Growing Up In Hoxton

A Memory of Hoxton.

I grew up in Hoxton in the 40/50’s.

I went to Whitmore School in Gopsall Street, leaving in 1953.

I remember busy Hoxton market with all the stalls and shops, funny how some remain more in your memory, the pie and mash shop, which I believe is still there, also there was lady at a stall grating fresh horseradish, really strong smell. Sainsbury’s where my mum bought the small amount of Dutch butter she could afford, taken from a huge mound and then patted into a square with wooden spatulas.
As children we used to go with an old pram and buy 5 bob’s (25 pence) worth of coal, didn’t last long but made a nice fire.

The street’s and old bombed sites were our playground, sitting on the ground playing gob’s and bonster’s, now I know some will call it 5 stones but in the area I grew up in it was called g & b and nothing else, whatever anyone say’s.
I was a Sunbeam at the local Salvation Army in New North Rd, still there.
Life was hard but we survived and eventually moved into a flat with hot water and a inside toilet!

Maureen

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