Woolwich Town Centre
A Memory of Woolwich.
I remember very fondly Woolwich market & town centre in the 60's & 70's. Cuffs department store always seemed so imposing with polished wooden floors, we had to go there to get my school uniform for Notre Dame Convent in Eglington Road. Christmas time always meant a visit to the store to see Santa's grotto, and a ride up in the lift which was always manned. My favourite department was the downstairs jewellery dept, (still love a bit of bling now) it had a wood and glass case which revolved round and you pressed a button to stop it at your favourite item. Mum used to treat herself and have her hair done there too. Garretts Store was mainly furniture and there was a lovely toy shop, Branstons, at the top of Powis Street.
My Saturdays consisted of going swimming to Woolwich Baths, drying our hair outside the building round the back from the warm air outlet pipes, getting a bag of chips and pickled onion and eating them on the Ferry going backwards and forwards all afternoon.
Who can remember the huge 2 storey fish & chip restaurant next to the CO-Op in Hare Street, it was always packed out on Saturdays and families would queue to get in?
I had my first Saturday job at 14 working in Vogue haridressers who were on the "high pavement" by the market with Matthews butchers on the corner beneath it. I can remember McDonald's first UK store opening in Woolwich, the milkshakes were 35p then! My Saturday wages were usually spent in Martin Ford's clothes shop, the quality was terrible and they used to fall to pieces after a few washes but the styles were so trendy and when you are young you don't care, as long as you looked the part!
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Comments & Feedback
My Dad always talked of the High Pavement & said he would look at the first fruit & Veg. stall then go all around the market then come back & buy at that first.
I remember him often talking about Hedley Vicars but can't remember them myself.
As I grew older (1960's) there always seemed somewhere new to discover around the streets off the market - little shops in Sray St. or the old High St., etc.
To be cont. perhaps
Mike Allen.
It was a wonderful town to grow up in. A solid strong town. I miss it very very much.