I went to Bloomfield Central school in the 1950s on the number 53 bus from Charlton Village. Sports day at Woolwich stadium. Who remembers Menzies pie, eel, and mash cafe? I used to box for the Royal Arsenal and saw the last tram which was parked just down from the cinema, (either the Regal or the Roxy?), next to the swimming baths. Loved the seafood from the market. Even saw Vera Lynn with my parents at the 'flee pit' cinema in Beresford Square when I was about 6. Sweet memories!
I was taken to see Father Christmas at Cuff's department store in Powis Street, near the big Royal Arsenal Co-Operative store, and recall as a "babe in arms" riding with my mother in a tram from Woolwich to our then home in Lee Green, and crying at the noise as it ground around the curved track at Eltham Church to go down Eltham Hill. I remember the trolleybuses lined up at the stops near the the ferry landing, which was then situated next to the entrance to the foot tunnel at the bottom of Hare Street, where the "Waterfront" centre is now, and the waiting traffic tailing back up Hare Street. A big highlight of any visit to Woolwich was a crossing on the paddle steamer Free Ferries, "Gordon", "Will Crooks" and "John Benn" if I remember correctly. The smell of the hot oil and steam from the engine room - which you could look into from the covered passenger deck - mingled with the aromas of the Thames stirred up by the thrashing paddle wheels as they dodged between the then busy river traffic, or made the water around the stout timbers of the landing stage froth and foam. For a few years as a schoolboy in the 1950's I went to an orthopaedic clinic upstairs next door to one of the pubs in Beresford Square which was well patronised by the "squaddies" who were everywhere in what was then a "garrison" town. "Beasleys" were the local brewers in Lakedale Road, Plumstead, and "Taylor Walker" from LImehouse on the north side of the river, whose domain stretched up along the A11 into Hertfordshire, are long-gone names I remember, which appear above the many pubs in these photographs and remind me of the number of local brewers still in business in those days. We might go for a "cruise" on the ferry after the clinic was over, but we'd always visit the market on the way home to buy something for our tea - "scallops" from one of the the fish stalls was my favourite. Dad was a member of the Gramophone Library at the main Library in Calderwood Street behind the Town Hall, where he borrowed his operatic sets of 12" 78rpm disks. He also bought records from Drysdale's music shop in Beresford Square (all pulled down now) while I bought my 7" 45 rpm record of the Animals' "House of the Rising Sun" there some time later. It's all so different now.
I moved to Abbey Estate, age 5 in 1970. We used to visit Woolwich regaularly on the 180 bus, RM and RT operated. I used to say 'Hooray...we're going to Woolwich'. Used to visit The Covered Market, M & S, Cuffs, Woolworths, Branston's, the market etc. Woolwich has changed considerably. Now I say 'Hooray' when leaving Woolwich!
I was born in North woolwich in the early 50's. It must have been so dirty and noisy. We moved to plumstead when I was five. It seemed so different. Cleaner! My aunt had a stool at Woolwich market. Remember vividly playing on the steam paddle ferry, watching the engines turning.
That's how I too remember Woolwich area, growing up just before ,during and just affter the war. Dad worked in the Arsenal, and when I left school, I worked atc Elthem Library. My younger brother worked at the Plstead library, between leaving school and national service.....
Back in Meredith Street in Plaistow as a four year old l was offered a ride in a boat. I had visions of a motor launch but when l got there the car was driven on to a platform. We were on the Woolwich Ferry.
You introduced me to the tune “Oh Donna Clara,” a song I had never heard before. Now, several years later it is now firmly among my most favourite melodies.
Great stuff...my granddad's family had a glass and china shop on the High Street (#9) next to the Enon Baptist Chapel from 1834-1907. At the end of the Boer War thousands were thrown out of work and many left for Canada to work on the railways.
Very enjoyable music, a unusual combination with these archive photos. I don't know London, but rode my AJS motorcycle to their Plumstead factory, in the 1960's, for a engine overhaul----from Somerset.
We lived several streets away from the Ajay factory, and recall that duringthe war, the street it was in was blocked of at either end, and people who lived there had passes to get in and out of the street
I remember Cuffs, getting my feet measured on the fluoroscope.......then that infernal machine they slid up and down that the fitter sat on, still got blisters! Also just remember the original ferries..... steam paddle steamers.........smell of hot oil and steam coal!
I too remember getting my feet measured at Cuffs for what my mother called “Sensible shoes for school” and far from the fashionable Winkle Pickers I wanted. It was 1962 and I was eight years old.
![HIWWHEE | OHM [Official MV]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/OJJLtTLqLag/mqdefault.jpg)
I went to Bloomfield Central school in the 1950s on the number 53 bus from Charlton Village. Sports day at Woolwich stadium. Who remembers Menzies pie, eel, and mash cafe? I used to box for the Royal Arsenal and saw the last tram which was parked just down from the cinema, (either the Regal or the Roxy?), next to the swimming baths. Loved the seafood from the market. Even saw Vera Lynn with my parents at the 'flee pit' cinema in Beresford Square when I was about 6. Sweet memories!
Thise were the days
I was taken to see Father Christmas at Cuff's department store in Powis Street, near the big Royal Arsenal Co-Operative store, and recall as a "babe in arms" riding with my mother in a tram from Woolwich to our then home in Lee Green, and crying at the noise as it ground around the curved track at Eltham Church to go down Eltham Hill. I remember the trolleybuses lined up at the stops near the the ferry landing, which was then situated next to the entrance to the foot tunnel at the bottom of Hare Street, where the "Waterfront" centre is now, and the waiting traffic tailing back up Hare Street.
A big highlight of any visit to Woolwich was a crossing on the paddle steamer Free Ferries, "Gordon", "Will Crooks" and "John Benn" if I remember correctly. The smell of the hot oil and steam from the engine room - which you could look into from the covered passenger deck - mingled with the aromas of the Thames stirred up by the thrashing paddle wheels as they dodged between the then busy river traffic, or made the water around the stout timbers of the landing stage froth and foam.
For a few years as a schoolboy in the 1950's I went to an orthopaedic clinic upstairs next door to one of the pubs in Beresford Square which was well patronised by the "squaddies" who were everywhere in what was then a "garrison" town. "Beasleys" were the local brewers in Lakedale Road, Plumstead, and "Taylor Walker" from LImehouse on the north side of the river, whose domain stretched up along the A11 into Hertfordshire, are long-gone names I remember, which appear above the many pubs in these photographs and remind me of the number of local brewers still in business in those days. We might go for a "cruise" on the ferry after the clinic was over, but we'd always visit the market on the way home to buy something for our tea - "scallops" from one of the the fish stalls was my favourite.
Dad was a member of the Gramophone Library at the main Library in Calderwood Street behind the Town Hall, where he borrowed his operatic sets of 12" 78rpm disks. He also bought records from Drysdale's music shop in Beresford Square (all pulled down now) while I bought my 7" 45 rpm record of the Animals' "House of the Rising Sun" there some time later.
It's all so different now.
I saw santa at cuffs too.
Write a book
Thank you. Very interesting.
I moved to Abbey Estate, age 5 in 1970. We used to visit Woolwich regaularly on the 180 bus, RM and RT operated. I used to say 'Hooray...we're going to Woolwich'. Used to visit The Covered Market, M & S, Cuffs, Woolworths, Branston's, the market etc.
Woolwich has changed considerably. Now I say 'Hooray' when leaving Woolwich!
How young r u now I live. Near woolich
@@Sthmohtwenty Yes still young 58. Take care.
Thank You I enjoyed every moment of this video & wish my dad could have of seen it before his passing
My grandparents used to live in Plumstead from 1915 to 1980
What lovely pictures, so much nicer than it is today ..... full of the World's malevolent human detritus!
I was born in North woolwich in the early 50's. It must have been so dirty and noisy. We moved to plumstead when I was five. It seemed so different. Cleaner! My aunt had a stool at Woolwich market. Remember vividly playing on the steam paddle ferry, watching the engines turning.
Grew up in Plumstead in the 60s and 70s, lovely memories of when it was a quiet suburb.
That's how I too remember Woolwich area, growing up just before ,during and just affter the war. Dad worked in the Arsenal, and when I left school, I worked atc Elthem Library. My younger brother worked at the Plstead library, between leaving school and national service.....
Born in the front room Ancona Rad 1965 😊 Thanks 🙏🏽
Back in Meredith Street in Plaistow as a four year old l was offered a ride in a boat. I had visions of a motor launch but when l got there the car was driven on to a platform. We were on the Woolwich Ferry.
Used to spend hours on the ferry as a kid in the 70s.
Lovely set of photos. So different now and interesting to see how it all looked in my Dad and Grandfather's day.
Wow thanks for sharing
You introduced me to the tune “Oh Donna Clara,” a song I had never heard before. Now, several years later it is now firmly among my most favourite melodies.
Just love the song. Wish the band was around today. I come from that area and the pictures do bring back memories.
Great stuff...my granddad's family had a glass and china shop on the High Street (#9) next to the Enon Baptist Chapel from 1834-1907. At the end of the Boer War thousands were thrown out of work and many left for Canada to work on the railways.
Very,very nice !...these times never come back...
Exactly sir I wish I go there again
I wish I go there again
@@SachKarwaHa Wasn't it great having an outside toilet, no central heating, no washing machine, tin bath or public baths once a week...........etc
Wasn't it great having an outside toilet, no central heating, no washing machine, tin bath or public baths once a week...........etc
Cheers...my family (Button) had a glass and china shop on the High Street - next to the Enon Chapel - into the early 20th C.
Very enjoyable music, a unusual combination with these archive photos. I don't know London, but rode my AJS motorcycle to their Plumstead factory, in the 1960's, for a engine overhaul----from Somerset.
We lived several streets away from the Ajay factory, and recall that duringthe war, the street it was in was blocked of at either end, and people who lived there had passes to get in and out of the street
I remember Cuffs, getting my feet measured on the fluoroscope.......then that infernal machine they slid up and down that the fitter sat on, still got blisters! Also just remember the original ferries..... steam paddle steamers.........smell of hot oil and steam coal!
I too remember getting my feet measured at Cuffs for what my mother called “Sensible shoes for school” and far from the fashionable Winkle Pickers I wanted. It was 1962 and I was eight years old.
Does anyone remember the Shakespeare Hotel on Powis Street and the disco nights they held there.
its all changing now. my dad was born here in Rope yard rails.
PS. Anyone else remember Lonny Donegan playing at the Shakespeare, just off the Square?
Thank you for posting…👍👍
You could buy a house for £20 with a garden
X
Whixh if i was born then .....😂