Nostalgic memories of Woolwich's local history
Share your own memories of Woolwich 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 42 in total
When I was a teenager back in the late 1950's I loved travelling by trollybus to explore Woolwich. At the time I lived at home in Welling but Woolwich always had much more of interest to offer. There was the endless fascination of the river Thames and the paddleboat ferry that crossed over to Silvertown and the Tate and Lyle factory. There were the markets, the live eel shop, the Tramshed and the Army ...see more
Around 3/4 yrs of age- 1948/49 - I came across my first foreign work men coming off the boats at Woolwich. The men wore a rough looking outfit - blue in colour - as I recall. Upon asking my father who they were and where they came from ,he stupidly replied ,'Smoked Irish men' and I believed him until mum said 'Teach the child sense' To this day it has been one of life's unsolved mysteries. Those men looked so poor and ...see more
My dad opened his first shop in Ferry Approach, a cafe, it was situated directly outside the woolwich foot tunnel with plenty of dock workers and factory workers passing by every day and a constant stream of traffic queuing for the ferry.
My brother and I used to go to the shop after school to help out, washing up and sweeping up.
Dad went on to own the fag and paper shop next to the cafe also a greetings card ...see more
I lived in Little Heath opp the Woodman Pub and spent most of the Fifties, Sixties and Seventies in either Charlton, Woolwich and North Woolwich. I remember Powis St and Hare St very well, Great Shopping etc. miss the variety of shops.
I remember going with my Nan and Aunts to the covered market. There used to be a fish mongers just before going in and they had live eels wriggly away on a white tiled slab, along with all kinds of other fresh fish. One of the eels jumped off the slab and landed in front of me. I was around 3 or 4 at the time and screamed. My uncle worked at the Arsenal.
My Mum's family are Delieu, Albert, Fred, George, Eileen, Alice.
I remember the fruit stall, when I walked past to go to the Poly, I was always thrown a piece of fruit to take.
My Dad's family used to run Karl's Cafe, Wellington Street, where my mum used to work and met my dad theee
I have a very vivid memory of my mum taking me to Powis Street in Woolwich to see the actress Elizabeth Seal opening either the Cuffs or Garrets store. I can't remember how old I was and I don't know why this is such a vivid memory but I know I was very young. I wonder if ayone else can remember this event?
In 1961 I had a Saturday job working in the hairdressers that was above Hinds the Jewellers in Powis Street. I ...see more
I remember this area when I was growing up, my Nan lived in the small block of flats behind the newsagent shop where my sister, brother and I would get sweets from. Behind the wall, in the centre of shot, is a parking area where we would play football and other ball games, just to the base of the flats in the picture was a playground area. Between the flats behind the shop to the left and down to the left were brick built mounds with forts on the top, all out of shot. Yep happy memories.
The butchers across from Cuffs used to have sawdust and a very distinct smell, nevr smelt since
The shop on the right wasa newsagents called Wrights, there was a greengrocer'so on the opposite side of the street which was a family business called Hammonds