My first memory of Eltham is of being on a tram grinding round the corner at Eltham Church having come up Well Hall Road, and diving down Eltham Hill . I was less than three and a half years old, as we were living at Lee Green then, and moved to New Eltham in 1952, Then I'm walking down Eltham High Street with my mates from Crown Woods, (we're better behaved than the present inmates - the prefects saw to that even out of school). It's a raw autumn or winter day, I'm sucking an Aniseed Twist sweet to keep out the cold, and we're heading for the bus stop outside Mac Fisheries and Harrry Fenton's clothes shop to catch a 61 bus home. I was bought my first Tri-ang Railways electric train set from Showell Brothers next to the Fire Station, used to go and listen to (and sometimes buy) vinyl 45's from Broadmead's, now the carpet shop on the corner of Elm Terrace. Woolies is now Poundland. We bought my Crown Woods School uniform and sports kit from the approved suppliers, Meakers Gents Outfitters, but the hard-wearing shoes came from the Co-Op (I hated them, all my mates had winklepickers or chelsea boots, I died of embarrassment). I got cast-off Rugby boots from my cousin, but my mates had sleek "Continental" football boots from Frisby's. My first suit like most people's, came from Burton's, now MacDonald's, and the billiard hall above was a dance-hall. We went to the Pictures at the ABC Palace on the corner of Passey Place (my first double bill with my Mum was the Coronation in colour and the "Conquest of Everest") The Gaumont, now the bingo hall, on Eltham Hill used to play a programme of re-runs during the summer school holidays, and all the kids booed and catcalled if the worn-out film broke during the show.I saw "From Russia with Love" and Carry On, Cleo" there David Greig's shop was where Iceland is now (you can still see "DG 1904" in the brickwork above the shop) They had a food hall with enamelled tiles showing cattle and sheep "just like Harrods", and my mouth used to water as the assistant carved ham "off the bone" for our lunch when we went shopping there. Specsavers was the Express Dairy, and upstairs was a restaurant with one those huge chromed coffee machine that was always giving off hissing clouds of steams, We used to go there for pie and chips after swimmng at Eltham Baths on Eltham Hill. In the winter the "big bath" was covered over and had a dance floor laid, there was a notice at the entrance "No jiving, or stiletto heels on the dance floor". There used to be live concerts and when "The Who" played there in their early days, Eltham High Sreet was alive with Mods on their Vespas and Lambrettas tearing up and down, with the Police from the Police Station trying to keep order!
Eltham. My old home. Going to co op basement to buy my first vinyl. Life was so sweet. How I miss it. I was christened at the church. Was it St John's Church? Opposite Burton. Used to be a rocker on triumphs. Go to Joe's Cafe. Best years of my life. Me and my friend Winnie went everywhere together. I didn't appreciate the purity of life. We would go to Well Hall Station with penny for the guy. Made a few 'bob'.oved being at Eltham. My friend Leslie, Win, brother Roger.. Like the song. "Those were the best days of my life". X
Went there yesterday. Only lived 2 miles away for 37 years but did not know how Middle Class "North Park" just behind the High Street was with its endless detached houses worth millions and did not realize there was a lovely Community Hospital there either. Only seen The Bob Hope Theatre once. I wonder how many other hidden gems there are. The best place to park is Lidl though you may need to buy something there which is easy for me as I think it is a great store and terrific value.
I do not think there is too much to recommend. You could see where Kate Bush once lived in one of those big houses, or visit one of the 2 or 3 heritage sites like the Palace. Eltham College, which attended, is actually in Mottingham. Bernard Skinner always did a great job keeping the history of the place alive and my dad still gets the Eltham Society mag, Great job, but goodness me the town is not thriving today. It used to have a department store, cinema, and many other things now long gone.
I moved from the heart of S E London in 1983 to just 2 miles further on from Eltham. I remember a large Allders Department Store there. Best thing is the gateway to 96 Open Spaces onwards starting with Oxleas Woods/Avery Hill/Eltham Park: North and South etc...
Fascinating to see. I've lived in Eltham for most of the last thirty years, and interestingly much of it is still very similar. Of course much has changed, but most of the buildings in this video remain, though most on the high street have been extended or had parts added.
What a treaure trove! I was born in Eltham in 1940. My mother knew Bernard Skinner long before he set up his company. If you agree there are no tram-lines on the Eltham Ch. junction, that means it’s post-1952. The 132 was my bus to school.
Elvis Presley film posters at 1:04 & 2:02. The early style where it was mainly his name with the film in tiny letters. At 3:02 adds for 'Westons Biscuits' and that style can be dated to 1955-56ish
I remember most of the places shown in this footage. I was lucky enough to visit Eltham Palace whilst at junior school. Used to catch 1 number 61 bus to school.
Nice open and spacious streets in those days, before the onslaught of concrete traffic islands, railings alongside all the roads, road markings, metallic bollards, cycle lanes etc after 1965.
Really lovely days of yore film and brings back so many happy memories of schildhood shopping trips with mum and nan, I also recall seeing a YT film (but cannot seem to find now) of the editor of the Eltham Times, Mr Peter Jolly I believe going to a church at the crossroads in the High Street to meet the vicar and a short film of the newspaper being delivered after the article about the church was published possibly 50s or 60s also. Any ideas where this film is now, was it withdrawn from YT perhaps?
So far, ive been able to place the footage somewhere between 1957 (when bernard skinner founded the company) and 1961 (when the routemaster busses that cant be seen in this video came out) Im leaning more towards 1957 and 1958
Pam fry it was William's in those days went to a small private school called babington house in the 1950s happy days the world is a different place now.
Now there's a name from my past, in the 1960's as a Saturday boy I delivered many a parcel etc etc to Mr Bernard Skinners office in Well Hall Road, …...which I think ???? was further down the road than next to the Police station.
No, it's not a racist area at all, and I know it very well. Unfortunately the name of Eltham will always be linked to the terrible murder of Stephen Lawrence in 1993, which was solely a racist murder.
I grew up there, living on Bexley Rd opposite Crown Woods. That was the 1960s and 1970s and, yes, racism was prevalent but accepted in a town that was almost all white. it was often very subtle. Not so subtle were the skins, the football fans on the trains [I have blanked out exactly which], the attacks on/around the Kidbrooke Estate, and the attitudes of the previous generation [my parent's era] towards 'difference'. I remember my ailing grandmother turning away a Black nurse. By the 1990s, and on the date of the Lawrence murder, I was living n West Africa. I saw it on the tv. Never been so ashamed, and I could not tell the people in the bar where I was from.
And do not forget the British National Party had their hq in Welling, not more than 3 miles away. When people marched on it , the police actually defended the building.
![London 1972 [+1978] (8 mm) 🎞](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/geWvc--dtg8/mqdefault.jpg)
My first memory of Eltham is of being on a tram grinding round the corner at Eltham Church having come up Well Hall Road, and diving down Eltham Hill . I was less than three and a half years old, as we were living at Lee Green then, and moved to New Eltham in 1952,
Then I'm walking down Eltham High Street with my mates from Crown Woods, (we're better behaved than the present inmates - the prefects saw to that even out of school). It's a raw autumn or winter day, I'm sucking an Aniseed Twist sweet to keep out the cold, and we're heading for the bus stop outside Mac Fisheries and Harrry Fenton's clothes shop to catch a 61 bus home.
I was bought my first Tri-ang Railways electric train set from Showell Brothers next to the Fire Station, used to go and listen to (and sometimes buy) vinyl 45's from Broadmead's, now the carpet shop on the corner of Elm Terrace.
Woolies is now Poundland.
We bought my Crown Woods School uniform and sports kit from the approved suppliers, Meakers Gents Outfitters, but the hard-wearing shoes came from the Co-Op (I hated them, all my mates had winklepickers or chelsea boots, I died of embarrassment).
I got cast-off Rugby boots from my cousin, but my mates had sleek "Continental" football boots from Frisby's.
My first suit like most people's, came from Burton's, now MacDonald's, and the billiard hall above was a dance-hall.
We went to the Pictures at the ABC Palace on the corner of Passey Place (my first double bill with my Mum was the Coronation in colour and the "Conquest of Everest") The Gaumont, now the bingo hall, on Eltham Hill used to play a programme of re-runs during the summer school holidays, and all the kids booed and catcalled if the worn-out film broke during the show.I saw "From Russia with Love" and Carry On, Cleo" there
David Greig's shop was where Iceland is now (you can still see "DG 1904" in the brickwork above the shop) They had a food hall with enamelled tiles showing cattle and sheep "just like Harrods", and my mouth used to water as the assistant carved ham "off the bone" for our lunch when we went shopping there.
Specsavers was the Express Dairy, and upstairs was a restaurant with one those huge chromed coffee machine that was always giving off hissing clouds of steams, We used to go there for pie and chips after swimmng at Eltham Baths on Eltham Hill.
In the winter the "big bath" was covered over and had a dance floor laid, there was a notice at the entrance "No jiving, or stiletto heels on the dance floor". There used to be live concerts and when "The Who" played there in their early days, Eltham High Sreet was alive with Mods on their Vespas and Lambrettas tearing up and down, with the Police from the Police Station trying to keep order!
Hugh, I think that I remember you from Crown Woods
@@steveharding7135 Yes I was in the same year as you, from 1959.
Eltham. My old home. Going to co op basement to buy my first vinyl. Life was so sweet. How I miss it. I was christened at the church. Was it St John's Church? Opposite Burton. Used to be a rocker on triumphs. Go to Joe's Cafe. Best years of my life. Me and my friend Winnie went everywhere together. I didn't appreciate the purity of life. We would go to Well Hall Station with penny for the guy. Made a few 'bob'.oved being at Eltham. My friend Leslie, Win, brother Roger.. Like the song. "Those were the best days of my life". X
Those sound like good old simple times. Wish I couldve grown up then. Thank you for sharing your memories
Sigh, a nostalgia feast. Thank you, a gem ..
Wish I had a time machine and go back to Eltham back then. This brings back lots of memories.
Great footage, a little before my time, I moved to Eltham as a child in the mid seventies but a wonderful view of the high street.
i am now moving into eltham and im trying to figure out what is there :D
The opening shots: The Broadway looking east into the start of Bexley Road. Buildings on right a childhood memory.
Went there yesterday. Only lived 2 miles away for 37 years but did not know how Middle Class "North Park" just behind the High Street was with its endless detached houses worth millions and did not realize there was a lovely Community Hospital there either. Only seen The Bob Hope Theatre once.
I wonder how many other hidden gems there are. The best place to park is Lidl though you may need to buy something there which is easy for me as I think it is a great store and terrific value.
I do not think there is too much to recommend. You could see where Kate Bush once lived in one of those big houses, or visit one of the 2 or 3 heritage sites like the Palace. Eltham College, which attended, is actually in Mottingham. Bernard Skinner always did a great job keeping the history of the place alive and my dad still gets the Eltham Society mag, Great job, but goodness me the town is not thriving today. It used to have a department store, cinema, and many other things now long gone.
I moved from the heart of S E London in 1983 to just 2 miles further on from Eltham.
I remember a large Allders Department Store there.
Best thing is the gateway to 96 Open Spaces onwards starting with Oxleas Woods/Avery Hill/Eltham Park: North and South etc...
Fascinating to see. I've lived in Eltham for most of the last thirty years, and interestingly much of it is still very similar. Of course much has changed, but most of the buildings in this video remain, though most on the high street have been extended or had parts added.
What a pretty corner of London! Didn't people dress well in those days? And the cars were all so clean. Thanks for sharing.
I don't believe it was part of London at that time. Possibly Kent .
Bought my first suit from Burton’s 1965 aged 17, lived in Chislehurst.
Got married in 1978. Suit made through Burtons.
What a treaure trove! I was born in Eltham in 1940. My mother knew Bernard Skinner long before he set up his company. If you agree there are no tram-lines on the Eltham Ch. junction, that means it’s post-1952. The 132 was my bus to school.
Can’t get over the size of the roads. Love the old streets and lack of people.
Elvis Presley film posters at 1:04 & 2:02. The early style where it was mainly his name with the film in tiny letters. At 3:02 adds for 'Westons Biscuits' and that style can be dated to 1955-56ish
I was looking for the Picture Palace!
I remember most of the places shown in this footage. I was lucky enough to visit Eltham Palace whilst at junior school. Used to catch 1 number 61 bus to school.
What year did the number twenty one start running though Eltham
Just before the end of the first World War.
hello! great footage. do you have an email address i could possibly reach out to about this footage?
Nice open and spacious streets in those days, before the onslaught of concrete traffic islands, railings alongside all the roads, road markings, metallic bollards, cycle lanes etc after 1965.
I went to Eltham C of E school (Roper street) just around the corner from Lilly and Skinners. The high street is much as I remember it.
I went to Roper street as well back in the 70's
I went to Roper Street 1945-51. It taught me well.
Really lovely days of yore film and brings back so many happy memories of schildhood shopping trips with mum and nan, I also recall seeing a YT film (but cannot seem to find now) of the editor of the Eltham Times, Mr Peter Jolly I believe going to a church at the crossroads in the High Street to meet the vicar and a short film of the newspaper being delivered after the article about the church was published possibly 50s or 60s also.
Any ideas where this film is now, was it withdrawn from YT perhaps?
So far, ive been able to place the footage somewhere between 1957 (when bernard skinner founded the company) and 1961 (when the routemaster busses that cant be seen in this video came out) Im leaning more towards 1957 and 1958
the good old days.
Eltham where London truly start
Wow you can really recognise so much of it. Is it better with McDonald's now though, hard to say 😂
oh wow look at this! Things dont change really its just so fascinating.
Oh I didn't know the Burtons clothes shop was there back in the 50's
Pam fry it was William's in those days went to a small private school called babington house in the 1950s happy days the world is a different place now.
Eltham London borough of greenwich
At this time part of the borough of Woolwich.
Everyone drove hot-rods 😊
Which school at the end ? Eltham Hill @
Eltham Green. I went to nearby St Thomas Moore 1975-77. Amazing memories.
Eltham Green.
Eltham Green. Did I see a teacher hanging out the window by his ancles??
Great stuff
Much is the same although the shops have changed hands
Wish it was still like it now much better times for me
Fantastic little film this lovely to see Eltham when it was still English
Why is no one on there mobile phones and where are all the peds delivering food ??
. . . . or even in the 1950s, when we all knew better than to put an apostrophe in the year number . . .
I bet zoots was there back then 😂
El mejor vecindario
Now there's a name from my past, in the 1960's as a Saturday boy I delivered many a parcel etc etc to Mr Bernard Skinners office in Well Hall Road, …...which I think ???? was further down the road than next to the Police station.
Lots of J walkers
It was a racist place right?
No, it's not a racist area at all, and I know it very well. Unfortunately the name of Eltham will always be linked to the terrible murder of Stephen Lawrence in 1993, which was solely a racist murder.
@@jaykay01 Great
I grew up there, living on Bexley Rd opposite Crown Woods. That was the 1960s and 1970s and, yes, racism was prevalent but accepted in a town that was almost all white. it was often very subtle. Not so subtle were the skins, the football fans on the trains [I have blanked out exactly which], the attacks on/around the Kidbrooke Estate, and the attitudes of the previous generation [my parent's era] towards 'difference'. I remember my ailing grandmother turning away a Black nurse. By the 1990s, and on the date of the Lawrence murder, I was living n West Africa. I saw it on the tv. Never been so ashamed, and I could not tell the people in the bar where I was from.
And do not forget the British National Party had their hq in Welling, not more than 3 miles away. When people marched on it , the police actually defended the building.
@yes2truth Whites being stabbed to death by racists all the time.