Hartland Way c1955, Shirley
Hartland Way c1955, Shirley Ref: S556010
Memories of Hartland Way c1955, Shirley
Shirley Public Library
I was born in Shirley in 1935. My parents had married a year earlier and moved to a new semi detached house (cost seven hundred and twenty-five pounds) in the new housing estate. They came from crowded row houses in London's East End so living in a new house in the suburbs with three bedrooms and a bathroom for the two of them and one baby must have seemed like heaven. Although my parents had bought a new home they didn't have much money left over after paying the mortgage and for a long time the rooms were not fully furnished.
My Dad was in the Army in WW II and overseas for four years. He must have been quite despondent to hear that his 'castle' had been damaged by a doodlebug in June 1944. Fortunately it was repairable, several other homes nearby were destroyed completely. The picture of Hartland Way brought back memories.
The building... Read more
Shirley & local memories
Read and share memories of Shirley and Greater London inspired by Frith photos.
John Ruskin School
I think this must be the Windmill by John Ruskin School on Upper Shirley Road. If I remember right there was a pub (The Sunrise?) nearby. Many an hour was spent on my old track bike in Shirley Hills and the tea shop.
Shirley in 1947.
Hi.
I remember living at the 'Shirley Homes' for children in Shirley in 1947, I believe it was run by the old LCC (London County Council) It was a wondeful place to live, the staff looked after us as if we were their own, I lived at the 'Willow Cottage' but although the 'Home had their own school I attended an outside one, We were taken on a fortnight's holiday to Walton-on-the-naze in Essex,a Camping holiday, it was wonderful time, When my Father used to come down to visit us he would often take us to the 'Shirley Hill's to play, and after spending several months at the Homes, we were reunited with our Mother, she had been in Hospital for many months, but we were very sad to leave Shirley, and the 'Homes.I had made some good friends whilst there,I believe today the 'homes are still there, but have all been 'refurbished and sold privately, the people living in these 'Cottages today will experience a wonderful calmness associated with... Read more
Badgers Hole
My father (who died recently) used to play in Shirley Hills, and Badgers Hole, which was close to his home in Shirley Way, Croydon when he was a small boy. He had 4 other brothers and a sister. He often told us of the fun they had there, with their catapults, knocking tin cans off of a tree stump, and how he got chased by a whole nest of hornets because his football disturbed them... He had a phobia about wasps all his life.
