, or Michael Cody, that I went to school with? Last edited: 23/12/2007 07:11 by First Name Last Name |
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 Croydon, Whitgift Middle School c1950 (ref: C201040) |
Year: 1943
Foundation Scholar.
I was a pupil at the school from 1943 to 1948 from the age of 10. I used to travel there from Norbury on the tram, having won a Scholarship from Norbury Manor School. I came from a typically working class background and to be fortunate enough to attend this school was a considerable advantage. Mr. Clayton was Headmaster, with the imposing Dr. Shutt his deputy. It was wartime of course, and many morning assemblies in Big School were marked with the latest news of deaths of old boys. I particularly remember Mr. Taylor our Art master announcing the landings in Normandy in 1944, and the bombing of Allders. My time there is remembered with gratitude, but it was difficult at times due to the cultural differences with life at home. I now realise how hard it must have been for my parents, who found the way of life and social mores of the school completely foreign to them. They never visited the place during my time there. I did well in subjects that I liked- Art, Maths and Engineering Drawing. My education was somewhat curtailed as I had to leave at 15 to contribute to family income. However, the basics were put in place and I ultimately became a Mechanical Engineer after some years on the drawing board as a designer. The school gave me a love of serious music that is with me still. I have visited the new school at Addiscombe, now Trinity School and can only marvel at their modernity and fabulous facilities! My wife and I now live in Crawley, West Sussex. I have been retired since 1992, and am into model ship building, car restoration amongst other things. Posted: 22/12/2007 12:35 by Alan Scott |
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Kennards + Waddon
Hi On finding your memories pages I simply had to add my own contribution as my memories of Croydon and area are so dear to me. My grandparents lived in Waddon, just off the Purley Way, and I visited regularly on holiday, when my Grandad (Grampy) a city commutor took me everywhere. I remember Kennards so clearly and with great pleasure, the arcade running down the hill outside the store, with its baby rabbits, puppies and kittens and then finally going in to find the carosel of four ponies going round and round to the tune of the Teddy Bears Picnic. I believe this was done away with in later years and three ponies were walked, carrying children, in and out the columns outside the front. Oh what a delight to ride the Trolley Bus into town and to know that I was going to Kennards that day. When I was a little older, all of ten, I was allowed to go into 'town' by myself on top of the trolley bus - can you imagine this now-a-days, but was never allowed to visit the city alone. It was Grampy who took me to all of the London Sights and I do mean everywhere, I was a frequent visitor to his home, and he was such a lovely man, with a such great patience for teaching children. It was from him that I gained my love of art, architecture, music, militaria. and of course everything to do with London. and its buildings and traditions. At the age of sixy-hmmmm I still am filled with anticipation when I am about to visit our great city. Oh yes some-one has mentioned the theatres in Croydon, now I always believed that Gramps took me to theatres in town, but on reading here that Max Miller, Max Wall, the Crazy Gang, Tommy Trinder, Gert and Daisy and all the rest of that wonderful crew performed in Croydon, I know now that it was in Croydon that I saw them, sitting high up in the Gods, a little girl with a great bow in her hair, aged somewhere between six and twelve with her eyes filled with wonder and stardust. Even if a lot of their risque jokes passed straight over the top, its certainly so very true what Max Miller always said, There will never be another will there. No there'll never be another. Liz PS Its just come back to me. Kennards Arcade had SNAKES didnt it???? It truly was the most wonderful shop in the world to us kids. Last edited: 13/09/2007 22:14 by Liz Griffin |
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Year: 1958
Further to Cinemas in Croydon
I grew up in Galpins Road, Thornton Heath and as a youngster joined the ABC Minors at the Rex Cinema, Norbury sadly now demolished and replaced by an office block. I saw many of the MGM Musicals at the Rex, including Singing in the Rain. I also used to go to The State Cinema, Thornton Heath later to become The Granada. Here I saw many an Abbott and Costello film. I joined the forces in 1954, and was stationed abroad in Singapore. Here in my spare time I worked as a projectionist at The Astra RAF Cinema in Tengah. On leaving the forces in 1957, I applied for a projectionists job with Granada, and for about a year worked in the projection room of the Granada, Thornton Heath. I remember the Chief Projectionist's first name was Les. I did not stay here for long, Granada Cinemas sent me to Clapham Junction Century, where I was employed as a second projectionist for a few years and met my wife who worked part time in the cash desk, and shop. Yes I too remember the art deco cinemas of the 1940s, 50s and 60s. There was the ABC Savoy, Croydon, The Majestic Mitcham, and The Davis Theatre in Central Croydon. I retired 20 years ago from the Police Force in London, and I now live in West Cornwall. I am 70 years old but look back at those lovely old cinemas which gave me so much pleasure in my childhood. About a year ago I went through Thornton Heath, and passed what was the Granada Cinema. I found the building still there, but now a Bingo Hall. How sad! Last edited: 10/04/2007 10:31 by John Wimpenny |
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Sisleys sweet shop
My Mum, sister and I used to go to the Savoy at least once a week, and used to walk from the Sample Shoe shop down the High Street to the Savoy, passing on the way Croydon General Hospital. Along the left hand side of this High Street was a sweet shop that sold their own sweets "home made" and they were delicious! Coconut Squares were my favourite. The shop used to smell gorgeous. I wonder if any one remembers this shop. I also remember the Odeon , the Scala , Hippodrome (down Surrey Street)Pallidium, Eros, Classic Davis etc Cinemas. I think there used to be one in the High Street roughly where Allders arcade is now. Can you remeber Kennards arcade, that used to have the little Zoo, and ponies you could ride ? Happy Day's. Croydon was nice then before it became a concrete jungle. Have long sinced moved away, but I still remember the Old Croydon with affection. Last edited: 28/03/2007 17:21 by Jak Stephens |
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CINEMAS IN CROYDON
I lived in Croydon until 1969 ( the year I got married and moved away ) My Dad - Len Marsh - was a Cinema Manager with the ABC chain, and we lived very near the Rex Cinema, Norbury, closed in 1962. Dad was based there for a time, but acted as Relief Manager all over the South London area : cinemas he managed at various times included the Regal, Purley, Mayfair, Tooting, Ritz, Balham, Majestic, Mitcham and the Regal, Streatham. Also others whose names escape me at Forest Hill, Brixton, Elephant and Castle and Camberwell. His last job before leaving cinema management was at the ABC ( formerly the Savoy) at Broad Green, West Croydon. Most of the cinemas he worked at are long gone, I suspect, but if anyone has memories of cinema - going in Croydon during the 1950's/60's, I would be delighted to hear from you. Anyone remember the small cinemas in Croydon High Street, the Odeon and the Eros ? There was also the Davis Theatre, at the top of Scarbrook Road, closed and pulled down in c. 1959. At Thornton Heath there was the Granada : if you were a devotee of "Saturday Morning Pictures " as we called them, you were an "ABC Minor" if you went to the ABC shows, a "Granadier" if you went to the Granada. There was also the Classic, South Croydon - considered rather racey, as at one stage it specialised in continental films, and our trick was to bluff our way in to see "A" or "X" rated films that we were not meant to be able to get in to. My Dad died in 1997, but among his possessions I found the badge he used to wear when on "minors duty " - Uncle Len he was called ! One advantage of my Dad's job was that I never had to pay to go to the cinema - I could either use Dad's staff pass or his contacts - because the various cinema managers knew each other, he could even arrange to get me into the "opposition" cinemas : this impressed my girl - friends no end ! I also think that there was a small cinema in Thornton Heath High Street called the Pullman, but by the time I was a pupil at nearby Selhurst Grammar School, it had been turned into a D.I.Y. store ( it was almost next door to the Thornton Heath Swimming Baths, as I recall ) I am engaged on an MA in Public History at Ruskin College, Oxford, and am considering doing my dissertation on some aspect of the historical significance of cinema. Anyone who has memories of Croydon cinemas in the period 1946 - 1962 ( my Dad's time ) please, please contact me. Dad left very little memorabilia from his days as a Cinema Manager, and I am trying to put together as much material from that time as I can. Someone ought there may remember Dad, may have worked with him, been chucked - out of a cinema ( ! ) by him for misbehaviour ! I have not been back to Croydon - except briefly - since I married, and for the last 35 years have lived in Leicester. Would like to come back, if only to ride on the trams ( yes, I am an anorak as well ! ) and remember watching the trains from the footbridge just north oof Norbury Station. By one of those odd quirks, when the Rex Cinema, Norbury, was demolished in the early 1960's, an office block was built on the site, and when my mother returned to work after having us kids, she got a job in that same office block, on the site where Dad had worked. Many years later, after my parents were both dead, my wife got a job with Age Concern and had to go to occasional meetings at their Head Office which was - guess ! - in the same office block in which Mum had worked. Wonder what the chances of that kind of coincidence happening are ? Anyone remember the night when P.J.Proby, doing a live show on the stage of the ABC, Croydon, split his trousers, and the story made the national press ( wouldn't raise a murmur todsay, would it ? ) My Dad was on duty that night, and had to make the decision to bring the curtain down and stop the show ! Since I have mentioned Selhurst Grammar School, also be god to hesar from anyone who was there with me - from 1959 to 1966. COLIN MARSH ( 07979 718765 ) Posted: 29/11/2006 22:15 by Colin Marsh |
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 Croydon, Wandle Park c1970 (ref: C201284) |
Year: 1947
Watching the Steam Trains From this Bridge
This railway footbridge was one of my favourite places as an eleven and twelve year old lad, back in 1946 and 1947. I would stand for ages in the centre of this bridge just waiting for the next steam train to rumble and thunder beneath me. Clouds of steam and smoke would billow up, strongly smelling and smutty stuff but highly exciting too! I would try to count the trucks or carriages as they passed below. Some of the freight trains seemed endlessly long, truck after truck after truck - with tons of coal uniformly filled and neatly mounded. I was not "train spotting", or collecting engine numbers or anything like that. It was just the sheer joy of seeing and listening to these fascinating machines pass beneath me on this super footbridge - so long ago, but still as fresh as ever in my memory. Last edited: 07/09/2006 03:09 by Philip Harfleet |
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 Croydon, Wandle Park c1955 (ref: C201055) |
Year: 1947
Fair and Lake - Wandle Park, Croydon
A travelling fair each summer here was both a delight and a way to earn a few shillings when the fair ended. I would help dismantle the rides and stalls, working hard from morning to evening for about five shillings (25p) some of which would then be spent next day on hiring a rowing boat on the lake! The families who owned the rides were generous and very hardworking. I loved those times and it seems such a shame that the boating lake is no more. There were little arched footbridges here and there and I shall never forget the way the water was reflected on the underside of the bridge as the boat glided under each one. There was an island in the centre of the lake and sometimes I would stop the rowboat in the rushes around the middle island. It was like being beside an island in the sea for a 12 year old lad, keeping a sharp eye peeled for any hostile pirates who might be hiding there! Wandle Park also had two bridges crossing the railway lines running from West Croydon Station to Waddon and all stations to Epsom Downs. One of my favourite pastimes was to stand on the footbridge and wait for the steam trains to come along, huffing and puffing their wonderful, but not very clean, smoke and steam as they passed under the footbridge. Some were mainly freight wagons carrying tons of coal in what seemed like endless trucks until the guards van swept into view. The other railway bridge was a more solid affair with a hard surfaced slope instead of steps. Underneath this structure, on the park side, there were some dark cavern-like rooms which seemed to be totally unused. There were heavy doors but they were never locked and I often used to creep into one of these mysterious spaces, feeling a tad scared, but could never resist a peep. I have not seen Wandle Park for over 40 years, having moved away from Croydon around 1960-something. I do, however, know that the lovely lake was filled in some years ago and is now probably grassed over. I've no idea if the fair still sets up its rides and stalls there nowadays; perhaps it does. I hope so. Posted: 06/09/2006 20:50 by Philip Harfleet |
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