Wandsworth memories
Here are memories of Wandsworth and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Wandsworth or a Wandsworth photo.
Leinster House, Spencer Park
My great-grandfather's house, Leinster House, No. 1 Spencer Park was built in about 1880 and stood on a large corner plot at the top of St. John's Hill. It was demolished in 1964 and a block of flats were built soon after. When my grandfather and his brothers were boys they built a tunnel under their garden wall into the communal gardens in the middle. My grandfather almost lost his life when it caved in! My great-grandfather was the head of an old family business of timber merchants, that supplied the rosewood for the interior of King Edward VII's Daimler.
Shops Closing Half Days
or around there-ish. Always got sent to Wandsworth on Wednesday afternoon if anyone needed anything from the shops - Wandsworth High Street shops closed on Thursday afternoons - Battersea shops on Wednesday afternoons. Guaranteed my sister would run out of cotton, or something similar and I would get sent to get it. Didn't mind - 170 and 44 went to Wandsworth.
Spencer Park
I lived in Spencer Park during the 1960s and early 1970s. Our family lived in one of the 3 blocks of maisonettes built along Windmill Road. I lived in the block opposite the common, the second block we called the Blue Flats and the third block we called the Yellow Flats. This was because the front doors were painted that colour. Our gang also went to the secret garden many times during the summer holidays. Not only was there a gate just off Spencer Park but also an entrance opposite the Blue Flats between the gardens. However we preffered the obstacle of the wall in the Yellow Flats car park. We too were always chased out, usually by a dog. There is also a tennis court in there and a gardener's shed which we painted pychadelic without the consent of the owners. We sometimes had bonfires in the frying pan on firework night. There used to be a park keeper who collected the leaves and once the pile was big... Read more
Secret Garden in Spencer Park
I lived in a prefab in Spencer Park. There is a secret garden in the middle of Spencer Park, the iron gate entrance is just off Windmill Road. We used climb into this garden to go scrumping soft fruit. We were often chased out by the wealthy residents. We used to play football in the 'frying pan', this was a dis-used water lake built by the railway that the windmill pumped water in for the locals.
Wandsworth Town Hall
My great-grandfather was the Wandsworth Town Hall Keeper at the old Town Hall until about 1929, and my mother was born in the building. Later they moved to the Municipal Buildings where my grandfather took over the role from his father and continued the family tradition of Town Hall Keeper. They lived in an apartment at the top of the Municipal Buildings with a large balcony area we used to play out on. I remember the wonderful smell of wood and polish through the corridors (which were all angled like the sides of a threepenny bit) as we had to go through the building to get to the flat. Great-grandfather was Walter Henry Clarke and grandfather was Walden Clarke (better known as Bill). Great-grandfather retired to Somerset in 1929 and Bill died in 1958. My grandmother, Peggy Clarke, moved across the road to the flats on Fairfield Drive opposite the Municipal Buildings. I have wonderful memories of the old swimming pool and the brewery and the smell of hops in... Read more
Wandsworth Church
The church in this photograph is the Catholic Church of St Thomas รก Becket on West Hill.
Thames at Wandsworth
This is a view of the riverside walk in Wandsworth Park on Putney Bridge Road, looking towards the 'Iron Bridge', the railway bridge across the river just downstream of Putney Bridge.
17 Spencer Park
Does anyone remember the gate at the back of 17 Spencer Park leading to the garden? Does anyone recall when the gate was bricked up and whether people used it to access the garden beforehand?
If so, please post a reply to this message.
I look forward to hearing from you!
Flavell Road
I lived In Flavell Road, Wandsworth SW18, from around the age of 5 years (1959) to 1965 approx. Flavell Road was demolished To make the dual carriageway we have today. My grand parents lived in Bramford Road and my aunt in Huntsmore Road. I attended St Faith's School and, when I reached 11 years, Mayfield School. I used to use Wandsworth Common a lot, the Fryingpan was a great place to play, as was the hill right by the railway track (opposite the Fryingpan ). I had lots of friends in the area (I've tried to find on Face Book), but it's hard as us girls change our name when we get married, and faces change. I used to go to the Battersea Park Fun Fair a lot too. If anyone remembers me please get in touch. I don't have any photos of the area (we didn't have cameras so much in those days) but if anyone has got photos they would be gratefully recieved. My e mail... Read more
Off License, Fairfield Street
I lived in the off-license in Fairfield Street from around 5 years to 19, 1959 - 1973. I went to St. Faith's church school then the Elliott at Putney Heath. I remember some of the memories already mentioned, playing football on the common, riding bikes around the frying pan, scrumping in the secret garden, fishing on Bolling Brook Common, Battersea funfair, swimming at King George's open air pool, playing on the Thames river bank. The smells of the gas works, Youngs brewery and the gin factory always seemed to be in the air. Happy days.
Wonderful Times And Great Friends
I remember living in Galesbury Road in the 1950s and going to Swaffield Road School, moving into Domelton House, Wendlesworth estate in the late 1950ss was luxury, central heating, a real bath and inside loo, for a ten year old exciting times were not far away. What is now Bembridge House was a bombed out building but for us kids it was a playground with no sense of danger. Other memories of Remos cafe and ice cream parlour, Barry Briggs record shop, King George's swimming pool where I worked in later years, Mrs Wallis grocer shop in Iron Mill Place (all on the slate till payday), the first pub I ever had a drink in, the Iron Mill, and the boys and girls involved with Wandsworth Rovers FC who became my friends. Sadly work took me away from Wandsworth. I now live in Littlehampton in West Sussex where I've lived for the last 27 years but how my thoughts always return to those youthful days.
East Hill Estate
We lived on the old East Hill Estate-Falmouth House, things I remember are my mother shopping on East Hill, there was a greengrocer there which I can't remember the name of, there was Whelans the butchers, the Junction was not far where my mother went to bingo. I attended Eltringham school like alot of the kids on the estate then onto Spencer Park. Arding and Hobbs, the Arndale, the 77 bus my cousin was a conducter on etc. Times were hard then, none of the luxeries of today. It's all changed now, wine bars, yuppies, restaurants, expensive flats - none of that in the 1970s.
Memories of Barmouth Road SW18
Hi, I grew up in Barmouth Road, Wandsworth SW18 I was born in 1961 (so nearly 50!!). We lived in a lovley big house on the corner of Barmouth Road/Cader Road, the road has changed so much, it used to have lots of shops, Sunlight laundry, sweetshop, haberdashery shop, laundry, Co op, shoe menders, green grocer, butcher, chemist, all now sadly gone. I used to play on Wandsworth Common, the frying pan, no longer there! King George's swimming pool, gone but not forgotton! The area has changed considerably, I used to go to St Anne's Primary School and attended St Anne's Church and youth club, brownies and guides. How times change eh! I still live locally (Balham). If anyone has old photos of any of the above please let me know! it was nice to reminisce ... Karen Williams (nee EDDISON)
East Hill
I was born in East Hill in 1949. I remember going to Sunday School in the hall just down the road while the main church was being rebuilt. My brother and I went to Saturday morning pictures and about that time there was a yo-yo craze and they would have children up on the stage in the cinema in a yo-yo competition. I remember going to see a pre-fab with my parents thinking we might live there. I went to Merton Road School and don't remember much about it apart from the outside loos and the school dinners which I didn't want to eat! I used to spend my 6d pocket money in the local toy shop or sweet shop every Saturday. We moved away in 1956 and I have only been back a couple of times. My grandfather had a shoe shop in East Hill in the 1930s (No.17) but I think it was damaged in the war. I would love to have a photo of... Read more
Wandsworth Market
I remember that little market where the Arndale Centre now stands. Also the swimming baths. The bakers on the bridge was a family firm and there was a fish and chip shop in the market. Plus a small pet shop which I later used when married for pet food for my animals. Nothing tasted so good coming home from swimming than a piece of bread pudding. The fish shop sold large pickled onions for 1d and the ones at the bottom always seemed larger. Sadly I have no pictures of this place though. Sorry.
Wandsworth has changed so much since I went to secondary school there.
Joan Battershill/nee Norman
Hearnville Road Primary School
I remember Miss Cox's retirement (I have a teacher group photo of that), and the outside toilets at Hearnville Road that used to freeze in the winter. I was there from 1950 - 1956. I lived in Endlesham Road, with my father.
Bellevue Road
My memory here relates to 1937 [the year I was born] on to about 1959. My mother ran the Wool Shop at number 29 Bellevue Road, next door to Westminster Bank. I attended Hearnville Road Primary School [is anyone else reading this who was there at the same time? - I recall Mrs de Martino and Mr Bridgman and that delightful Headmistress, Miss Cox] and then Battersea Grammar School. I recall the prefabs on the common opposite the shop - Fred Smith's removal company and furniture shop on the corner of Wiseton Road - Randall's Tool shop in Wiseton Road - Mr Spreadbury, our dentist - the paper and sweet shop owned by the Vernon's at the bottom of Bellevue Road [whatever happened to their daughter, Pat?] and the 'community rooms' or whatever you'd call them in Wiseton Road where I attended 'Crusaders' on Sundays run by 'Tommy' Thomson and Gordon Buchanan. I also belonged to the Young Conservatives Dramatic Society which performed there and I remember a performance of... Read more
The Old Market Wandsworth
I remember the old market place, where the Arndale centre now stands and the bakers near the old swimming baths - 6pence to go in !!..
Bread pudding 1p a peice after the swimming...lovely memories and no photos of this lovely part of Wandsworth ?? Does anyone have any??
Coronation
A party was held on Riverhall street to celebrate the Queens Coronation. It poured down with rain and the girls went somewhere under cover, I think the boys stayed in the rain. Played many games and took part in races. My sister was a sick child and was allowed to run in races with kids younger then her, I didn't think it was fair then and I still don't. My mum was working, so missed the party. We went to a house to watch the service on TV. The trouble is I can no longer remember peoples names. We moved to Vauxhall Grove when my mum married, and from there moved to Harlow in Essex. Always hated that place and left as soon as I could. My mum was called Connie, I have a brother called John, I'm Shelagh and my sister is Jean. (Neale/Kinsella). My best friend was Marion Clarke. (Bonnington Square). Where are you now? My mum married a James Taylor (didn't like him either). Much love to... Read more
Memories of Greater London
Aftermath of The Great War
Born in Felsham Road, off the High Street, in 1927, I of course have many memories of the area in this photograph. One in particular, has stuck with me for the last 75 years or so.
It is of terribly wounded and maimed men, only in their 30s and 40s, none of them employable, begging for money. There would be 15 to 20 of them, some blinded and shuffling along with their hands on the shoulders of the man in front; some legless and being pushed in wheelchairs; some on crutches with only one leg, the other empty trouser leg being folded up and safety-pinned. Bringing up the rear were two men with fearful facial injuries playing a trumpet and a banjo. One able bodied (?) colleague in the kerbside held out a galvanized bucket into which shoppers and people going about their business would hopefully toss a copper coin.
There was no Social Security or NHS in those dark... Read more
In The Town Where I Was Born......
In 1955 I was 9 years old and lived at No. 16 Putney Hill, which was on the right in this picture and if memory serves was the house before the white one behind the tree.
My grandfather owned the tobacconist and confectioners at No. 1, which is on the left next to the bank on the corner in front of the bus. I was actually born in the flat underneath this shop from which my grandfather, Archie Baird, would serve you a penny worth of sweets with a cigarette permanently dangling from the corner of his mouth...no health and safety or strict hygiene rules in those days! There was a bus and coach stop on the hill just up from the shop and opposite our house. You could catch a Green Line coach to Windsor and the Royal Blue Express Coach also stopped here on the way to the places like Bournemouth. Just out of the picture opposite the bank there was another bank at the foot of the... Read more
Mum And Dad Grew up in Fulham
Mum remembers going across Parsons Green durig the war and the air raid had gone off, then she heard a doodlebug above her, she ran into the gents toilets and heard it land somewhere near, she never been that frightened since. Mum and Dad both lived next door to each other in Broughton Road, Fulham, they were big houses, one family lived on top floor, another downstairs. I remember having to go through downstairs living room to get to outside loo, they let me when it was raining. My dad died 2 years ago, he remembered having to go to school with no shoes on, they were so poor, and his mum died young and they were looked after by an old aunt, if they asked for more food they were given a worm cake to eat. I remember waiting outside Fulham baths for my nan, who would visit on the bus and train, but sometimes she wasn't there so I was sent to wait ouside for her. We were... Read more
Childhood Memories
My Nan lived in Church Path (renamed Lillie Walk), they were all mainly Irish families living there, Nan's family all stayed in Fulham around North End Road. In the 1950s me and my sister were taken there to buy new shoes and stop to see Nan's sister, Aunt Annie, who had a fruit barrow by Barbers store, we always got an apple. We also used to go to see her brother Uncle Tom who lived in Shorrolds Road, and we got to go to the pub in Farm Lane for a drink. My sister and me lived in Burlington Road (near Putney Bridge) so going on the 14 bus to North End Road was a great treat. We all now live in Surrey but still talk about our childhood in Fulham.
Our Local Church - St Johns
WE LIVED IN FARM LANE FULHAM SW6, IN A LOVELY O'L PREFAB. OUR LOCAL CHURCH WAS ST JOHN'S.
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