Growing Up In Streatham

A Memory of Streatham.

Spent my childhood in Valleyfield Road. Streatham. attended St. Helen's school for Girls. Streatham Common North side. (mind you there were a few lads there as well!) Spent hours playing on the Common, walking through the Rookery, down to The White House and back through the common, in those days, it was considered SAFE. A group of us would do this, spend hours on the Common. Happy memories of my childhood, then we moved to Belltrees Grove, before the Comprehensive school was built, it was farm land. Can remember Russell Footpath down to the Ice Skating rink, still have my skates. Swimming Pool. Theatre, yes Streatham was a lovely place to spend one's time in.. have been back, even though I am now in NZ. Used to love having morning tea at Pratts, a group of us would go every Saturday morning, and sit and eat tea and cakes. even in Fullers.. Zetas? The library was a magnificent building. behind our land at Belltrees we had St. Michael's Convent, that house used to be Sir Henry Tate's House, now posh appartments! I can remember the old houses on corner of Leigham Ct Road and Streatham Common North, not Benshurst, but the other side of the road, where the Council flats are now! Rosebury School was in Leigham Ct Road, sadly closed down, had a purple uniform. Near St. Julian's Farm Road. Can remember St Leonards Church Yard as we had to walk through to catch the 49 Bus up to Leigham Ct Road.. Attended Immanuel Church Youth Group.. St. Helen's sadly closed down, and now flats.. demolished the lovely old house, that school was older than everyone thought, run by two Missionaries. Miss Tarry and Miss Howling.. see still have my memory at 64!
Loved the two ponds on the common... a Christmas Tree was always down near Greyhound Lane, fully lit... Yes Streatham was indeed a lovely place to grow up in, attended another school from 1950 at Upper Norwood. There is history in that place.. Loved the outdoor Theatre at Streatham Common Rookery in the Summer time. Noticed back in 2004, the old cafe still at the Rookery! Loved attending shows at Streatham Hill Theatre. Locarno for Dancing.. then later the Bowling Alley opened up, who remembers the Dutch style Garage down past the Streatham Hill Station? Think I would like to return to Streatham for a few weeks, walk around the old haunts,but it will have changed.. the shops opposite South London Press, one was Fredjohns the Jeweller, friends of my parents. a Chemist.. a Toilet.. with turnstyles.. many many happy memories of Streatham.. Adele

---

---