This is a page dedicated to the memories of people who lived here before the park. Please contribute your memories too! Lots of people have already:
Simon Dear: Golden Eagle Pub – Jenny Chapple: Victory Square – Ken Pywell: Cowan Street – Martin Scott: Albany Road – Stephen Waters: Wells Way – Richard Hutt: Nugents of Neate Street – Stephen Kirkman: Neate St Cafe – or read the extensive Comments
Simon Dear and the Golden Eagle pub
My grandfather Alfred Robert Dear was born in the Golden Eagle Beer House on the corner of Trafalgar Road and Neate Street in 1908, after his family took over the pub the previous year. We have not been able to find any photos of the pub except for the one shown, taken in 1921, that came to me through family.
Sadly, we don’t know where they were off it that day. We think it was the south coast, perhaps Brighton. This photo came from my Great Aunt Margaret now passed, but I do have my grandad’s photo album which has pictures taken at Brighton when he was around that age. My great grandfather (the Golden Eagle’s landlord) is the chap with the bow tie in the front row. He always wore a bow tie on such occasions, so it’s not possible to tell for sure it was the same day.
Here’s my grandfather, aged around 13, on the back row:
This is how the pub looked in 1986, shortly before demolition. A very sad sight.
Please see below for comments on this and other posts on this page.
Jenny Chapple and family
I visited on the open day along with my brother and sister on a nostalgic trip in September 2014. We had a tour of the bath house and told stories to the other visitors of our visits to the baths. At the time it was believed that there had been about 11 baths, going by the pipes that could be seen in the ceiling from the floor below. From our memories and after wandering around upstairs we were all sure there had been many more baths even being able to recollect a rough layout. I see from the drawing of the bath house on your website that there were in the region of 50 baths in cubicles, this would fit in much more with the number we thought there were.
[As children, Jenny, with her brother and sister, lived in a house in Victory Square off New Church Rd, with no bathroom, so had to take a weekly bath at the bath house – Ed]
Also I’m still trying to find more information about the laundry for you. It seems it was an industrial laundry in the basement. Vans would bring the bags of washing (likely to be sheets and towels etc) and there were women who worked in there that would put the washing through the wash, spinners and tumble dryers. It would be folded and loaded back in the white linen sacks to be returned to the owners (possibly old peoples homes etc) I will try to find out more about this but not so many people left to ask. If I find any more info I will write again.
When we came we were trying to find out about the Lime Kiln as none of us could remember it but we have discovered that when we were in New Church Road the kiln was surrounded by corrugated fencing. We have discovered a photo showing this and again the memories came flooding back. We also found a photo of New Church Road as it was when we lived there.
In this photo of New Church Road, the reclamation/junk yard is where the phone box is, and you can see the bath house at the end of the road on the left hand side of the photo. We lived on the corner of Victory Square which is just visible as a tiny street on the right hand side of the road just beyond the third car.
Jenny Chapple, January 2015.
Ken Pywell
My family and I have been aware for many years of the development of the Park over time and of its recent refurbishment. We visited in the winter of 2013 but found it closed off because of the work being done inside. We came again on the 25th of this month, with my Birthday as the excuse for the outing. We live in Shirley so the park is not exactly local to us.
My interest lies in the fact that, in my childhood in the 1930’s, I lived at No.57 Cowan Street. My son downloaded various old and not so old maps from the internet and, overlaying them, was able to determine with some degree of accuracy where that house used to be in relation to today’s landscape. It was very pleasing to find that it lay under what is now the tree-covered hill overlooking the north shore of the lake. Such a contrast to what used to be there !!
Cowan Street was divided into three parts, which were separated by Jardin Street and Calmington Road running at right-angles to it. No. 57 was at the extreme eastern end of the middle section and the much taller buildings in Calmington Road overlooked our back garden, which was very tiny. We used to say that the end nearest to Chumleigh Street was the “posh end” (there weren’t many children playing at that end), the other end was the “rough end” – very rough as I recall, and we in the middle bit were, well, just “respectable”. Posh or no, all us kids used to go to Saturday morning cinema at the Coronet and when the film started used to stand on the seats and cheer the “goodies” and boo the “Baddies”!
I lived in Cowan Street from birth on 27th January 1932 until January 1941. During the Blitz we were bombed out. I was evacuated at the time to Yeovil with other children from Scarsdale Road School and some of the teachers. My Mum and Dad were trapped in their Anderson shelter, which had got buried with debris from the houses overlooking us in Calmington Road. They had to be dug out – fortunately they survived.
It was lovely to see the area as it is now. To have a lake is a real bonus. We actually saw a cormorant when we were there. Who, back in those days, would have thought all this possible? One disappointment, the footbridge was not open. Many times as a child I walked or pushed my tricycle over that bridge and was looking forward to walking over it again.
I have heard it said that there were plans after the first world war to turn this part of Camberwell into a park. I think those plans were interrupted by the next war. It’s good to know that it has now come to pass, no doubt through a great deal of hard work by your organisation and others. Thank you for that.
Ken Pywell (83), January 2015
More memories of Cowan St and a picture of the western end on Flickr here
Martin Scott – Memories of Albany Road…
….home of the Mills family and especially my great grand aunt Clara Mills (Aunt Doll) and my great grandmother Sarah Ann Redman, nee Mills.
My great grand Aunt Clara Mills (nicknamed “Doll” possibly deriving from “Dolly”) was born in 1891 and was the ninth of ten children by Stephen and Jean Mills. Stephen was the son of a ropemaker from Hayle, a village on the north Cornwall coast who came to south London in the late 1860s to make a new life.
The Mills family (already with at least six children) came to live in Camberwell during the mid 1880s and moved into 292 Albany Road, just a few yards from the junction with Portland Street. I assume it was a very ordinary flat in one of the many tenement buildings on Albany Road at the time. According to the census records, Stephen and Jean were still resident at this address in 1911, so I assume that all of the ten siblings would have lived at 292 at some time before leaving the family home and moving on.
The photo below shows a portrait of Aunt Doll taken a little before WW1 making her around 20 years old at the time.
In the years leading up to WW1, Aunt Doll and her older sister Alice (nicknamed “Al”) both had jobs as packers at the Cross & Blackwell preserves and pickle factory, either in Blue Anchor Lane or Lynton Road, Bermondsey, just a half mile or so from home. I think Alice was already married at this time.
My great grandmother Sarah Ann Mills, born in 1875, was another of Aunt Doll’s three older sisters. Sarah Ann married Thomas Redman in 1899 and they moved in next door to the Mills family at 290 Albany Road from then onwards. They had three children; my grandmother Kate Emily born in 1900, and then Frederick William and Alice Maud (nicknamed “Dinks”) a few years later.
During or just after WW1, Aunt Doll had moved into the downstairs flat of an early Victorian terraced house at 104 Albany Road, about 200 yards from the well-known “Thomas A’ Beckett” public house at the junction with the old Kent Road. In the 1920s she found employment as a clerk with HM Inland Revenue Service and continued there until her retirement around 1954. She never married.
My grandmother Kate Emily, married Algernon Harry Scott in Camberwell in the summer of 1924 and my father, Arthur Frederick (nicknamed “Freddie”) was born in East Dulwich Hospital in the November of the same year. They lived for a year or two in Albany Road before moving to Walthamstow but they still visited their relatives in Camberwell on a regular basis well into the 1950s. Aunt Doll was in fact my grandmothers aunt and because of their relatively small age gap, had always been quite close. She was also my dad’s favourite great aunt.
After hearing stories about the R.Whites distibution depot on the corner of Bagshot Street and the main factory premises in Neate Street, I can now understand why my dad had such a close affinity to the R.Whites brand name. Creme Soda became my absolute favourite fizzy drink growing up in the 1950s & 1960s.
After the death of my great grandfather Thomas Redman in the mid 1930s, great grandma Sarah Ann Redman moved into the upstairs flat at 104 Albany road where Aunt Doll could keep an eye on her. Sarah Ann lived there until her death in 1950 and the upstairs flat at 104 Albany Road was relet to a guy called Frankie Merritt who was still living there the last time I visited Aunt Doll together with my dad around 1971.
Freddie Scott known to most simply as “Fred” outside the Camberwell family, married Joan Mary Saggers at Hockley, Essex on 30th April 1949. A small contingent of Camberwell relatives turned out for the occasion with some of the ladies in their silver fox stoles. The Camberwell family members can be seen on the far left hand side of the group (except for the man at the extreme left who one of my mums cousins and is therefore standing on the wrong side)
The five Camberwell relatives standing from left to right: Alice Maud Worth nee Redman, Freddie Worth, Jean Charlesworth nee Mills, Shirley Worth, then another of my mums cousins, then Clara Mills (Aunt Doll).
The three Camberwell relatives seated from left to right are: Alice Parish nee Redman (Sarah Anns sister in law), Sarah Ann Redman nee Mills , Kate Emily Scott nee Redman.
The author of this article, Martin Richard was born two years later to Fred and Joan Scott in Thorpe Coombe Hospital, Walthamstow on the 22nd May 1951. We moved to Harlow in south west Essex in late 1952.
Aunt Doll’s ground floor flat at 104 Albany Road was a typical 1840s London terraced house with a narrow gabled roof hidden behind a plain brick house front. A short “extension” at the garden end housed the kitchen/scullery with access to the outside WC. The flat was still lit by gas lamps in the early 1950s when aunt Doll very reluctantly had to make the changeover to electricity.
My dad borrowed £80 from Aunt Doll in early 1959 to fund the purchase of his first car, a black 1955 Ford Popular. I can remember the first visits to Aunt Doll in Albany Road around this time and it became a regular adventure driving into London from Harlow via the A11 through Stratford and the Mile End Road, across Tower Bridge, up to the Elephant & Castle and along the Old Kent Road. Because the junction of Albany Road with the Old Kent Road was a “no right turn” at the time, we would first turn right into Mina Road
(which we often missed) and instead had to turn next right into Cobourg Road or even Trafalgar Avenue and then double back to find our destination. The daytime journey in the 1960s was only about 75 miniutes.
Aunt Doll’s flat at number 104 was furnished with many old carpets some of which were threadbare and lots of heavy dark oak furniture. A similarly aged and always out of tune upright piano stood against one wall in the front room. She could read music and had apparently been quite an acceptable piano player in earlier times although I never heard her play. There was always a slight smell of mothballs in the air which added to the very tired feel of the interior. There was no central heating and no double glazing of course so the house was always cold, especially the front room which was never used. The kitchen had become the “living room” for which the trade off was very little daylight making it quite dark and where myriads of biscuit tins, jam jars and tea caddys adorned the shelves and filled the cupboards. She had also been a “spiritual medium” of some notoriety within the family which was perhaps another reason why the front room was always cold.
Aunt Doll’s length of residence in Albany Road spanned most of her life from the early 1890s until the early 1970s. After fifty years living at 104 she became slightly infirm and moved into Woburn Court, a sheltered home for elderly people in Bermondsey in 1972. I visited her there just once around Christmas 1973 still to be greeted in her ubiquitous “Ena Sharples” hair net. She died in 1975 aged 84. My parents attended her funeral, which I think took place at Nunhead cemetery.
In spite of WW2 bombing and extensive redevelopment of the area, fate has decreed that the terrace of houses including number 104 are still standing today and indeed must represent the last examples of early Victorian buildings on Albany Road, albeit completely modernised. Some are no longer downstairs /upstairs flats but have been converted into houses.
I hope this short article is of interest and may even have jogged the memories of people with their own stories of Albany Road or perhaps others who may even remember the names of some of my distant relative from Albany Road! It was after all a large family.
Martin Scott / January 2017 / Hilden, Germany
Stephen Waters – Memories of Wells Way
I lived opposite one of the entrances to Burgess Park in Wells Way before it expanded to the size it is now and have fond memories of playing there when I was a boy. I was born in 1954 and lived with my mother, Joyce Waters (nee Carter) and my father John Waters at 65 Wells Way. We rented the small flat at the top of the house. A woman called Beatrice lived in the basement with her husband. I am not sure if it was their house. A girl called Diane used to look after me when my mother was out and I still have a photo of her playing with me in the back garden. I have often wondered what happened to her. My father passed away in 1956, but I continued to live there with my mother until 1960. Life wasn’t easy for a single mother in those days, but she had some small jobs and did some cleaning at the old vicarage in Wells Way. Sometimes we went there for events in the garden.
We were friendly with a family opposite called McLeod who lived at no 100. Lewis McLeod was a highly respected cameraman who worked on programmes shown on television. He was also involved in filming the documentary: March to Aldermaston, which was produced by the Film and TV Committee for Nuclear Disarmament in 1958-1959. He went to film the war in Vietnam.
My mother became life long friends with his wife after they met in Burgess Park. We often had picnics there and one day set up a small play tent. Unfortunately, the park keeper jobsworth told us to take it down because it was against regulations. We thought it was very mean of him! My mother told me that my father was late coming home from work one day. There was a pea souper (thick smog). She was worried that he might have lost his way so she went into the street and called out his name.
65 Wells Way – arrow marks Stephen’s house. The present bus stop is approximately where the family are walking (Stephen Waters)
Richard Hutt reflects on the Nugent factory on Neate St
Thank you for such an interesting website as your Bridge to Nowhere. It enables much of the now vanished history around Burgess Park to once again come alive, and particularly through families who once had close associations with that part of Camberwell.
I am one of the Great-Grandsons of Matthew Nugent (pictured below) who, during the Victorian and Edwardian era, operated a sheepskin rug factory which had its main entrance situated at 181 Neate Street. The factory itself was sandwiched between Neate Street and the then Goldie Street; effectively in a confined area between Coburg Road and Trafalgar Road, where the cricket and rugby pitches are now. The caretaker’s residence was incorporated in the complex but the Nugent family themselves lived nearby in Glengall Terrace.
Matthew Nugent’s father, Richard Nugent, was listed as operating his family trade at 8 Henry’s Place as far back as 1851, and later in 1864 it’s shown at 12 Neate Street. However, it’s uncertain whether 12 Neate Street was at the opposite western end of this once long street, or it was later renumbered to become the 181 Neate Street site at the eastern end. The factory manufactured sheepskin rugs and cavalry skins, together with white and coloured boas and lamb trimmings. Rugs were also cleaned, dyed or made to order.
In 1864 the family firm was listed as employing 15 men and 5 boys. From the faded pages of an old stock book in my possession dated 1897, you can see the scale on which this thriving business operated in the Victorian era. The inventory records approximately 13,800 skins in stock, plus 980 boas and over 1,600 rugs. Also stocked were the necessities for such a factory, including 1 ton of soap, 6 cwt of alkali and 1 ton of alum. I can’t imagine what all of that would have smelled like for the people living in the adjacent terraced houses! The total value of stock was listed as being £5,684 19s 6d, or £740,000 at 2020 prices.
The family business ceased operations after Matthew Snr’s death, aged 59, in 1907. However, his brother William Nugent, who had his own factory situated in Achilles Street, New Cross, continued with the family sheepskin and rug trade. Both Matthew and William Nugent had been baptised in St. George’s Church, Camberwell. Although the Neate Street factory was destroyed during World War II, William’s business continued to operate until it too was demolished in 1944 when a V1 flying bomb destroyed the 4-storey factory site,. This incident resulted in the loss of five nearby homes, five deaths, and thirty badly injured.
It would be interesting to one day recreate a complete listing of all businesses and occupants of the once very long Neate Street, stretching from the Library and Baths on the corner of Wells Way, right down to the Trafalgar Road end. I am sure it would hold some fascinating historical details of the area once situated alongside or very near the busy Grand Surrey Canal.
The Neat Cafe – Stephen Kirkman researches his family connections
I would like to know if anyone has any recollections of the families that lived near to, or perhaps used, the cafe at 102 Neate Street possibly around 1935?
My mother, Helen Passey, lived for a while next door at number 100 before moving to number 102.
The cafe was in a block of three shops, part of the terrace on the south side of Neate St, next to the footbridge, and opposite the Queen pub. There’s a similar view of the cafe taken in 1972 on the London Picture Archive site (search for photo 56013 if the link doesn’t work). If anyone can shed light on the cafe name – Neat or Neate – that would be appreciated.
On the cafe photos, you can see
- The vehicle yard belonging to R S Joyner & Sons Ltd. at 106a (only visible in the London Picture Archive image)
- At 106 – J W Hardy and fruit and vegetable (who also did haulage and removals according to the high level sign).
- Next is what appears to be an empty shop, or perhaps an extension of Hardy’s shop at 104 Neate Street. This was a Butcher’s in 1936 and 1960 directories
- The Neat Cafe which would be 102 Neate Street. This was certainly listed as Dining Rooms by 1960 and probably earlier, though in 1936 it was a Grocer’s
- Then the first terraced house at 100 Neate Street, where the photo of my mother and friends was taken.
I’ve searched the Electoral Registers for 1935-37 and traced the following residents:
| 1935 | 1936 | 1937 |
|---|---|---|
| 100 Neate St | 100 Neate St | 100 Neate St |
| Frederick Adams | Frederick Adams | Frederick Adams |
| Florence Louisa Adams | Florence Louisa Adams | Florence Louisa Adams |
| Mary Elizabeth Furlonger | Mary Elizabeth Furlonger | |
| Helen Matilda Passey | Helen Matilda Passey | |
| 102 Neate St (Cafe) | 102 Neate St (Cafe) | 102 Neate St (Cafe) |
| William Eugene Townsend | William Eugene Townsend | Marie Kate Townsend |
| Marie Kate Townsend | Marie Kate Townsend | Joseph Benjamin Stiles |
| Joseph Benjamin Stiles | Martha Sarah Alice Stiles | |
| Martha Sarah Alice Stiles | Helen Matilda Passey |
From other records I found that my mother was a waitress at the cafe. I’d really appreciate any further information on the residents, and especially of Mum’s friends in the picture!
David Levett adds:
I can confirm that in the 60s it was The Neat Cafe. In the picture on the link, that is my Austin A40, which would date it to the late 60s, early 70s. I remember Leonard Bossett [listed as the proprietor in the 1960 directory]. My father bought the Cafe from him. He also ran a juke box / pin-table business and my father hired a couple from him.
At about that time, the butcher’s shop closed when the owner suffered a stroke and was unable to carry on. For a while my father rented the flat above the butcher’s as extra accommodation, and had a doorway knocked through the wall of the front room. My father also rented a cafe in Farnborough, Kent, from Mr Bossett, which I ran for a short while until my mother took it over.
I remember a couple of the locals that worked for my father in the Neat Cafe, one was Doll Roberts, and a lady called Vera, who seemed to live in a 1940s time warp, and lived in a flat above the Doctors surgery the other side of the Canal, almost opposite Cronin Road.
I remember the time they were making the film, Battle of Britain, mostly the other side of the canal where they were demolishing a lot of the houses [Dragon St, just south of St George’s Way]. My father kept the cafe open very late for the film crews and a number of the stars came in too as the filming was done at night. At around that time I was working for Cox Plant hire and was involved in both the demolition and building of the estates in the area. Starting to remember more now I think about it. Will get back as it comes to light.
Hi I live in Sydney Australia, so research is so difficult being so far away.
But Does anyone remember a family who lived at 67 New Church Road during the time of the 1911 census. They were the JELLEY family (Arthur, his wife Rosina and children Francis, Walter, Arthur, Rosina & Richard) Arthur Jelley died in 1955 and I don’t know if he was still living in New Church Road, but I do know that for their whole lives they never moved from the area. I would love to know if anyone has a photo of Number 67 or if anyone has any memories of the Jelley family. Other than her name I have no knowledge of my Grandmother Rosina, only that she put all the children in St Olaves workhouse and left after baby Rosina died at a few months of age. I would love to be able to research her further for my Mother but can not go further back than the name of her Father Thomas Avery
I, my two sisters and parents lived at 21Caldew Street which ran between Addington Square and Cheam Place. It ran parallel to New Church Road. I did find some photographs of Caldew Street on the internet but unfortunately they have since disappeared. We lived there from 1939 till about 1955. Like many others l used the public baths in Wells Way. As l was only able to pay for 2nd Class sometimes l had to suffer the indignanty of the attendant opening the door to tell me to hurry up. I returned to the area in around 1965 to live at the New Church Road end of Southampton Way. My neighbour, who went to the public meeting about the proposed creation of Burgess Park, told me of a well spoken man who protested that the size and shape of the proposed park was perfect for the landing of light aircraft and could assurances be given that it would not be used for that purpose. Like many others l have fond memories of the area but l do wish l could discover those photographs again.
Hi Terry
Thanks so much for sharing these memories! Fascinating stuff – especially the bit about the light plane landing. That will now re-enter local folklore, I can guarantee! I had a bit of a search around and found a few photos of Caldew St here on the London Picture Archive website. These were probably taken by the GLC shortly before demolition – they did a good job of documenting their work! Do let us know if you spot your home in one of these, and we’ll get permission to include it on this page.
My Nan lived at 29 Caldew street – the family name was Granger. I lived in Ewell Place backing on to Caldew street, facing the canal. I went St Georges school in New Church Road till about 1955. I remember most families in Caldew St as my cousins also lived there.
We lived at 6 Ewell Place and i went to St Georges school 1950 -1955. We were the Fowler family.
Hello Raymond,
It’s a long shot but do you or any of your family recall those who lived in 12 Ewell place back in the 1930s… 1933 to be specific?
Hi Gary
I have just been doing some family research and came across the question you raised back in 2021.
I would be really interested to know why 12 Ewell place is of interest to you and any information you might have of other families in the period.
I can advise that my father Edward Hewitt was born at 12 Ewell place on the 15/02/1937 and his mother & father were Lillian Hewitt & Edward Henry Hewitt who I believe lived there.
As I understand it the house was owned / rented by my grandmothers (Lillian) family in 1933 and although her married name was Hewitt, her maiden name was Smith and my Grandmother Lillian Smith was one of at least six children that lived at 12 Ewell place (Lillian, Rose, Violet, Daisy Maude)
I understand my great grandmother was called Henrietta Smith.
My dad Edward and my Grandmother Lillian moved from 12 Ewell Place, i believe in the early 1940’s when the ww2 bombings started and they moved to Bexley Heath where they continued to live for many years.
Kind regards
Gary Hewitt
To Gary Hewitt,
Many thanks for sharing the information about your family and number 12 Ewell Place. It must have been a busy, bustling household. We do seem to have a connection, with my interest lying in Ms Violet Henrietta Smith. Please feel free to contact me if you would like to hear more, I have given my email address to the website moderator, Andrew.
All the best,
Gary
My Mum, Nan, and Great Nan all lived in Caldew St at some point – My Mum was Carol, born in 1945. Her Mum was Mary, and her Mum was Bessie Smith. Mary had Jim, June, Wynne, Carol and then David, and was married to Alec Houston, a Scotsman.
Hi Andrew
Thank you so much for discovering those pictures of Caldew Street, some of them were the ones I had seen on another website but were unfortunately deleted. There are two pictures of the ‘ odd numbered ‘ side, one from each end, but 21 is at the far end of each one. In my childhood memory the houses did not look so bad but the ‘even numbered side’ are just as I remember. Comparing the two sides I can understand why the ‘evens’ had electricity and we had only gas. I must clarify that no light aircraft actually landed on the park just that the man was using the possibility as a way of protesting against the park’s creation. Thankfully his unrealistic fears were ignored.
Anyone remember Mr Shroeder at St Lukes Sumner Road?
Yes I do. My name is Ken Cameron and I was at St Luke’s in the 60’s when he was head master.
Anyone remember the King family – Len and Mary of 104 New Church Rd then 53 Rainbow Street??
My parents bought number 53 from the King family in the late 70’s. I believe the man’s name was Tony King so possibly the son of Len and Mary?
My mother in law, nee Rose Taylor, lived in Albany Road before being evacuated to Yeovil in 1939. They lived at 105 Albany Road. Her father, William Taylor, was a baker. Has anyone any information about the bakery at all, such as it’s name and whether it was at 105 Albany Road? Also, we think there was a pub opposite – was this the Lady Franklin? Any other memories of that time would be gratefully received. Thank you
Hi, Tina. Regarding the bakery in Albany Road, this was on the corner leading to Villa Street. During early 40s, we used to live at number 4, Wells Way, just off Albany Road and always got our bread and cakes from there. Can’t recall the name, but years later, having moved across the hump-back bridge to number 47, I and my sister-in-law always dropped into that same bakery for their delicious doughnuts.
Best wishes, Sheila Bearman
To add to Sheila’s memories of Doughnuts.
As I posted elsewhere I finished my schooling at the newly created Peckham Secondary Central School for Girls in Peckham Street, December 1946. I can recall the Bakers outside the school gates that sold their doughnuts by The Baker’s Dozen. 13 for 1/- (5p). After school lunch I spent my newspaper round earnings there (and didn’t share any doughnuts in the playground!)
I remember the bakers on the corner of Villa Street. That pub opposite was the Albany Arms I lived at number 4 the almshouses in Chumleigh Street
The pub opposite was the Albany Arms
My grandmother was born at 105 The Albany, Albany Road, Camberwell in 1888 and it wasn’t a bakery then but there’s a few years in between 😊
My Father owned the Neate Cafe in Neate Street from around 1962 until demolition in the 70s. I lived there until 1972. Did much of my courting by the Canal Bridge, which I believe is still there.
Did you know of or hear about any of the Passey family in Neate street before the war? Just a chance my Mother as a young woman worked in that cafe?? From around 1936.
Hi David, my father was born in 68 Neate St, which was his nan’s house and their surname was Perkins, do you remember any of the family please?
Around 1954-56, my Mum and Dad along with my maternal grandparents were regulars of the Golden Eagle pub, and I remember spending many a Saturday evening outside with a lemonade and a bag of crisps! At that time, we all knew the pub as ‘Teds’ after the landlord. I seem to remember his wife was called Mabel. Does anyone remember these people or those days?
I’m guessing that Simon Dear, the original post at the top, is Ted’s son since Alfred Robert Dear was his granddad. Ted’s wife was Amy. I can remember Ted had a jar on the bar of arrowroot biscuits and the beer being in wooden barrels, one of which was perched up on the bar too.
As kids we used to stand outside the window on the right of the last photo and my granddad, John Stammers, would pass out a cream soda and coconut square. My family used to sit at a square table just inside that window and Ted used to let us in if we sat out of site and behaved ourselves.
Mike, what were your mum and dad’s names and your Nan and granddad? I new a Micky Derrington from there, 205 or 203 I think.
Names I can remember from the pub – Jimmy Johnson, Bill Ransom, Jacky Wolf, Sid Charrington, Denis and Pat Stammers (my aunt and uncle), John and Mary Stammers (my Nan and granddad), Alf and Joan Johnson (my mum and dad).
My uncle had a lockup in the back yard of the pub between the pub and the buildings and we lived opposite at 207 Neate Street.
Thanks for finding the photo Simon
Pat,
I’m a year late in seeing your reply to my earlier post regarding ‘Teds’ (aka the Golden Eagle). My mum and dad were Bill and Lily Lewis, and my mum’s parents were Bob and Lily Rouse. My dad lost his arm during the war in case that rings any bells. Like you, I remember the Arrowroot biscuits in the glass jar, and was allowed to sit in the corner behind the curtains sometimes! I spent most of the time though drawing with chalk on the pair of black cellar doors immediately under the Saloon bar window whilst Dad and Pop (as well as my uncle Duke were playing shove ha’penny on the other side. I do hope you find this reply after all this time
Best wishes
Mike
I remember the Neate Cafe. As I recall it was opposite the Queen public house where my mum and dad used to drink. The cafe was near the old footbridge. That’s where my mum fell and broke her leg. She was taken to hospital in one of those big Daimler ambulances.
Just spotted your post from last year re Neate Cafe and The Queen PH. I am now in Australia but have photos of both before they were demolished. I am an IT Pigmy and am unsure about how I go about directing those photos to you or the site since the above notation says email addresses will not be published. Please excuse my ignorance.
Thanks very much for your offer of images Richard! We can always put readers in touch, if they agree to have their email address shared – just say the word! I’ll email you personally, Richard. [Ed]
Hi. I lived in the old alms houses in Chumleigh Street. I went to Coburg Rd school. please reply to David, nickname Joe Hancock
Hi, David, from the late 40s and up until 1951, us girls used to go to Coburg Rd school for cookery lessons (our school was Albany Rd secondary) This stood me in good stead for years to come when I ran a tea shop in Sussex baking my own cakes! A strange-looking woman used to bring the classes shopping, foodstuff etc. She frightened us girls as she wore a pointed hat similar to that of a witch, and long skirts that reached her ankles.
Still, she was probably harmless!
Regards, Sheila
Hello. Re Memories and photos of Neate street, where my Mother lived – Helen Passey. If it helps, draft your email message then drag and drop images from your computer into the message to David. Otherwise ask a youngster, they know everything, I’m like you. I have family living in Sydney – where do you live? Good luck.
My Family lived at 142 Neate st and moved out in the sixties due to the regeneration of the area.
My granddad was a fishmonger in the 40s/50s and used to smoke his fish on the bank of the canal.
My Dad told me he played football for the Queen pub and they was always borrowing the piano from the pub and wheeling it across the road for parties at 142.
And here’s the 1936 Post Office Directory entry!
That’s my Father’s Dad, I never met him as he passed away when my Dad was young.
My Nan moved from Neate Street to a pre-fab in Catford. Growing up I heard loads
of stories about R Whites and a timber yard, and my father’s dad’s smokehouse
in their back yard.
In early 70s I moved to the North Peckham Estate – Shanklin Way – and remember
East Street Market – sarsparella man was my favourite.
My other Nan lived in Camberwell all her life until she passed away
Hi Terry. My Mum once worked at R Whites Lemonade factory. She didn’t stay that long though, so rather than go collect her wage, she sent me and my brother instead! You also mention the timber yard. The one on canal bridge, Camberwell, caught fire one night. I could see giant flames from my bedroom window, so rang the fire brigade from my parents’ phone (I lived with my young family in top rooms). The fire brigade came straight away from Old Kent Road, looking for a fire hydrant. Never knew if the night watchman got out!!
Best wishes, Sheila
My cousins used to play football for the Queen pub. Their names were Arthur, Wally, Alan Swoish and Jim Taylor
I am searching family history and am looking for information on an address that I have come across on an early census. The address is given as The Albany, Albany Road.
I can’t seem to find any reference on recent maps and am assuming it may been in an area destroyed during the war.
Any information would be most welcome.
Regards
Arthur
Hi Arthur
This sounds like the Albany Arms on the corner of Albany Road and Cunard Street. It was right next door to the R White’s head office. Cunard Street has gone now, but was very close to Wells Way and what is now the Children’s Centre near Chumleigh Gardens. In fact, it’s possible that one of the very few remaining pieces of brick wall from the pre-park buildings belonged to the Albany!
There’s a plan as well as a lot of information on who lived at the pub on the Pubwiki site here. There’s no picture on that page, but information about the owners and residents at the Albany. A couple of bombs fell on Cunard Street during the Blitz (1940-41), but the pub seems to have survived till at least 1944.
Hi – My mother and father lived here – no.72 with 2 children in 1940. It was a flat and was bombed, I think in 1940. My mother and kids moved to relatives in S. Wales and my dad followed soon after. They lost everything including photos etc.
I have tried but cannot find any images – if I look for “The Albany” I am directed to Albany Road. Good luck with your research
Hi Arthur, a few years since you posted your request about The Albany. My grandmother was born at 105 The Albany, Albany Road. I think it may have been a tenement building.
Cheers
Jacqui
My name is Dave Miller. I was born in 1928 in a block of flats at the Walworth Road end of Albany Road. Our Address was 41, The Albany. First Flat, just past Albany Road School. Left hand side as you enter Albany Road from the Walworth Road.
My Dad was a dustman working for the Borough of Southwark. He drove a dustcart pulled by two horses. His route was Albany Road, along to Old Kent Road, etc.
My Mum had 12 Sisters and one Brother (all born in King and Queen Street).
They were the Holtons. We left Camberwell in 1934 (I think?). Moved to Honor Oak Estate, Brockley, then to (The Country!) Mottingham Council Estate, in Kent. I sitll consider myself to be a Walworth Boy. Thank you. xx
Does anybody remember the surname WOODS? 3 Brothers… Burt, Les, & Danny mother’s name was Rose (her maiden name Lucus) they had a car showroom on the corner of Albany Rd, & were also in the Greengrocers trade. Any info would be fantastic & very helpful in my family search … Thanks
Hello, Regarding the contributor of the top post about the Golden Eagle pub. I believe it may have been Catherine Dear but no name is shown. Would it be possible to forward my email address onto the contributor (even if it wasn’t Catherine). I have a photograph of her relatives outside the pub that she may be interested in having a copy of.
Thank you.
My grandparents, Jim and Eva Amiss, my mum – Diane, her sisters Pat and Christine, all lived at 289 Albany Road. Indeed, I did too as a baby, before slum clearance in the early 1960’s. If anyone remembers any them please let me know.
Particularly interested in Stephen Walter’s story as he mentions Diane who may have been my mum.
Best wishes,
Helen Wicks
l think l made contact with you on FB Helen a couple of years ago. Janet Simmons – used to be a friend of Diane’s and knew her mum and dad Eva and Jim who were customers in my dad’s shop in Albany road and they became friends of my mum and dad, Bert and Nan Rumble, who owned the shop on the corner of Albany road and Keesey street. Last time l saw Diane she was married to Arnie Dobbs and they had two small children Helen and Peter.
Does anyone remember the doctor’s surgery in St George’s Way? Dr John and Frank Devlin had a practice there and the waiting room was often full of people. I remember how welcoming the surgery was. It was like home from home and they always had a two bar electric fire on during the winter months! Frank was a quietly spoken man and both doctors were very good. There were no computers in those days so all patients’ files were stored in a back room.
Hi, Stephen. I remember the surgery well in St Georges Way. Frank was an army doctor, straight forward in his approach! He sent me to St Giles [hospital], and I ended up at Dulwich hospital for treatment to my spine, in which I had to attend weekly. They were good doctors and were forever calling in to our large family on their way home from surgery. We lived on corner of Wells Way, number 47. Our garden wall had many a lorry running into it, and the outside toilet was close to this!
My Mum, Maudie, used to play the piano in the local pubs. Having visited a few times since, brings back so many memories during those happy years. We lived there from around 1941-64. Do you remember the Coronet cinema?
Hi Sheila, it was nice to read about your memories. I didn’t know Frank was an army doctor. Is that what he did during the war? John came to my secondary school to do examinations in the late sixties. I think one of them lived in Love Walk, Camberwell, but I can’t remember which one. I remember Dulwich hospital. My late mother, Joyce, met my step-father there when she visited my grandfather. They married when I was 15. Sorry to hear you had problems with the lorries. One of my earliest memories was of looking out of the window from our flat onto Wells Way when three lorries got stuck trying to pass each other! I think there were a lot of tooting of horns. Lol. you must have lived there at the same time as us. We moved in 1960 when I was 6 years old. I’m afraid I don’t remember the cinema. We didn’t even have a television in those days, only the wireless, but we sometimes watched the McLeod’s tv across the road. I think Rawhide, the Western, had just begun and we were glued to it! Do you have any memories of the shops in Wells Way?
Hi, Stephen. I think I have a memory of all those shops, but this would take too long! Alec, a Jewish man had the end newsagents next to bottle yard. Waste ground close to this, then Coronet cinema. There was a greengrocers, Russell’s sweet shop, and laundry. A little working man’s cafe, then opposite your house, an off license, etc, etc.
My mum was a right laugh. She was always in Alec’s bad books! Always asking for him to serve us sweets, even though the rations weren’t due until two months time. He often relented as he wanted to get rid of her. He knew a large joint of meat would be coming his way (courtesy of my dad who was long distance lorry driver). Kind regards, Sheila
Hi Sheila, my memories of the shops are very vague, but I can just about remember the sweet shop, greengrocers and bakers on the corner. A dog bit me outside the bakers and I don’t think I’ve ever got over my fear of dogs! I was afraid of cats as well after that, I suppose because I thought they would bite me too, but my mother got me over that by introducing them slowly to me. I think psychologists call it “exposure therapy”. Lol. What you said about Alec was funny!
Do you remember the couple who lived in the basement of no 65? All I remember is the woman’s name was Beatrice (we called her Beat for short!). We lived in the attic flat. They seemed like a nice couple. A young woman called Christine used to visit them and she had a boyfriend called Reg. He used to drive taxis I believe. I don’t know if Christine was their daughter. She was always nice to me and had a very cockney voice! Above them was an elderly lady who kept budgies.
So the Coronet cinema was actually in Wells Way? I don’t remember that. Perhaps it had been demolished by the time we moved there around 1956. I will see if I can find out more on the internet.
I don’t believe we ever went into the baths (the building with the butterfly on it).
Do you know if the area got bombed much during the war?
Kind regards,
Stephen
Hi Stephen. You don’t need to go far for info on the Coronet – there’s a page on our site here: Coronet Cinema ! And yes, the bombing was quite bad – mostly in the 1940/41 blitz. the Bombsight website lists over 50 just in the area of the present park, including V1 and V2s. The Coronet was damaged, but not irreparably. Read about it here: Bomb damage: war comes to Camberwell
I have been reading these fascinating recollections that have been brought to my attention by Richard Hutt, my correspondent in NSW, Australia on all matters regarding Nunhead where my family lived from 1935.
Sheila, you mention in your list of shops a ‘laundry’. Would that have been a Bag Wash shop?
My mother, Minnie Wallis, managed her first Bagwash shop in 1936 in Evelina Road, Nunhead for the Peckham Steam Laundry Coy. and also when it moved to the top of Rye Lane, by the Paddling Pool, after the War. The business was taken over by another Laundry whose name excapes me and my mother moved to manage their shop in Albany Road until the early 50’s.
Ladies contributing to these memories of what is now Burgess Park may have been to school at Peckham Secondary Central School for Girls (PSC) on Peckham High Street. It was co-educational (with boys) until April 1946 when the boys moved to Choumert Road. PSC became a group of 3 schools teaching 1100 local girls, plus me and 4 other boys who were due to sit the Oxford School Certificate in December 1946 and it was thought unfair that we should have a change in teachers so near to the exams.
On the 17th December 1944 a V2 Rocket fell on Albany Road and policemen from Peckham Police Station were sent to the scene. My father, a Special Constable, was one of them. No.128 and adjoining houses were in a state of collapse but my father, Cecil Wallis, despite being warned to stay out of the houses, crawled in twice and rescued a man, a woman and, separately 2 boys who he heard in an adjoining house.The foregoing details have been copied from the London Gazette.
For his action he was awarded the British Empire Medal, the only Gallantry medal awarded to a Metropolitan Police Special Constable in WWII. In further recognition he represented ‘The Specials’ in the Victory Parade after the War and later, in 1953, the Queen’s Review of her Police Forces in Hyde Park.
This will interest ‘Andrew’ who posted a msg on 25/11/20 and, just in case other contributors to this Website are unaware, I will mention that Richard Hutt and I became acquainted by our membership to The Peckham Society that is very active in keeping alive the history and the preservation of the character of Peckham and its environs. Have a look at http://www.peckhamsociety.org.uk.
Hello to Ken Pywell
My dad, Jim Pepper seems to remember your family. He lived, I believe at 51 or 52 Cowan Street and went to Scarsdale Road School. He was born in 1926 and fortunately his long term memory is still good and he seems to be remembering more and more as time goes on. He did work briefly at Higgins and Jones, and he remembers all his aunts and uncles, some of whom I remember, they lived on Rainbow Street and Neate Street.
It would be great for my Dad if someone would be willing to chat to him on the phone who remembers that area .
kind regards, Hannah
Hi, Stephen, About WW2. We spent a lot of time in our Anderson shelter, holding our breath as the droning of ‘doodle Bugs’ hovered over the rooftops in Wells Way. The Sun-Pat factory got caught, though it could have been worse. My dad just passed Woolworths in his lorry as a bomb dropped nearby, also the Purple Cinema close by was bombed. (my mother often took us two older ones there in the afternoons when we were mere babies. At that time, before Wells Way, we lived in Boyson Road, Walworth. My best memories were the ‘Coronet cinema’ and St.Georges church park which was behind this. We put on little acts there, trying to impersonate the stars from the big screen. King Regards, Sheila
Hi Sheila, my mother remembered hearing the ‘doodle bugs’ flying over where she lived with her parents in Surrey Road. She often said it wasn’t so bad if you could hear the engine, but if it suddenly cut out and went quiet you knew it was coming down! I think she was about 14 at the time. They had an Anderson shelter in the garden and used to use it if there was an air raid warning. Several times they returned to the house to find a mess where things had fallen off the shelves and smashed. Those rockets used to fly over where I live now in St Leonards-on-Sea and Hastings. I will have to google the Sun Pat factory and the Purple cinema. I didn’t know Boyson road, but I will look it up. The cinemas must have been very popular in those days when there was no internet, dvd players or Netflix!
Hi, Stephen. just seen your reply about Sun Pat factory. On the radio back in the 40s, ‘Lord Haw Haw’, as he called himself, spoke on German radio. (He was from Dulwich originally) He had turned traitor, and his droning voice announced that the peanut factory would be hit by enemy aircraft, leaving the area shattered in peanuts, and sure enough, I and my elder brother found this out soon after! His sister worked at the bus depot in Camberwell Green, and my mum also worked on buses, and told us that nobody would talk to her. My Mum did though. This traitor was hanged, and he was added to others in Madam Tussauds in Baker Street. Regards, Sheila
Dear Hannah,
The address 52 Cowan Street is in my family history too. My great-grandmother Ada Terry and her daughter Jessie Swannell lived there from 1946-51. They left when the mother died and the daughter emigrated to Canada. I wonder if your Father remembers them? He might remember Jessie (born 1915) because she was quite glamorous, I’m told. My mother Patricia (now aged 79) remembers them both but does not recall ever going to Cowan Street. Any snippet of info would be of great interest to her. At any rate do give our very best wishes to your Dad. I have a picture of Ada Terry outside number 52 if it is any interest to you.
Hi
I am researching my family history and have come across an entry for Albany Road, Camberwell in the 1841 census.
I originally assumed Albany Road would comprise large grand houses overlooking Burgess Park but think I may be incorrect insofar as the park did not exist and Albany Road was full of tenement flats and or victorian type dwellings.
Can anybody enlighten me as to Albany Road’s make up at this time.
Thank you
Andrew
Hi Andrew
You’re right – Albany Road was probably very different in 1840, 1940 and now 2020! It’s seen the houses come and go in that time. It was laid out around 1810, when the area was still countryside. Being on the border between Walworth/Newington and Camberwell parishes, it was away from those population centres. By 1840, there would have been a few nice large villas and detached houses springing up, with the park area still mostly market gardens, as well as a few industries such as stone and coal wharves on the canal and the limeburners, Burtts. By the 1880s, it would have been pretty much built up, with 6 pubs and many shops and businesses along Albany Road, and the park area pretty much full of houses and industrial buildings. Some of the larger houses would have been replaced by tenement blocks, as you say, and others divided into multi-occupancy. Then, as we tell it in the Jessie Burgess and the Abercrombie Plan page, it was all gradually removed between 1945 and 2000, back to parkland on the south, with yet anther generation of housing just going up now on the north side. You can track the development – rise and fall – of Albany Road in the street directories for the whole of that period, but do read them in conjunction with the street renumbering directory – Albany Road was renumbered twice!
Hi, Andrew. I lived around the Albany road area for many years (40s until late 60s). You are right, Burgess park didn’t exist then, I think it developed around the 70s and beyond. I went to school there and there were many shops. Included were; a dry cleaners, laundry, R. Whites lemonade factory, chemist, bakery, butchers, Coe’s grocery run by a kindly Jewish man, and a few pubs, one called The William.
The whole area was very different back then, much friendlier and nicer than today. I know this as I’ve visited many times since then. I suppose you could say the same about so many places now, as things have a way of moving on, not always for the best. Still, I’m probably just used to the old ways.
Best regards, Sheila
Thank you Andrew for your in depth response confirming my thoughts on the area around 1840.
Of particular interest to me was that in the 1841 census, several properties towards the school at the end by Kent Road, listed servants alongside the family members. The Warde family which I am researching lived in one such property and I imagine it would have been one of the large villas that you mention although the census unfortunately didn’t list the property numbers. The family were not mentioned again in Albany Road and so I assume they moved on when the development starting taking place.
Are you are aware of any publications that give an insight into 19th century Camberwell and Southwark as many of my family were residents there at the time, especially in Rolls Road (oil and colourman) and in the Bermondsey area.
Kind regards
Andrew
Hi Andrew all of my mother’s family the Pursers/Cocksedges/Hodsons lived in and around Cobourg Rd/Neate Street. My granny and her sister were married at St Marks in a joint wedding in 1920 I have an amazing photo of them all in the grounds of St Marks. My mum had a life long love of R White’s lemonade because it was so close by. When the family moved to Kent to run a sweet shop R White’s was still delivered with the milk. My mum remembered her Dad telling her the commotion in the street was because Charlie Chaplin had come back to his birthplace. The family home in Cobourg Rd was lost in the Blitz but my great great granny continued to live in Camberwell until she died aged 80. My mum wrote all this down and called it ‘Halfpenny for the Grotto’ we’re not sure what grotto she meant but perhaps someone knows?
Dear Rachel,
A Grotto, as I recall in the pre WWII years in Nunhead, was a sort of garden made and set out by children on pavements. The Grottos celebrated something or the other but that reason is lost on me.
We used to collect flower heads, odd petals and leaves to make patterns and the piece de la resistance, if you found any, was moss growing in pavement cracks. Moss, in lengths, made the frame for the whole presentation.
We used to sit beside our creations with our hands held out for the odd ha’penny or penny to be dropped by passers by if they thought the efforts worthwhile.
A simple pastime in the Summer, no squabbling amongst the ‘street artists’ and rarely any attempt to spoil a competitor’s work. Even the adults living close by chose to ignore children, within reason, trespassing in their front gardens for bits of foliage.
Hi Jim thanks for your thoughts re the Ha’Penny Grotto sounds feasible to us. We’ll take a look at the Peckham Society website. Best wishes Rachel
Hi, Jim. Regarding the laundry in Wells Way, yes, it did do a bag wash service too. Also, I remember the one in Albany Road, as I used to pass this on way to school, Silverthorne Secondary for girls on the corner of Albany Road with Walworth Road running at the top, just a couple of steps from the school. This was also the first ever school I went to as a 3 year old when they had a nursery. We lived in Boundary Lane back then. Don’t know the name of those shops though. We were very well placed for shops and such, in Wells Way, with cinema across from our house, and lovely St Georges church opposite on our side. Best wishes, Sheila
Hi, Jim, that laundry we spoke of in Albany Road, was called Ashford’s. My brother reminded me of this when i spoke to him.
Kind regards, Sheila
Regarding your final paragraph enquiring about publications covering earlier eras of Camberwell I have mentioned in one of my posts here the existence of The Peckham Society.
Look at the Society’s website http://www.peckhamsociety.org.uk. As a member now living in Devon I get a Quarterly magazine keeping me in touch with childhood, pre WWII, familiar places and what the Society is currently doing
in conjunction with the Local Authority.
Thanks for reminding us of that excellent site, Jim! Now added, as it should already have been, to the Useful Links page here
Does anyone have any information please on the Horath family who lived at number 40 Albany road c1918? He was August and she Edith Marie plus two children Marie and Margaret.
Many thanks
Hello, I am researching my grandmother’s family. Her name was Rose Jupp (maiden name Jeffries), she came from a large family that lived in Scovell rd from her birth in 1910 – 1939 when I believe her husband George went to serve in the navy and never returned. In 1939 she moved into 56 Wells Way with her sister Ada, I’m assuming she was bombed during the war. In 1946 after the war she lived with her other sister Cecilia and her husband Robert Griscti at 36 Southampton way in the same area. I’m assuming my mother Sylvia was evacuated during the war but strangely she didn’t return home to Rose when the war ended despite being only 9 years old. I would love to solve the mystery of where Sylvia went and also learn more about this area during this period or find some photos of my grandparents. thank you Aminda
Does anyone remember St Albans Catholic Church and school. I attended in the 1960’s as well as serving as an altar boy. Before that I attended Coburg Public school which still exists. We lived at 83 Albany Road.
Is there a list of residents of Albany Road, circa 1820-1850? The 1841 census does not note the specific residences, just Albany Road.
I am particularly interested in the Warde family who I know lived in Albany Road at this time. Ambrose Warde was the father and he and his wife Sarah had five children, Ambrose John, Sarah Leticia, Alicia Ellen, Cordelia and Thomas Augustus.
I would very much like to know the name or number of the house they lived in on Albany Road.
Does anyone have any information on the corner shop (Oil and Colourman) at 326 Rolls Road, run by an Edward Thomas Bowman and Martha Gilham in the late 19th century?
Was it a general stores?
Hi Andrew. ‘Oil and Colourman’ was a common name for a lot of shops around here, maybe due to the amount of building going on, as well as the industries – they were more or less paint suppliers. There was at least one ‘oil and colour’ works in the park – near Wells Way on the banks of the canal, next to Burtt’s Lime Kiln. If you Google it, you’ll see some misinformation about them being victuallers, but basically they were usually hardware stores, selling oil for lamps, candles (hence ‘Chandlers’ another name for the modern hardware store), and paints and dyes which they may have mixed themselves. Sometimes they could be part of an Artists’ Supplies shop, other times they were part of a Chemist and Druggists. So not quite a General Stores, I think.
Thank you for your comments. Much appreciated.
Hi, Stephen, strange how I forgot this, but when my brother and his young family moved from the top rooms of the butcher’s shop,(opposite to your flat in Wells Way,) they moved across to Beatie’s top two rooms, must have been when you left!! Some of the houses, including ours, had mice, even rats, and that is why my brother moved across the street.
Once, a bad smell was coming from our living room, and someone was sent to lift the floorboards, yes, you guessed. This was due to the well which ran all the way beneath Camberwell, hence the area and streets names. Kind regards, Sheila
Hi Sheila, I’ve only just read your replies.
I didn’t know William Joyce lived in Dulwich. I looked it up and apparently his parents, Michael and ‘Queenie’ Joyce, had moved from Ireland and lived in Allison Grove, off the South Circular near Dulwich College in the early 1920s. Ironically, their home was one of the first to be destroyed by Luftwaffe bombs during the first ever Nazi air raid on the district! Later they moved into a flat Underhill Road where they died in the 1940s. It must have been very difficult for his sister working at the bus depot. I’m glad your mum spoke to her though. She was not to blame for what her brother did. I expect the poor woman was ostracised by many of those she worked alongside.
Yes, those were the two rooms my mother and I lived in and where my father passed away in 1956. I didn’t know that the well caused problems. I’ve lived in a place with mice before so I can understand your brother and his family wanting to move! So it looks like Beatie may have owned the house and let out the flats. I only remember seeing her and her husband in the basement, but maybe they lived in the flat above them as well. I don’t remember seeing any bedrooms in the basement, just a kitchen/dining room and front room. I wonder what happened to them? Did your brother have any recollections of them?
Hi, does anyone remember the Youngs? They had four children and lived on the corner of Wells Way, Camberwell. My mum, Maudie, often played the piano in local pubs, and my older brother, Tony, boxed, later turning professional. He would train at the Thomas a Becket public house on corner of Old Kent Rd. Everyone knew everyone in our street, and the Coronet cinema was missed when it finally closed it’s doors in 1958.
Best Wishes to all who resided in this area in the 40s-50s. Sheila Bearman
Hi, does anyone remember any of the teachers in Silverthorne Secondary school for girls during the 1950s? Looking back, I recall it was quite a good school, teaching everything from Maths, Art, Drama, English, etc. All the teachers were women, and in those days nobody dare misbehave, or the cane would be used. Thought I was well-behaved, but came amiss when i got caught chewing gum! Got the cane on both hands, and never did it again!!
Best wishes, Sheila
Hi Stella
My mum went to Silverthorn secondary school during the 50’s. Jennifer Jones her dad had a local grocery shop and one of her memories was one of the teachers used to ask her to get her shopping during her lunch break
Hi
My Dad was brought up in New Church Road, not sure what number but I remember my Nan had a black front door. Howden Family he met my mum in Camberwell whose Dad had a grocery shop (Jones) during the 60’s I’d love to find out what the name of the street was that he had his shop. My mum and her family moved to London from Wales when mum was about 13.
Dad and his brother set up a band called the Arc Angels and sang at a Pub called the Arc in Albany Road
Wow some great pictures and background information Thank you
Hi, Stephen, just seen your post. No, my brother Brian doesn’t know what became of Beatie. Soon after, sometime during the 60s, he moved to Bellingham. I would take the children by train from Peckham, and visit. New towns had sprung up, and first my aunt moved to Harlow New Town, followed by her sister, then soon after, my mum and dad followed on (we had moved to new maisonette in Peckham by then from top rooms of my parents in Wells Way). After two years, we also moved to Harlow because council let you swap properties. I live in E. Sussex now, but don’t know if Harlow is still the same.
Regards, Sheila
My old friend Chris Young lived on the corner of Wells Way. He was a great footballer, and when he married he moved to Harlow. He was related to the Olding/Holding family from Dragon Road. Any relation of yours?
Hello Mike. Chris Young was my youngest brother, though sadly, he died a few months ago. Many years ago, after our parents moved to Harlow, both myself and Chris followed suit. Chris eventually remarried, moved to S. Yorks, but years later, having lost his wife, his married children got him to move back. By this time they lived in Chelmsford.
Chris was once a floor layer, but this may have had bearings on his developing breathing problems. I knew some of his mates in London, though not all.
Very kind regards, Sheila.
Many thanks for the reply, so sorry to hear about Chris. When we were young he was so fit. I have happy memories of our friendship and I knew your Mum and Dad and spent many hours with them.
I have a photo of the Coronation Party in Dragon Road, and Chris is in it, if you want a copy email me.
Hope you are keeping well
kind regards
Mike
Hi, Mike, just seen this. Thank you, but I have the same photo as you (Dragon Rd). Where did you live back then? Anywhere near us? Lets know.
Regards, Sheila Bearman
My Nan nanny Edwards lived in a big house on the corner it was No 5 neate street. Her daughter Pauline lived in a terraced Victorian house facing my nans house. I used to stay with my Nan and remember the horse and cart going up and down the road. She had a scullery for a kitchen and an outside loo. Upstairs in the big house lived another family with their children. I have such lovely memories of Neate street when I was a young girl including going to the library and going to the park and the Saturday morning club in the park.
Hi, does anyone remembers ‘Jegana’? (don’t know if that’s the correct spelling) but the Coronet Cinema, in Wells Way used to hire him to entertain us. He was dressed in smart attire, and wore a black eye mask, looking like he’d stepped off a film set! The cinema would advertise his appearance, and it seemed that in the main, every woman in the neighbourhood would turn up just to see and hear him. His act went like so:
‘Is anyone here by the name of Alice?’ (or another name) Of course, somebody’s hand would shoot up. He’d then tell them that a lost loved one had sent a message. Most entertaining!
Regards, Sheila
I certainly remember the Coronet cinema. See my novel, Honky Tonk
It’s available here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42968603-honky-tonk
Hello, Roy. It was nice to know somebody else knew the Coronet Cinema in Wells Way. I spent a lot of my younger days in there, only living across the road on corner. I see too, that like myself, you have also written a book. (mine is titled ‘Forty Paces East) and set in N. Cyprus. Do you enjoy writing? I’m a year older than you so remember many goings on in Camberwell, including air raid shelters in the waste ground opposite our house. Got married in St. George’s church on other corner.
Best Wishes, Sheila
Hello does anybody remember my grandfather a Mr Harry Swoish who lived in Neate st? After he passed away the house was taken over by my Uncle and Aunt, Walter and Rose Swoish
I lived at 7 Cowan Street from my birth in 1937 tilll 1959. Roy Boardman. My family contined to live there, and from 1969 Bill Franklin, Barry and Lesley, respectively my brother in law, nelle and neice.
I am trying to decipher a signature of a person that was an important connection to our family and Neate Street in the 1930s.
I cannot go into detail but would appreciate any help with his surname. The signature is on the image below.
I’m not certain, but it looks like the name is John Hadlow, if that means anything to you. I’ve had some experience working out signatures on watercolour paintings!
Many thanks for the reply Stephen. I was torn between ‘Hadlow’ and ‘Hadero’, but am more convinced it is Hadlow.
I have found on line records a Hadlow family resident in Aboukir Street and another in Willowbrook Road, a road that runs up towards Burgess Park.
Thanks again.
You’re welcome. Yes, I think you’ll find it’s Hadlow. The “e” would be a bit too high I think. It looks like a tiny letter “o” before the W. It looks like you’re on the right track anyway. Good luck!
Hi, Stephen. We have been in touch before, (Wells Way, Camberwell) I see you have an interest in art. My late husband was an art teacher, taught in East End of London. I often read those posts, and am interested in all things relating to my roots!
Best Wishes. Sheila
Hi Sheila. Yes I am interested in art. I nearly went to Camberwell School of Art, but needed an extra O level to be considered for it and was under pressure from my mother to get an ordinary day-time job. I’ve often thought how wonderful it would have been to work in my own studio. I mostly like modern art and sculpture. I do enjoy roaming around sculpture parks, where you can not only admire the sculptures by looking at them, but touch them as well. I have just come back from a holiday in Ljubljana, Slovenia, and even visited one there! Your husband’s job must have been very rewarding. I had a very good art teacher at my secondary school in Kennington. He taught me a lot through his enthusiasm of the subject. Best wishes, Stephen
Hi, Stephen. Nice to hear from you. I’ve never been to Slovenia, though I was always interested in those parts of Europe, including Berlin and the lesser visited holiday resorts. When we moved to Peckham(late 60s) we lived in Lyndhurst Rd, opposite Camberwell School of Art. I enjoyed art at school myself, though I wasn’t that good at it! I mostly used to daydream in class(terrible trait) but usually my head was filled with what I’d like to write next. Writing was always my favourite subject. it was many years later that I had my first novel published, in fact this was Jan-2021. I’d been hanging on with it for ages! Crime is my total favourite, and the colourful characters that you can conjure up. Kind regards, Sheila
My Dad lived at 17 Rainbow Street he was born in 1940. He lived there until he married my Mum in 1963. I was born in 1964 and remember the area from going to visit my Nan. My main memories are the old canal in Wells Way, Samuel Jones Factory (Dad had his first job there). The building had the Camberwell Beauty Butterfly at the top, until it was knocked down and is now on the side of the old public baths in Wells Way (Lynn AC boxing club). My Grandad was from up North (Middlesborough). He came down here and met and married my Nan. He died in ’64, about 6 months after I was born. My Nan was from Camberwell Pub People. My Great Great Grandfather, her Grandfather, George William Wyatt, was the landlord of the Albany Arms from 1910 until 1921, when he took over the Bricklayers Arms in Southampton Way. My Great Grandfather, William Henry Wyatt, was then landlord at the Bricklayers from 1938 until at least until 1944.
Hi, Anthony. I was interested to hear your Dad worked for Samuel Jones. After leaving school, I and a few others found a job there. I lived nearby in Wells Way. I never went in the Bricklayers Arms, only the Flying Dutchman (opposite corner) Pubs were very popular as TV had not long got under way. (late 50s) Samuel Jones were very good to their workers, and yearly ‘Beanos’ were enjoyed by many who worked there. Every month or so, dances were attended also, held in the large canteen with a live band.
Kind regards, Sheila
I remember 2 boys Ronnie and Micheal Westgarth lived at 10 rainbow st. until 1954 when we moved back to Northern Ireland
Hi, this is sooooo great it’s like stepping back in time! My Nan Dorothy Perkins was born in 196 Neate Street to Henry and Emma Perkins in 1920. Would love if anyone remembers them or has photos??
My Grandmother, May Western, lived opposite the Clergy house in Wells Way with my mother Hilda. May worked as a cleaner for the Clergy house, and they later moved to 24 Ada Rd, Camberwell, just up from Brunswick Park, where my elder brother and I played many an hour, when staying with my Gran. Also in the same house as lodgers were the Fogdens – Charlie, Ethel and their children David, Ann and Sandra.
My Grandmother (born into a large family in County Cork in 1899) along with her Mother and sisters were en-route from Ireland to Canada via London but were kept in London due to the First World War, and ended up staying there. My Great Grandmother bought the clock, pictured below, at an auction in Dublin on 08/08/1889 (the date is written on the back cover). It came to London with her in 1916 and was passed to my Grandmother when she married Percy Western. The clock then sustained damage when a bomb was dropped near Wells Way/Coleman Rd during the Blitz. To quote my Mother “We had a lot of damage from the blast, the clock had teetered right to the edge of the mantel shelf and the blast chipped the face of the clock, it was amazing that it didn’t crash to the floor”. The clock was passed to my Mother in 1970 and later to me on my Mother’s passing.
Hello Alan, what a fascinating story! we lived in Wells Way, corner house, right opposite Coronet Cinema. St. Georges church on other corner. The vicarage you spoke of had a lovely mulberry tree in back garden where as children we helped pick fruit for lady of house. Straight from church some Sundays, many joined family for ‘cooked’ breakfast at vicarage, a real treat as most of us had little.
Coleman Rd brings back memories, especially the pub (my parents always called it The Coleman, not the real name). My mum played piano there.
Yes, there was a lot of bomb damage, peanut factory caught a blast, and our house had large panes blown out of the big sash windows – we had been in our Anderson shelter all night. Spent a good deal of my childhood in that cinema.
Best wishes, Sheila
Hello again Sheila, I havn’t been here for some time so I thought I’d see what new comments had come up. I hope you had a good Christmas and wish you a happy new year!
I was interested in what you said about the Vicarage. I think my mother must have known your family because she often did some cleaning there and I remember we were sometimes invited to garden parties at the back of the house. I don’t remember the mulberry tree, but is sounds nice. In the house itself I only remember the living room. I recall on one occasion we (as kids) were given bread and we gave it to the vicar or another man who was there. I think it must have been on a religious day. It was made into a fun event and I remember we were stuffing the bread into his mouth! It’s funny the little things you remember! Do you recall anything else about the vicarage? I know that it has since become a private house.
I know we talked about the cinema last year. From what you’ve said about it, it must have been right opposite where you lived. I don’t remember it at all, but I was only 5 at the time.
Best wishes,
Stephen
I thought this little film may be of some interest. It was made by some pupils of a school in 1962 and I recognised some of the locations. Is that St George’s Church at 7:30? (time stamp):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tezdhnjcW0&ab_channel=DickC
It is indeed – as the star walks over Well Way Bridge – ‘St Georges Bridge’. At about 16:47, the fight scene takes place on the north bank of the canal approximately where the new sports centre is being built, Looking east. Trafalgar Bridge is in the background and a chimney at the Peckham Branch junction. Thanks you for posting that – we’ll incorporate it in the website somewhere too!
Thanks Andrew
Hi Stephen. Yes, your Mum may have remembered mine. Her name was Maudie, and she never left the house without her make-up on, or her red hair piled high, she also played piano at local pubs, though she never drank. As children, we sometimes went on country trips with the vicarage, and Sunday breakfasts were eaten in there.
Best wishes, Sheila
I remember your mum and also your dad, I think he was a lorry driver. I was friends with your brother Chris for many years. I have a photo with Chris in it taken at Coronation 1953 in Dragon Road. Is Chris still in Harlow?
Regards
Mike Tuppen
Hi, Mike. Just seen your other post. Yes, my dad was a lorry driver all his working life. They were a right couple, my parents. Our corner house had string on basement door, and friends and neighbours would call in frequently, just for a laugh! Mum would tell stories of pawn shops and the like (My poor dad’s best suit) never there when needed. Poor man only wanted half a brown round local, after working away most of the week. Ps: Our lovely Chris will never be forgotten, and I have that photo in Dragon Rd. And do you recall Tony, eldest of us four? He used to box, Manor Place baths, sometimes. Best wishes, Sheila
HI it is a long shot but I am trying to trace a publican who ran pubs in the Borough during the mid 1960’s – lived on Newington Causeway and ran pubs in the Elephant and Castle 1962-1965 and also The Bell and The Clarence in North London, anyone have any info? All I have are some photos.
Hi , I’m searching for information on a William George Knox who was living at 12 Neate Street in 1919 . Then signed up for the RAMC. Born 22 sep 1901.
David knox
Hi, I’ve just come across this site I was born in 1962 and lived in Chumleigh Street. My Dad worked at Samuel Jones paper factory we moved out when it closed. I went to Cobourg Rd school. I have an old picture of my Nan singing in the Albany pub where my step grandad played the piano
My grandmother Gladys Money was born in Neate Street in 1914. Her father was Albert Money, mother Aida (I think). She had two sisters and a brother Clarence. I think her father Albert was a local police office who would be called to the pub if there were any fights (he was huge). I have a photo of him and some others at the races in, maybe, Brighton