Duffield Street

Hi there, I could tell you exactly where Duffield St was as I have checked on old maps and my Mum told me. It was near Clapham Junction backing onto the railway. The end of it is about where Shillington Gardens is and Shillington School. I can try to find a map if you need it. My Mum’s family- the Blackelocks all lived in Duffield St. It was bombed during 2nd world war and demolished due to that I believe

Thank you Linda. Someone did send me a link to a map and I can see that the embankment was above the house which then reminded me of my Mum telling me years ago that during the war a train pulled up on the track above in the middle of the night. Full of soldiers returning from Dunkirk and they threw cigarettes and sweets out of the windows to people below.
I know she had to move a couple of times due to bomb damage but of course in those days the houses were only rented. I think they went to Earlsfield Road after that. (She left a piece of paper with a list of all the houses she’d lived in starting with her birth in Speke Road)
I wonder if they knew each other. She was a Wright and most of the family lived around the area.
Thanks again for your help.
Sue

My cousin, who my Mum used to babysit for in Duffiled Street has the same memory of the soldiers throwing chocolate and chewing gum down to them from the trains. Neve been able to find a photo of Duffield St. There were 6 children in her family , the Blakelocks 3 being born much earlier than the other 3 (due to war). I would be almost certain most families then knew each other. Shame the oldies are no longer around to tell us stories of those times. Mum often mentioned it and was clearly very fond of her time there

Linda, I found an electoral roll listing my grandad and auntie (mum was too young to vote at the time) and it says they lived at No.47. The Blakelocks are on there at No.25 so I am sure they knew each other. I am doing a lot of research on the addresses where my Mum’s family lived and looking them up on Google Earth but sadly none of the houses remain (except Earlsfield Road) and in a couple of cases like Duffield Street, the roads have gone too. Mum died in 2008 and I often used to show her the house ads in the London paper and she was horrified at the prices of places she knew. Nice that your cousin has the same memory re the soldiers.
All the best
Sue

Hi Sue, not sure if i ever replied to this. So sorry. Lovely to hear about your connection to Duffiels St. My Mum had such fond memories.
Best regards
Linda