Nostalgic memories of Leytonstone's local history
Share your own memories of Leytonstone 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 41 - 50 of 56 in total
Schools - Davis Lane and Tom Hood (remember Gladys's music academy?). Memories of the wonderful library opposite the church; working in Woolworths on Saturdays for £1 a day; meeting Mum for lunch at Lyons and enjoying a steak & kidney pudding; spending time at the bowling alley (remembering when it was a cinema and going there on Saturday mornings). Those were the days, you could walk home from Leyton at night, ...see more
My family lived 7 Newport Road, my sister was even born there. As a kid in the 1950s I would go to Saturday morning pictures at the Essoldo, on Leyton High Road, it cost 7 pence. That's also where the library was. I had to get up earlier to visit the Rialto cinema but could get in for sixpence, afterwards it was into Bearmans to listen to the latest pop singles from America.
Newport Road seemed to be quite ...see more
I was born in a road which was a turning of Whipps Cross Road in 1957. Most of my childhood was playing on the hollow ponds and swimming at the open air Lido in the summer months. My parents took me to see the Batman film at the Odeon which was situated in the High Road in 1966. I can still remember the old Leytonstone of yesteryear, playing among the trees where we were free not to think about dirty old men in ...see more
I was born in Forest Road, Walthamstow, in 1927. My father was a councillor in the thirties, on the entertainments committee organising film star visits and concerts by the London Symphony Orchestra. He owned the ironmongers, Cole and Deakin, in the High Street. I went to a private primary school called Linda Lodge, and later Clarks College, Churchill, in Upper Walthamstow Road. I was married in St Peters Church, ...see more
I left school in 1962, I went to Norlington Boys. I remember the snow that year when the roads were blocked, the only way the milkman got in was by sledge, I have got a photo somewhere. I started working for my dad, Albert Brennan, the local plumber, we had a lock up in Elm Road, next to the Kellys' house on the corner, great days.
I was christened in St John's church in 1935. I was born in Harvey Road, and have been back so many times visiting my old school Davis Lane, the old Red LIon was at the end of our street and on the other side was Walls Ice cream, I remember the three wheeled trike and the box in front and them selling the ice creams and the lovely orange ice lollies. My mum worked at Whips Cross Hospital, also the ...see more
We married at St. John`s Church, 1st September 1956. I went to Connaught girls school from 1949-1953. I lived in Pearcroft Road until I married and then in Rhodesia Road until we moved to just outside Chelmsford, Essex. We now live in North Wales, I don`t think Leytonstone belongs to Londoners now does it?
Born 1951, I too remember those wonderful Christmas times, it was simply fantastic, to a young child magic. I can still see those Christmas displays and remember waiting to see Father Christmas. I thank my father for giving me such memories.
Bearmans was the big department store on the site which is now occupied by the Coop or Leo's. I remember the toy department at Christmas was fantastic with an enormous model train layout in the centre of the floor which would take you ages to walk right round, everything painstakingly assembled in miniature for the kiddies. I remember visiting Santa at Christmas. To get to Santa's grotto, you went on a sleigh ride ...see more
My nan's dad had a shop just under Leabridge Road Bridge in the 1930s and 1940s, she said they sold toys and furniture, does anyone remember this shop?