General Chat

ah heather that is sad yet a lovely story ah how touching; i bet you are proud though , im going to google that later; cheers for that info ah jackie

If anyone is really into the docklands area, there is a fab website called Dockland Ancestors. You can buy a lot of books and stuff from there. I have bought 6 copies of Bermondsey and Rotherhithe Remembered for my rellies (basically cos it has 2 pics of my nan in there - she was a chief fire warden in the Blitz) and also a pic of the street where dad was born and every poor sod in that picture (1930) is related to me. And it has a pic of the house I was born in (no blue plaque as yet) two doors down from the Peak Freans factory. Another brilliant site is PortCities - just google it. I found out Christmas before last dad and his 8 bros were dragged in to a film made in Bermondsey in 1923. Dad suddenly told me as we were watching a film 'I never saw it, mum couldnt afford for us to go'. I spent a year looking for that film in all the archives in the bloody world. I had got a message a few days after my darling dad died last October that I could buy a copy of it from a film museum in Amsterdam.Of course I bought it and it breaks your heart to see what are my dad and his bros, running about, real little ragamuffins in the streets were they lived.

hi heather, yes i belive you are right; , was it roman rd, victoria park,; seems to ring a bell, where my hubby spent many a day; so what was bermondsy like heather? jackie

EMMA,/SUSIE Im south of river - Bermondsey. Your rellies would have been near the famous Old Kent Road. 'Any time your Lambeth way, any evening, any day' (Join in everybody!!) The East End and Bermondsey are/were really the same area - just separated by the river and easily crossed through the tunnel which ran under it (well, its still there actually!) The people were the same sort of people, doing the same jobs, same backgrounds and known for their grit and toughness (but damn salt of the earth peeps).

hi annie, field rd, know that , when me mum was alive we lived cedars rd; then stratford rd, plaistow; my father owned a toy shop , he made everything himself, forts, dolls houses, wooden walkers and bricks; we moved from there 1966 my uncle lived in margery park rd, recall that rd; not far from west ham park, where we spent many a day; the good old days' jackie

hi ya sue my it is a small world. 2 sons an daughter was born mothers hospital clapton. my hubby knows that place like back of his hands. his family came from bethnal green the allen family,;his best mate lived lived kingsmaed est; tingey family; very interest, this all becomes; so glad you loke the thread sue; pie and mash shop i remember going there in london fields, . my brings back memories; do ever go back on day visits sue? jackie

Jackie moved out of Field Rd in 1971 to get married and then went to live at 35 Bridge Rd Stratford.Annie

What a lovely thread....... I was born in Hackney at the Mothers Hosp, some people would have called the bit where we lived Lower Homerton, although it was officially Clapton, just down the Road from Hackney Hospital. Dad still lives there! Then whem we married we went to London Fields. Mums lot were from Bethnal Green, then Hackney round the back of St John at Hackney church, where Tesco's is now in Morning Lane. Dad's lot from Walthamstow - Islington then moved into Kingmead Est! Father in Law was born in Poplar Mother in Law (and my OH) was born in Hackney, not far from Clapton Pond. We have a good pedigree of being 'East London' but as you can see from my name, I don't live there any more! Suex

hi susie sorry i am not sure of them areas deptford/camberwell i was more east end stratford' plaistow canning town ,leyton. w;stow areas, but im sure there are folk out there that recall these areas and can relate to susies areas so come on tells what yous remember; luved to hear wouldn't we all jackie

barry; christopher st; my aunt lived there. baker family ???????? do you recall em jackie

hi emma; sorry cant recall that area i know were it is, but dont know that area, lewisham/bermondsey so if anyone out there do; come on, must be able to relate to emma's areas jackie

wendy; well well; i to went to portway jnr school; lived stratford rd; when did you go, i was there 1961; when me mum died oct 61, my father moved his old tart in the night of mums funeral; well didnt go down to well with family friends etc; so he an she done a moon light flit ,we then lived cedars rd; ; as i say ended up stratford rd; an went to portway;till 66 , we the moved again to west ham, off manor rd; weeks after england won world cup well so may remember you if you were there then; jackie

Cheryl, your mum was from south of the river - Bow is north. It is an old saying that you are a cockney if you live within the sound of Bow Bells. I think its a pretty loose term really, certainly I should think Deptford people are thought of cockney, even though it would have to be a good following wind for them to hear the bells of Bow!

hi cheryl; yer greenwich i had uncle aunt and cousins live;d gawd the memories; picture me self walking up an down the rds so many have mentioned; why don't you have a day in east end;wont regret' much to see an enjoy; the old haunts jackie

hi annie, fild rd, my my ; me sister lived there for 2 yrs,in 1970,, my niece used to go odessa rd school to; small world; yer my brother called that gruop cockney rebells; [rejects], . i luv reading these stories bring back so many memories; bridge st;, was not far from stratford rd were i lived;,my niece lived near priory rd east ham uptil 7 yr ago; and the thatched house leytone stone, i know of; what lovely memories they bring back; jackie

my nan was born at no11 reaston street,deptford.her dad,my gt grandad was born at no11 canterbury rd,camberwell. susie

Jackie,Hubby came from Bridge Road Stratford.Mum from Bethnal Green and dad from Priory Rd East Ham next to West Ham football ground.Nan and grandad Thatched House Leytonstone.Annie

Hello Jackie, My family originated from Christopher St, Stratford

This is a great thread Mt grandfather born bermondsey 1889 was a lighterman at royal victoria docks had my mum lewisham.bless her shes 83 next month

My family comes from Lewisham, Deptford, Dartford and they were all registered in Greenwich or Deptford. My grandmother was evacuated from there during world war 2, she came to Wales and never returned home. She said she lived in 'Bows Bells' ?? but where, I can't remember where she said, I wished I listened to her stories more. She was so proud of her background and I loved her cockney accent. I would love to visit the East end and find out where exactly she lived. Cheryl xxxxx