The Good Old Days Late 50’s & 60’s

A Memory of Welling.

Oh the good old days.
There was Barclays Bank in the corner and I remember my dad making an appointment to see the actual Bank Manager himself who had his office to the left at the back.
I remember the Bakers next to Barclays Bank on Welling Corner (Broomfield’s). A cat had given birth to kittens in the back and as a little girl pre-school I believe, I was allowed to go into the back and see them.
I remember Maine’s the double/triple open fronted store that sold men’s/ women’s and children’s socks, knickers underwear, clothes, tea towels table linen etc. It had wooden floorboards. One had to pay the cashier in the middle I believe, who sat very high up surrounded by wood panels and a wire grille.
Before it became Dewhursts, the butchers was called Richards. I remember the sawdust on the floor and the old wooden chopping blocks and the meat arranged in the window. I have forgotten the name of the manager but he had an assistant named Pru. Again as a little girl I was allowed in the back of the shop to see the cold rooms where the animal carcasses were hanging before being chopped up.
Pru showed me. I remember being a little naughty and shutting the big door on poor Pru in the coldest room. When I came out my mother asked where she was. I said ‘she is in the fridge’. Someone had to go and get her out and I was severely told off and probably got a smack! Those were the days when you could! I also remember when I was about 11 that sometimes we used to buy tripe for our dog in there.

There were two Caters stores a single shop this side and a double store the other side of the road that led up to St Stephens Church
Yes I remember Contobs too. As the name suggests it was a Confectionary and Tobacconists. I used to go in and buy 2oz of sweets or if I was very lucky 4oz of two different types of sweets in one bag. They used to weigh these out. I remember the smell of tobacco as you first went into the store.
One birthday as I was having a birthday party at home on Saturday afternoon with school friends ( they did in those days) my mum bought an ice cream cake which everybody loved.
There was also Reeds/Reads the hardware store that did paint and tools, door locks etc I think in those days one could buy screws and nails by weight or by the number you actually required ( am I right?) and they were then put into paper bags.
There was Churches the shoe shop in that parade who also did at one time shoe repairs(?). Again coming back in brown paper bags. I only remember next to that was a print shop but I cannot remember what was there before? I cannot remember either what was before Alan’s Homecare (a bit like a modern Poundland) but the prices were all different.
Yes there was the cycle shop and I used to look enviously at the painted bicycles in the racks outside. Then there was the double fronted Caters.
My mum and I used to do a lot of our food shopping in there on a Monday and Friday morning. I used to be sat on the counter. One of the assistants was called Bessie. My mum would ask for a large tin of pineapple and Bessie would ask Del Monte or Silverleaf? My mum would ask which was cheaper that week. One would be 2/6 and the other maybe 2/4. Not a lot of difference but saved pennies made pounds especially in the days when mothers did not go out to work! Then there was the biscuit counter. The cheese counter and Deli counter. Who remembers when coleslaw made its first appearance together with Russian salad that had cold peas in it. There were little tubs that were put in the scales and then filled with 4oz or 8oz of whichever you chose. Next door was an open fronted fruit and veg shop. There another butchers I believe. There was also Winkworths another wet fish shop. His older daughter was above me in school and his youngest below me. Another sweet shop (Turners) which sold a few toys too. I saved my pocket money and bought a “Tina” doll a cheaper version of “Sindy” but I thought prettier and the clothes fitted.

Then there was the other Cinema ( besides the Granada in Bellegrove Road) which was then made into a Bingo
Hall. There were a few other shops that side. One being a tile shop. Then Hopping Bros the Wood yard under the railway.

Right let’s see what I can remember on the other side! I shall do this in a separate memory. Up to now I trust I have revived/jogged some people’s memories.