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  Jeff Owen Added: 19 Mar 2021 13:49 GMT | Swift House, N16 Swift House was completed in 1956. I moved into No 12 when it was brand new. The bock consisted of 12 residences. The six on the ground floor were three bedroomed maisonettes with gardens. The six on the top floor were a mixture of two bedroomed flats (2), one bedroomed flats (2) and what were then called "one unit" flats (2) which were in fact bedsits. There was a similar block opposite named Dryden House (all the flats on the Hawksley Court Estate were named after famous writers). It was a lovely flat which my Mum & Dad cherished, having moved from two rooms which they’d had since they were married. Reply |
  Jeff Owen Added: 20 Mar 2021 15:44 GMT | Memories of "The Londesborough" I lived in Sandbrook Road from 1956 until 1964 and then in Harcombe Road until 1994. “The Londesborough” was my local in my formative drinking years. It was a pub typical of its time. Clean and tidy and well run by a proper guv’nor who stood no nonsense. It had a single island bartop serving three separate bars. The Public Bar had its door on the corner of Londesborough Road and had a dart board. The other two shared a single entrance on the right as you look at the pub. The Saloon bar formed the majority of the pub and was the most plush. It extended to the back of the premises with the back portion �’ at a slightly lower level �’ housing a full size snooker table. The small Private bar was between the other two. I recall that prices were a penny or two more in the Saloon bar. The first landlord I remember was Bob Baker. He and his wife Else ran the pub until about 1969-ish. Bob was a retired coalminer from Leicester. He had two daughters - Penny and Jane �’ who would very occasionally work behind the bar. Bob had a full time live-in barman/cellarman by the name of Gwyn Evans, who could be a bit temperamental at times! My Dad also worked there from time to time and I recall being invited upstairs to watch the 1961 FA Cup Final between Spurs and Leicester City. Following Bob’s retirement Lou Levine and his wife Pearl took the helm. Lou was a fine guv’nor and the pub flourished under his tenancy. When I left the area I believe Lou still had the tenancy but had put a manager, whose name I cannot recall, in overall charge. Saturday evening and Sunday lunchtimes the pub was packed. But it also had a good patronage during the week. Among the occasional visitors was Eric Bristow, the late world champion darts player. Eric would challenge the locals to a game and would even things up a bit by throwing his darts from the kneeling position! Footballer and former England manager Terry Venables could also be found there from time to time as one of his pals was the son of Lou’s business partner. The pub has certainly gone upmarket (as has that small area) but I will take issue with one claim made on its website: “In the 1960’s, the Londesborough was one of the pubs that the notorious Kray Twins took a drink in.” My Dad knew just about everybody who “took a drink” in the Londesborough in the 1960s and Bob Baker knew absolutely everybody. We often spoke about the Kray twins (their “manor” was the other side of Stoke Newington High Street). No mention of them visiting the pub was ever made by them or any other of the locals. One other slight correction: the map on this website is slightly incorrect. The pub is on the corner of Londesborough Road and Barbauld Road, and not as indicated. The pub had one big drawback. It was a "Watneys" Pub. But you can’t have everything! Source: The Londesborough Reply |
 Jeff Owen Added: 19 Mar 2021 15:28 GMT | Galsworthy Terrace, N16 Galsworthy Terrace was opposite Swift House, where I lived from 1956 to 1964. My pal Roger Beamish lived at No 1, just adjacent to the slope which joins Sandbrook Road to Woodlea Road. When I first lived there the plot that now accommodates Stowe House was a rock garden containing a wide flight of steps and a sloped pathway. Other occupants of Galsworthy Terrace were the Lake family, good friends with my Mum, and the Walker family. Mr Walker ran the Hawksley Court Tenants’ Club for many years and he would organise an annual "beano" usually to Margate. Reply |
 Dave Hinves Added: 27 Nov 2024 03:55 GMT | he was a School Teacher Henry sailed from Graves End 1849 on ’The Woodbridge’ arrived South Australia 1850. In 1858 he married Julia Ann Walsh at Burra, South Australia, they had 3 children, and 36 grand children. Died 24 June 1896 at Wilmington, South Australia. He is my 1st cousin 3x removed. Reply |
 Kevin Pont Added: 23 Nov 2024 17:03 GMT | St Georges Square This is rather lovely and well worth a visit! Reply |
Simon Chapman Added: 22 Nov 2024 17:47 GMT | Blossom Place My Great Great Grandmother, Harriett Robbins lived in 2 Blossom Place in 1865 before marrying my Great Great Grandfather. They moved to 23 Spitall Square. Reply |
Mark G Added: 26 Oct 2024 21:54 GMT | Skidmore Street, E1 Skidmore Street was located where present day Ernest Street and Solebay Street now stand. They are both located above Shandy Street and Commodore Street. Reply |
  Alan Russell Added: 26 Oct 2024 14:36 GMT | Cheshire Street, London E2 - 1969 Cheshire Street, London E2 - 1969 Reply |
 GrahamClayton Added: 10 Oct 2024 19:42 GMT | Armed guard during 1919 civil unrest During the 1919 civil unrest, a company of soldiers guarded the power station day and night - if it was forced to close down, a large part of London’s transport system would be inoperable. Reply |
 Mark G Added: 6 Oct 2024 15:08 GMT | Change of Road Name to SARK WALK All of the terraced slum housing on JERSEY ROAD was demolished and the area rebuilt with modern housing in the late 1940’s, early 1950’s. Subsequently, the road was renamed SARK WALK. Reply |
 B Willmot Added: 24 Sep 2024 00:39 GMT | King Charles Street, SW1A My Great Grandfather (Joseph William Willmot) started school here in Charles St - Penley’s College in 1857. Reply |