Nostalgic memories of Swiss Cottage's local history
Share your own memories of Swiss Cottage and read what others have said
For many years now, we've been inviting visitors to our web site to add their own memories to share their experiences of life as it was when the photographs in our archive were taken. From brief one-liners explaining a little bit more about the image depicted, to great, in-depth accounts of a childhood when things were rather different than today (and everything inbetween!). We've had many contributors recognising themselves or loved ones in our photographs.
Why not add your memory today and become part of our Memories Community to help others in the future delve back into their past.
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Displaying Memories 1 - 10 of 11 in total
I lived in Belsize Road, Swiss Cottage end for many years from the 50s through the 60s till i got married, I remember lots of things, the buses getting stuck in the road going up to Swiss Cottage in the snow and ice and having to be pushed, wouldnt think of that now. Up and down the road on my sledge, oh what times. I had a friend called LaLa who i lost contact with who lived a couple of doors away. Also neighbours ...see more
I was born in 1942 and from then until the early 1960s I lived in Cottage Mews. The mews was situated off Belsize Road very near to the entrance to the Swiss Cottage tube station. There was a newspaper stand at the entrance to the station, then going down the hill was an Estate Agents, a Milk Bar and a music shop. The entrance to the mews was between the music shop and Cullen's grocery shop ,(If my ...see more
I remember very well the journey from our house in Eastcote to Granmas in Holders Green! We would get the Met from Eastcote Station to Fincley Road then catch the bus to Golders Green High Road. My brother and me would race all the way from the start of Leaside Cresent to number 63 my wonderful Grandparents.
Ena and Charles Baker who had lived in the house since they were married in the ...see more
This was a Boys Grammar School. Their uniform was a cap and blazer with broad black and dark red stripes.
During the war a number of the large houses in Frognal were evacuated by their wealthy owners, "For The Duration". Their overgrown gardens, though not easily accessible, became 'Adventure Playgrounds" and their fruit trees a source of 'scrumping', for local local children.
Having lived from 1938 to 1959 in the adjacent Lymington Road, which backs onto the Richmond-Broad Street Line serving this station and having passed it daily to and from my way to school/work, I would question classifying it as "Swiss Cottage", which is 10 minutes walk further east.
However, I can tell you that the newspaper seller, on the right of the entrance, was known to us as ...see more
The whole Swiss Cottage area has changed beyond recognition. There seem to be few photos of how it was till the late 1960s, when the Cottage Grill, my father's restaurant, was demolished. This building gave it's name to the whole area as it was built in the style of a Swiss cottage (not a Swiss chalet!). The Swiss Cottage pub at that time looked NOTHING like a Swiss cottage or a Swiss chalet - it was re-styled to ...see more
I have very fond memories of my very first job. I worked for Healey & Baker at 28 St. George Street, Hanover Square. I started out in the Duplicating Room, running an old print press, and would fill in with the telephone operators at lunch time, My supervisor was Sally Clark and she became my mentor. I graduated to the typing pool, along with about 15 other girls. It was a wonderful time of my ...see more
I have just returned from London and I was checking to see if there were any photos of Finchley Road and Lymington Road. I was born at No 8 Depot Cottages and stayed there until my dad passed away in 1959. My mates and I drank at the bar along Finchley Road, one pal's family had the flower stall outside the station at John Barnes, my school was Holy Trinity. I also spent a lot of time looking ...see more
I too saw this photograph in a cafe in Goldhurst Terrace. I recognised Finchley Road and Frognal Station as I was born in a flat closeby in 1967. My parents moved into the flat in 1966 and I was so glad to track down the photo and order a copy for my father. I remember my parents telling me how Finchley Road used to be lined with trees and wide pavements and now I can see that for myself!
I was born in 1959 and we moved from Rossly Hill to Canfield Gardens in 1960. I am now 50 and still live and work very close to Canfield Gardens. I went for a coffee with a friend yesterday to the cafe at the top of Goldhurst Terrace, just down the side of Waitrose (used to be Ken & Marie deli!) and noticed a set of wonderful black and white prints of the Finchely Road and Swiss Cottage from 1965. It ...see more