12a Coronation Close Blenden

A Memory of Bexleyheath.

I was born at 12a Coronation Close, Blenden (near Danson Park and Bexley woods) in July of 1947.
My family shared the house with my nan and aunts, Molly and Olive for the first 5 years of my life (we then moved to Temple Hill Estate in Dartford).
I remember the Express Dairyman would stop at our house for a cuppa with my nan and we would feed the horse.
We would often walk into Bexleyheath Broadway from our house. We would pass a small stream with a spring, and then the Red House (Red House Lande) (now famous as a tourist attraction for Arts and Crafts movement (also Co-Op). We would get the bus back that went to Blackfen. Perry's was the local baker. We would often shop at the Co-op on the Broadway They would give my nan some kind of metal (tin) coin that could only be exchanged at the Co-op. I do believe that there was some kind of dividend given out at Christmas time. Some times we would stop at the Silver Lounge and get an ice cream dipped in chocolate.
My cousins Pamela Elliott (9 years older than me) and Muriel Elliott (6 years older than me) would take me for walks all the time (I called myself the tag-a-long -kid). We went to pick some baby chicks, going past the Bexley tech playing fields and that spring, to the local farm. When I was there much later the farm was still there as we went there to pick up a sack of potatoes with my brother. I don't remember the name of the farm though. I also have a vivid memory of my nan asking my cousin Pam to hold the full-grown chicken down while she proceeded to chop its head off. My cousin got frightened and let go of the chicken, which proceeded to fly around the kitchen with its head off and flapping its wings. My uncle Bill Elliott made the chicken run for my nan.
We often went "Bluebelling" in Bexley woods. We passed an area of wooden homes and would stop and visit a lady who lived in one. I don't believe they are there now though.
I also remember an old wooden tea shop just as you entered Danson Park where we would go through to the "lido" to swim. There was also a bird Aviary in the park. One could rent boats and go out on the lake. Once a year there would be a fairground and we would enjoy the rides.
My aunt Olive belonged to the Salvation Army, Lyons Road branch. The library was near there too.
My brother, Michael Sales, was born in 1950 and was taken off to Great Ormand Street Hospital in a big American look a like Ambulance six weeks later with a twisted gut.
We moved in the spring of 1953 (Suez Crises) to Temple Hill Estate, Dartford but I would often come back and visit my nan. As a teenager, I would ride my bike to her place and back.

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