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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It's easy to add your own memories and reconnect with your shared local history. Search for your favourite places and look for the 'Add Your Memory' buttons to begin

Displaying Memories 51 - 56 of 56 in total

My name was Mary Fanning and I lived in Leytonstone as a child from 1962 to 1973 - when my family moved back to live in Ireland. I have fantastic memories of Leytonstone and have only recently started to relive my memories by searching for all the familiar places and photographic memories I can find. I have not returned for many years - late 1970's. But hope to return in the New Year 2010. My ...see more
I am living in New Zealand now but well remember Mum taking my sister and I to see Father Christmas at the Bearmans Dept. store during the 1950's. In fact I came across a photo of my sister and I with Father Christmas which I am sure was taken there. I was about 7 years old my sister about 5. This was our main Christmas treat and every year Bearmans had a different "grotto" theme. ...see more
These are the places I remember in Leytonsone High Road: - The chocolate shop opposite the police station, they had a wonderful display of sweets, many of which you can't get these days. Then there was Harlingtons  butchers where they sold home-made sausages, which were delicious! I remember when Beldoms opened, it was a mini supermarket, I think it was the first of its kind in this area. There was Stolls ...see more
I have lived the past 43 years in Arizona, USA. Seeing the photo of St John's Church brings back many memories of my childhood in the Leytonstone area. During the blitz on London, going down the unfinished underground tube to sleep every night, going to the Rialto every Saturday morning to see Flash Gordon, Gene Autry, The Lone Ranger etc. I also recall going with our class from Newport Road school ...see more
Leytonstone was a great place to live back in the 50s and 60s. People used to come from far and wide for the wonderful shops. Bearmans was a lovely dapartment store, which also boasted a seperate furniture store, at the top end of the High Road. The Co-op sold an array of goods, from fashion-household goods-cosmetics. We had several shoe shops..Bata....Freeman, Hardy ...see more
I often think how lucky we post-war Leytonstone kids were to be born in the East End of London, yet have the whole of Wanstead park, the flats and what we called the forest at the end of our street, Browning Road, to get lost in. The mysterious Quakers Meeting house that was surrounded by the massive and famous 'Red Wall' where we all scratched our names in the soft red bricks and ...see more