Chingford Hatch

A Memory of Chingford.

Does anyone remember the Manor pub at the bottom of Friday Hill? It was replaced by the Wheelwrights some years later, there used to be a van selling teas and coffees to the bus drivers and conducters in their breaks at the bus terminus opposite. I think it was called Bill's cafe.

Next to that was a little bridge that went over the River Ching, turn left along the Sandy Path and you came to Chingford football club .. further along were two chocolate-box cottages complete with picket fences, at one of the cottages a lady used to sell us lollies. Next to the cottages were the stepping stones that crossed the River Ching and led you on to the common and golf course ... carry on across the golf links and you came to Woodford where all the 'posh' people lived.

Around there somewhere was a convent , which unfortunately became a prime target for 'scrumping' because of the fruit trees in the grounds - you had to climb over the wall first!

Horses used to be tethered on the common to graze and we learned how to ride them bare-back. We spent many hours on the common, building dens and playing 'Maid Marion and Robin Hood' ... we arrived home at dusk, filthy, dirty and hungry to a 'clip round the ear'ole' for getting dirty ...