My ancestors lived at no. 139 as recorded in the 1871 census. They were John and Susannah Bown

We lived at no. 77 (96 flats)

My Great grandparents John and Louisa Heath lived at 156 New Church Rd probably from 1886 when they married. He was an accoutrement maker. They had 3 children one of which was my Grandfather, Robert Heath. At the 1911 census he was 19 and a drapers assistant. When he married my grandmother Harriet Ward they also lived at 156 and their 6 children were also born there too . Robert 1914. Albert and Eveline twins, 1915 (Albert was my Father) And 3 other children Richard 1918, Olive 1920, and Vera 1922. I believe they all went to St George’s school. My Father talked about the canal etc. All I can say it must have been quite crowded in their house.

Hello I’m back here still researching and found a page ‘London Remembers’ about Burgess Park with an old map showing Goldie Street which is now part of Burgess Park.

And the interesting fact: my late Dad used to go to Peckham Mosque which is in fact in Burgess Park and based not far from where Goldie St was.

If anyone has any stories, pictures of the neighbourhood of Goldie St please do share. Mum had great stories of the community. I do know that the houses had no bathroom and people had to visit the local baths or bath houses?

Absolutely fascinating – I’ve loved reading all comments from people who used to live around the area. I’ll have to go on a tour with my sister who lived there as a child

Hi. I’ve only just seen this, as going to do some family history. 50 New Church Rd was a gang house since at least the 1930s. I’ve got a 1939 census that shows my grandfather lived there with some other contractors – he moved in after the previous owner was sent to Pentonville. So it was always a gang house. And then the Richardsons gang got hold of it.

We think there was an R.Whites factory in Napier road (292 ?) in Gillingham. The building is still there. We’re trying to investigate the history of the building itself for the local archive centre.

Hi Reg Lee, Thank you for sharing. I never knew that people who were considered ‘Aliens’ had to report weekly to police. Please can you give more information on why your mum became Chinese by law? And why they had to report? Was your dad Chinese?