Genealogy Chat

Oh Jean, it was awful in the Greenwich one, broke my heart. Bloody tablecloths and candles (we went upstairs - there was a bar of all things!). No, havent been to Deptford in a long while. I got my engagement ring in Peckham from a Pawn Shop! Havent been back there for many years either. Mum used to take us to Peckham Rye market. Mind you I have to agree with my son, some of the old ladies are scary!

Heather, Your description of your Dad reminded me of my Dad too. He was also a Docker. Goddards P&M was newly renovated was,nt it. They have made it like that for the Tourists. Not my cup of Tea at all. Jean.

my nans father(gt grandad) worked at the gas works.he was a stationary engine driver,watever that is lol they lived at reaston rd,deptford whilst nan was a child do any of you know the gasworks and where it was.i think it was in greenwich,am i rite lol susie

Hi, there were a lot of gasworks then. My dad worked at one when he was 14, poor little devil, up at 4 every morning, until he got his dad's dock ticket. One of his bros (he originally had 12 of them and he was youngest) was a manager at the one in Rotherhithe. One of my mums lot was a stationary engine driver at the gasworks. It was a semi skilled job, they worked the machines for things like conveying the coke to the ovens.

thanks heather. it sounded like he just sat on his backside in an engine all day lol susie

Thanks Joy and Bob and everyone, what lovely stories, and colourful people. I have printed the thread out to enjoy ay my leisure. Also will look up links. Seems that Bow Bells lead me in as many directions as trying to find Alfed Smith barmen, and my grandad Edward Smith, born 1889 or 1890 within sound of. (Mama thinksat Beehive in or near Gadogen Gardens), but definately more informative and amusing! A helpful person said that this was the parish of Chelsea but not sure Thanks all. Any other help would be much appreciated! JA

J.A Remember the sound of bow bells is inner london that's the important thing whether south or north of the city you could hear them, but unlikely 50 miles away. I said on my thread that I have just lost my great Aunt looking at what I said I don't think it was clear not an aunt who was great (my aunt was in her 70's when she died) but the generation before her the Aunt I lost this weekend was 95 years old plus 7months. she was born in Southwark within the sound of bow bells. She was proud of that. She was not a Cockney cause they are east of the river but she was South of the river. So she never said she was a cockney, even though I mentioned a row about it, she wouldn't want to even claim to be one. The old Londoner of her time is no more, London has grown beyond the City beyond the County to take parts of Surrey, Middx and wherever else the sprawl takes it. Different time different people and certainly a different place. RIP My Great Aunt Nell X Pat x

o gor blimey here was me happy with the world (to a certain extent) in Oz when all you luvverly lot come along with all the talk of Manzes pie mash and likker, Jellied eels and Mackersons well now I feel so bleedin homesick I could cry. Yes David I too remember Chapel Market Manzes and also the one in Exmouth Street, Mum used to send me to Ex for a jug of their pea soup before the war. We brought our daughter back for a visit some years ago and her brothers and sisters had a whip round giving her money to buy heaps of pie and mash and told her to think of them and maybe they would get the lovely taste in their mouths. A friend of my son had his wife trying to make pie and mash just like Manzes but was upset because it didnt taste right and as for the likker - well ???? I understand they made it with the liquid that the eels were stewed in. Ah they were the GOOD OLD DAYS. Stranded Pom

J.A. Just a word, that would be Cadogan Gardens in Chelsea. Its just off the Kings Road, very posh area. Had a boyfriend who lived there many many moons ago. (I was his bit of ruff).

A pleasure, JA! Joy PS When my Dad was born in Lambeth in 1914, it was in Surrey!

Thanks again everyone and Heather for your email. Pat, sorry to hear about your great Aunt Nell, another precious link with the past gone. May she rest in peace. Take care JA

nudge

Wot 'ave you all done. I 'ave a lump in me froat, I'm missing me mum, dad, me family, London (home) & Manzes....you bleedin' cow sons you. I don't spose you realise the damage you 'ave caused. I loved this....Thank you all so much, for reminding me. Trudi

I know Trudie, it's made me think of the good old days, going round nan and grandads every sunday, all the family there, nan spending all her time in the kitchen making pots of tea, making cakes and arranging a big spread of seafood, that my uncle had bought that morning down the lane and slices of crusty bread and butter on the front table. Each of us grandchildren would be given a slice of bread and a pin, and a bowl of winkles, to make a winkle sandwich with. It kept us occupied for ages. Saturday afternoons were spent in rathbone market, we'd get an ice-cream from murkoffs, the best ice-cream i ever tasted. There was a man in the market with a monkey you could have your photo done with. Mum wouldn't let us have a picture done, said it was cruel. I could go on and on about the old days but I won't. I still live in the east end, things have definetly changed, its not the same anymore, but I feel this is where I belong. There are still lots of good people here and I still have lots of relations nearby.Oh no, now our beloved west ham have lost their match.

Well, I was learned to say 'theres forty farsand fev vers on a frushes froat' and my mam left Stoke Newington for NZ at the age of four. Claimed she were a Cockney. Bernie

Wow what a great thread ....sorry 'fred! I'm not a cockney, but all my family are on me dad's side and this had brough back so many memories of my Grandad, a proper cockney character. Aw Gor Blimey was a favourite saying for him and my Dad, and Grandad was always talking about them 'bleedin wossnames' Funny thing was, we all knew what he was talkin abaht!

My late father-in-law was born in Enfield and even though he Lived up north for 20 years and and then Australia for the remainder of his life, he was a Londoner through and through. He never claimed to be a cockney but he used rhyming slang and his favourite expression was 'he's a bleedin' nut case'. His mother was born in Bethnal Green and my husband says that she had a very strong London accent and was as tough as old boots. Susan

Hi My mum was born in Bow Bells so I could ask anything about it if it helps you...My maternal family side are all cockneys....

I am nudging this. Firstly because I think it's a fun and informative thread. Secondly and the main reason........ I had pie, hot eels (double portion) mash and liquor today YUMMMM and I want to make all the earlier contributers, who remember what that taste like, jealous :))))) LOL Chris

Gercha cow son Chris. Corse I'm bleedin Jealous. A lot of Lunderners call themselves cockney when they were only born when the bleedin bells was switched off for the war... so how could they be eh? I'm a Lunderner from Sarf of the river and still don't like goin' over the other side... even to go up west. No way am I a cockney, thems the ones who's devil spawn with all their lah di dah beadsbuttons and bleedin silly 'ats an' songs. Give me the Old Kent Road, jellied eels and a glass of hot sasperilla any time. Green Lane market was the only street in Lundern where you could go in one end wearin' a watch I buy it before you got to the uvver end. Roger GC