Streatham
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Map of London
Beautifully hand-drawn and coloured, dating from around 1840
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Streatham books (6 available)
Streatham memories
Read and share memories of Streatham and London inspired by Frith photos
Bingo
I grew up on Fern Lodge estate in Streathams Leigham Court Road. Every Thursday my mum and a few of her mates from the estate, Auntie Josie and Auntie Ivy, would put on thir lipstick and put a scarf on their heads and go and get the 137 bus to Streatham Hill and go to Bingo. My mum did this for about 27 years and only ever won twice. My mum and Auntie Josie used to work in the fish and chip shop down by the side of Streatham Hill railway station and I used to go to work with her sometimes. I used to help old Bill cut the chips through an old machine and watch them fall into an ...read more here
The end of the Second World War
Newly born in October 1939, and with the Second World War just starting, I was quickly evacuated to a village called Harpley in Norfolk. My dad, who was in a reserved occupation, remained in London, but for whatever reasons, wanted us home towards the end of the war, during the Doodlebug campaign. My first memories of Streatham are from about four years old towards the end of 1944. Our house was in Baldry Gardens near the high road end. I remember that it was covered in scaffolding, and I had to sleep down in the coal cellar on a deck chair for safety. There were not many bombing raids at this time, as Germany was too busy defending its home territory, ...read more here
Contributed by David Newman
Streatham1953
I lived on Wellfield Road until I emigrated to Canada in May of 1953. After looking at this site it brings back a lot of memories. I attended Sunnyhill Road School then Dunraven High. I was only back for a visit once in 1984. Walking down Wellfield Road the same pot holes and broken side walks were there. I would love to make a trip back but who can afford the cost of visiting England now.
The photo ref S220075 was taken outside the police station looking towards the library. The apartments with the rounded rooms in the centre of the picture were occuped by a friend of mine - wish I could think of his name. Spent a lot ...read more here
Contributed by JOHN EDWARDS
cadets ; the Dolphin Club.
I was one of the young fellows in the early 'fifties that used to ruin the peace in and about Streatham as a drummer with the 5th County of London( RA) cadet band. It was a rather splendid band , and we were based up around the top end of Streatham hill, where A Coy was situated. I was with B Coy at Upper Tulse Hill.
The Dolphin Club was on the left of the High Road just before the railway bridge . We had some good times there .The Billy Woods band played there , also Mickey Williams who later joined Jeff Rowena at the Locarno . I recall that one went down to the basement area to get ...read more here
Contributed by bill axten
Growing up in Streatham.
Spent my childhood in Valleyfield Road. Streatham. attended St. Helen's school for Girls. Streatham Common North side. (mind you there were a few lads there as well!) Spent hours playing on the Common, walking through the Rookery, down to The White House and back through the common, in those days, it was considered SAFE. A group of us would do this, spend hours on the Common. Happy memories of my childhood, then we moved to Belltrees Grove, before the Comprehensive school was built, it was farm land. Can remember Russell Footpath down to the Ice Skating rink, still have my skates. Swimming Pool. Theatre, yes Streatham was a lovely place to spend one's time in.. have been back, even though I ...read more here
Contributed by adele PEntony-Graham
Childhood Memories
I have fond memories of growing up in Leverson St, not far from Mitcham Lane where our local shops were. I went to Eardley Rd School & then on to Dunraven Secondary School. Spent a lot of my teenage yrs at the Locarno, Bowling Alley & Streatham Ice Rink.
One of my favourite places has always been The Rookery on Streatham Common, I spent a lot of time there as a child. Another favourite place was Tooting Bec Common, where myself & my two sisters used to go to the outdoor Swimming Pool.
At the top of Leverson St was a sweet shop called Pitts, everyone growing up there would remember that! There was also a "bomb site" us kids ...read more here
Contributed by diane cotterill
School
I went to school at St. Helen's School which was situated on the corner of North Side and Valley Road between 1955 - 1961. I actually lived in NORBURY and have some memories of Norbury when you open up a site for it. I hope you do.
Contributed by Christine Penter
Extracts From Streatham & London books
Nestled in the rear slopes of the North Downs, the village derives its ancient name from the Saxon word ‘wudmeresthorn’, meaning ‘thornbush by the boundary of the wood’, and was mentioned in the Domesday Book. This 1930s mock-Tudor shopping parade still stands on Rectory Lane as it winds its way south to the junction with the Chipstead Valley Road, where the buildings of the Woodmansterne Treatment Works, belonging to the Sutton and East Surrey Water Company, are just visible.
An extract from from"Around Cheam, including Sutton, Ewell, Banstead and Epsom Photographic Memories".
Much of Banstead High Street was rebuilt during the 1920s with a series of shopping parades. The leafless lime tree in the middle distance occupies the spot where the village pond once existed, while All Saints’ churchyard is concealed behind the trees on the extreme right.
An extract from from"Around Cheam, including Sutton, Ewell, Banstead and Epsom Photographic Memories".
The station, on the branch line from Sutton to Epsom Downs, opened in 1865, and the white stuccoed house, now a builder’s offices, dates from around the same time. The small confectionery kiosk was one of a trio servicing the requirements of commuters, with other branches at Sutton and Epsom. The roof of the station no longer bears the white lettering, and the building is almost a mile from the town centre itself. The road almost immediately makes another sharp bend over the railway line below, before passing the Cuddington Golf Clubhouse and continuing on to East Ewell.
An extract from from"Around Cheam, including Sutton, Ewell, Banstead and Epsom Photographic Memories".
Originally founded for ladies in the autumn of 1890, the club admitted gentlemen to membership within a year, and from a tin hut close to Banstead Railway Station it moved to this site in Burdon Lane nine years later. A putting green was added in 1923, and further major development took place in the years after this photograph was taken.
An extract from from"Around Cheam, including Sutton, Ewell, Banstead and Epsom Photographic Memories".
Situated on the corner of Sandy Lane, these courts, flanked by suburban houses, now form part of Cheam Fields Club. The pavilion in the background, although substantially altered, has also survived to the present day.
An extract from from"Around Cheam, including Sutton, Ewell, Banstead and Epsom Photographic Memories".