Penge, Waterman's Almshouses 1899

Photo ref: 43827

As a resident of Anerley (Upper Penge) from 1945 to 1963, I was fascinated to see a memory posted by Max Latter. Derek Latter was known to me for many years. His family lived in a mews flat just off Maple Road. Was not the name Watermen and Lightermen's Almshouses?

I remember my father taking me to see Dr Kellarhar as an emergency case; he always took a paper with him and leaving it on purpose, as a thankyou. His surgery was very dark and every thing seemed to be brown. The waiting room was like the most quiet place on earth, everyone spoke in whispers, and it had a reception just inside the door as you went in, and the lady greeted you as you entered.

As a small child, I lived in Beckenham, and we used visit my grandmother who lived in a flat in Queen Adelaide Court. From her lounge window we could see the Almshouses. At that age I did not have any real understanding of what they were, but they held a strange fascination for me because they were so different from the surrounding houses and blocks of flats. I have many memories of Penge, including the market ...see more

I was born in a third floor flat overlooking the Waterman's Almshouses in 1935. I spent the whole of  World War 2 in Penge with my family.  I remember the pub the Crooked Billet near to the Almshouses and next door a cycle shop, where I bought my first new sports cycle.  I particularly remember the Empire Theatre in the High Street, where I used to go to see the plays every week, and then stand outside the stage door ...see more