Shopping With Nona

I was born and raised in the village and remember well all the shops. Mona Page's shop was not up the top but down by the Ashton Playing Field entrance next door to the newsagents run by Mr.Head and where I had my paper round (Waltham Road council estate area) I was the youngest of the Atkinson Boys and lived at 39 Stoneycroft Rd. I also had Saturday job at Norwoods butchers and used to be best friends with Malcolm Forbes who's family ran F.Martin the fishmongers at the top of the village where the live eels were !!!

I lived in the Bridge from 1934 until 1956 in the Estate agents seen in the photo next to the chemist that was owned by my God parents Mr. & Mrs. Hamlet, next to them was Walklins the Bakers then an ally-way then Watkins newsagent. I don't know the era that you Nona are talking about but the greengrocers were known as Days. Audrey Gunton owned the cycle shop. Mrs. Gunton (no relation) owned the sweetshop. The ladies clothes shop was owned by Grants and next Door was Webbs the Butchers and next to that was The Club Cafe, so named because it was a favourite stop for cyclist clubs. The Village rest was indeed on the other side of the road opposite to where I lived as was Martins fresh fish shop owned and run by Frank Martin and his Daughter Doreen and Grants grocers shop.

Rodger4seven mentioned the Ashton Playing fields where I was a member of the sports club from 1947 until I went into the army in 1952. I often used the entrance next to no. 19, Waltham road where lived a Mr. & Mrs. Plant. Our favourite trolly run was of course down the main road known as Pump Hill, so named after the horse trough and water Pump at the top but our second favourite trolly hill was Stoneycroft Road where we were always shouted at by the residents.
Good luck and many thanks to both of you for rekindling such good memories..................Norman.

Oh I remember the live eels at Martin's fish shop! I moved to Woodford Bridge when I was 4 in 1949 and we got our fish from Martins. In the summer I remember longing to buy an ice lolly from the Village Rest (I'm pretty sure it was there) - and they sold penny and tuppence lollies that were very brightly coloured. Mum wouldn't allow us to have these but once when on my way home from school I bought one and pretended innocence when I got home, but my bright blue tongue gave my secret away and I was in trouble!! Probably a bit later on, I remember buying ha'penny chews, gob-stoppers, aniseed balls and sherbet dips from the sweet shop which I think must have been near Gunton's and the Post Office. My first proper bike came from Gunton's. I think they charged accumulators in their shop too - we had a radio that ran off an accumulator.
I remember Stoneycroft Road as it was near where we lived. Once I recall with shame, I joined in with some friends who were playing 'knock down ginger' there, which entailed knocking on someone's door and running away before they opened it. An old lady eventually came to the door and I was very embarrassed that we had caused her trouble and I don't think I ever did that again!

There is a facebook group page all about Woodford Bridge, you would be welcomed to join it to share your memories...Please visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/718448588211662/