South Woodford memories
Here are memories of South Woodford and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of South Woodford or a South Woodford photo.
Definately NOT A Paint Tin! Woodford Wells
About a mile or so from South Woodford toward Buckhurst Hill, on the New Road, is Woodford Wells. My friend lived in the third house from the corner diagonally across from Bancrofts School. The house next door had been destroyed by a bomb, and all the wreckage had been taken away. Another chum, my friend and I often played football on the vacant concrete pad where the house had been. One day our ball rolled down a hole and almost out of sight. We fished around with a stick trying to get it out without success. After each if us had a go trying to get our ball back my friend yanked out a fairly big chunk of metal, perhaps an old paint can, then we realized it was the fin from a bomb. WOW! What a prize, we proudly took our latest souvenir to show his mum. She went next door to show it to the man who lived there. He told us to keep well... Read more
When Gates Corner Was A Corner
Lived in South Woodford with my parents from 1952-1972 before marrying, and worked for Gates in this very building from 1968-1977 before moving up the High Road to their new Head Office when this building caught fire overnight, the new 8-lane A406 Nth.Circular having already scythed its way through the heart of Woodford, ending 'Gates Corner' forever.
From 1975-1977 the motorway was driven through under our very noses, beginning with the endless pile-driving of what were to become the supports for this part of the High Road over the new A406. What a noisy summer that was - and a very hot one the following year ('76) when temperatures soared and even the nearby Hollow Ponds in Wanstead dried up !
As we lived just down the road from here in Woodford Green we also watched the southern end of the M11 taking shape just half-a-mile away. Then, where it connected with the new ultra-wide A406 going up to Gates Corner, Charlie Brown's roundabout was changing shape and was never... Read more
GATES CORNER MEMORIES.
This is such a memorable photograph for me. This very garage delivered a new company car to my father in 1932. It was a Model B Ford with V8 engine. He drove that car for 17 years during the time he worked for W&C French in Buckhurst Hill.
I was a young child of seven when the Second World War broke out. Living on Epping New Road beside French's Yard. Dad was working away from home a lot bulding new airfields. Mum and I would often go to the Majestic picture house on a saturday ( in the distance of this photo). On this day the sirens had gone , the cinema screen had told us, but we chose to stay like most people. When we got home we found all our windows blown in and the front door blown down the hall and jammed into the opening to the kitchen. Our little dog Nan was wimpering and hiding upstairs under my Mum's big bed and thankfully unhurt but... Read more
Calypso Coffee Bar
I lived in Loughton, and have fond memories of the Calypso Cafe. When I used to go there it was a well-known bikers' cafe. Some evenings there would be over a hundred motorbikes parked outside. There was also a pub next door which I believe was called the Horse and Wells. I met my wife, who was living in Roding Lane, Buckhurst Hill, and we often used to go to the pictures in Woodford, at the Majestic cinema. We were married in 1969, and then moved to Berkshire.
The Ravens
My mother Janet Ravens, and her sister Gweneth, lived in South Woodford from 1943 to around 1958. I am researching her family tree and also trying to get together photos of the time in the places she lived. (She turns 70 next year). Also, I am trying to trace her cousin, Brenda Ravens, who was a couple of years older, who had a daughter Jane Kearney, who has probably long since married, she would be 48 now. Does anyone remember my mum? Or her parents Ron adn Doreen Ravens? Or a furniture store in the area in the 1920s owned by Thomas and Rosa Ravens? I live in Australia which does not help my mission! thebeamishs@bigpond.com
Childrens Homes 1945-1957
Hi, anyone that was connected to these children's homes - Pulteney Road / Pelham and two other homes near Oakdale School - I would like to hear from you. Kind regards, Steve.
Happy Memories of South Woodford
My family lived in Hillcrest Road, South Woodford from 1960 to 1973. I had a very very happy childhood there (am still happy though) but had to move to Brighton to attend a deaf school and to avoid the need to continue as a school boarder (after 5 years). Looking at the photos just brings everything back! The Majestic (Saturday morning club), the Vauxhall garage, the dentist (Mr Lambert) close to the High Road z-crossing near Churchfield Road, the sweet shop (Mr Morgan - I think) opposite the Vauxhall garage, the Plazza with full of holes on the brick wall, the wonderful fish and chips shop (long and narrow) both in George Lane. My father's regular pub at the George (my son is called George), the regular Routemaster buses 20, 20A, 123 (to Walthamstow swimming pool) and 144 and the Green Line (cannot recall the number). The shoe shop at the bottom of Hillcrest Road with the x-ray machine that scared me a bit! The wonderful butcher (next to Tesco)... Read more
Wonderful Childhood
I used to live in Churchfield, my old house is the only one left standing amongst a maze of flats. It was a council house in those days and we shared it with another family, the Caines. I went to Churchfields Primary and Junior Schools, as did my two sisters. I have wonderful memories of my time at Churchfields and me and two friends went back there recently to have a look and to our amazement there was a caretaker there who let us go in and wonder around. he even produced a large box of old photos to show us. Sadly the old school is being demolished this year as it is so old the maintenance on it is too expensive. A new school will be built on the site. I used to play in the park, the other side of the railway lines, Gordon Road I believe it is. We used to stop on the top of the bridge over... Read more
Growing up in South Woodford
I lived In Priory Close which faces the shops on South Woodford high road, I left when I married aged 19. My memories are of a wonderful childhood. I used to play out with all the other children who lived in the flats at the time. There was always someone to play with. No one seemed to have much money but, everyone new each other and had time for each other. In 1965 I attended Churchfields Junior School I felt very important there as I was a dinner monitor and I remember playing on the school field in the hot weather and the wonderful school sports days which were held there. I would go down to the park which was on the other side of the bridge at the bottom of Churchfields Road and all the children would be packed up with marmite sandwiches and orange juice, we would play on the swing and slides all day and go home at tea time. I always went... Read more
Memories of Greater London
A Well Remembered Toy Shop
Oh yes, the War was on during this time. Shops were open their regular hours. The locals bought their necessities and everyone came and went as usual. The general feeling was 'To Hell With Hitler, we will carry on regardless'.
This also meant birthdays for children went on like normal. My aunt from Manchester, Auntie Burley, came to visit us at Buckhurst Hill. While here she would help celebrate my birthday, June 21st. This year she wanted to buy me something different than socks or a jumper. She said: "We are going shopping, just you and I. I would like you to have something of your own choice as a special treat."
It didn't take me long to decide what I wanted. We boarded the 10A bus at the top of Hills Road and headed to Woodford Green. Right across from the pond near the corner, was a big toy shop. They had a large selection of Dinky Toys. The one I wanted was the Barrage Ballon Lorry. It was... Read more
Goldsmith And Guinness Families.
I remember being taken by a family member to see their old home in Woodford Green, their parents had lived there all of their lives. One of the family's great-great-grandfathers named Goldsmith was a domestic coachman and the families lived all around the area. Some of the children of the family in the early part of the 20th century went to Churchfields School I believe and also Woodford Bridge. One relation Jack Goldsmith was a pupil there and later was killed on the First Day of the Somme. Other family lived at Doddinghurst and Swallows Cross. Another relation was a great-great-grandfather, George Dowler, who was a draper and costumier around Woodford. I have a lovely photo possibly of King George's Jubilee. It is of all of the local men and this great-great-grandfather, in a top hat, outside the Jubilee Hall. I also have an autographed programme of the day that Jack Hobbs the cricketer came to speak at a dinner at the Woodford Mens Club.
A Well Remembered Book Shop
I moved away from Woodford Green many years ago and have lived in various places since, but I still recognise Woodford Green as my home town. I have 3 vivid memories of my time living with my gran just off the green in Fairlite Avenue.
The first being the trips to the book shop on the corner of Woodford Green, High Road with my gran who at the time was head cook at the Sunset Road Junior School, I would wait for her until she left work then we would both walk to the book shop where there was always a selection of secondhand annuals with pop up pictures and gran, once or twice a week depending on funds, would buy me an annual and I can remember to this day some 60 years on the excitement first of choosing my annual then once I got home of turning the pages and being facinated by the wonderful pop up pictures. It was from these books I learned to read.
My... Read more
Woodford Bridge And St Paul's Church
I grew up living in Moreton Gardens, my maiden name was Nicholls. I have 2 sisters Pat and Laura. My dear mum used to take us to church every Sunday morning, and I used to sing in the choir. I have some great memories of the jumble sales we had in the church hall, I would rummage through all the stuff to see if there was anything I could have. It's been a long time since I have been back to England, I now live in Queensland in Australia. I have the best memories of growing up on the council estate. I went to Roding Junior School then on to St Barnabas. I look forward to seeing photos in the future.
Anne Westbrook
Wartime Memory
Not sure of the date but I remember the church being destroyed. I had just become old enough to join the fire service as a youth messenger and I was in the fire station at the top of Snakes Lane when the incident occurred. The engines turned out and when I got home I was severely told off by my mother as we had passed her clearing up the shattered glass in Johnston Road and I had not jumped off the engine to help. We were running the Cofee Bean Cafe at the time, during the air raids we took urns of tea down the shelters during the night. But I found out how hard cows are, cycling as fast as possibly heading down to the Fire Station after an alert one night and ran straight into a cow's belly - I was picked up by an air-raid warden comatose, have been like it ever since!
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