A selection from the many comments and queries arriving in our inbox from readers around the World!
We have received a number of enquiries about an artist who once lived and worked in Forest Gate, L Kersh. The have been moved to a separate page.
Kings of Neville Road
Can anybody help trace some friends of my father, Leonard (Norris) King. He was born in Neville Road Forest Gate in 1923 and he attended Elmhurst and Upton Lane schools.
His friends were Bobby Ball, Bertie Banthorpe, Ray Phipps, Arthur Whybrow (who became an actor), Gladys Freeman and Jean Mayhew. A lot of their time was spent in West Ham Park and at the old Carlton Cinema in Green Street. After demob in 1947 (Artillery regiment) he worked in the Co-op dairy at Manor Park. He then worked as a salesman in the 50 bob tailors in Stratford. After that, he moved into window dressing for the rest of his working life.
We moved to Chelmsford in 1957 but we recently visited our old house in Neville Road and walked the park, great memories although the changes in the area are very significant i.e my old scout hut was gone and Vic's corner shop is now flats. It was nice to see that our old house was being looked after and in very good condition. Sad that the Manor and Spotted Dog pubs are no more!
I also attended Elmhurst but have few memories of my Forest Gate schooldays. My one memory of a school friend was a lad called Trevor Mudge and lived in Green Street.
If anyone can help with the above, please get in touch.
Thanks, Victor King (vicking5@toucansurf.com)
Posted: 23 June 2008
McFaull - Looking for old friends
My Father in law - David McFaull is 60 in November and went to Sandringham School, Forest Gate in 1963. We are trying to trace childhood friends - Colin Archer. Colin Johnson, Colin Bishop and Barry Paignton - can anyone help at all? If so please e-mail me on lmcfaull@hotmail.com .
Many thanks, Lisa McFaull
Rist Watch
We are searching our family name of Rist and have been stuck for several years in finding the deaths of David and Sarah Rist, who lived in the West Ham area.
David was a school teacher at Balaam Street school retiring in 1924. The last known address for them was in 1893 when they lived in Warwick Road, Forest Gate, West Ham. By the 1901 census they were shown as being in Suffolk [perhaps they were on holiday] and they returned to London as he was working in the school up to his retirement.
We have spent hours checking the birth, marriage, deaths indexes etc and have tried advertising in a family tree magazine without success.
We would be most appreciative if anyone could help us? Many thanks.
George and Margaret Rist (ristwatch@talktalk.net)
Barbara Powell
I may have some information for you but my email to you was returned as User Unknown. If you have changed your email address please contact me on DoreenLevy27@aol.com
I'm not a relative or anything but have some general information.
Best Wishes, Doreen
Transport Woes
I have just moved to Forest Gate, opposite Wanstead Flats and it certainly doesn't take me twenty minutes to get to London.
I wait for the 308 to go to Stratford that is meant to run every 15minutes but seems to either be late or not turn up at all, or I could get on at Forest Gate station to Liverpool street that is not very frequent in rush hour and you be lucky if you can get on the train or there is always to the Wanstead park train that runs every 20 minutes in rush hour and only has two carriages so the chances of getting on is very slim.
On average it takes me 1hr30minutes to get to Pimlico/Victoria in the morning.
Does anyone else agree that the Transport in Forest Gate needs to move with the times?
Natalie Price (nats_price@yahoo.co.uk)
Wanstead Park
I was born in Forest Gate and spent most of my childhood wandering and fishing and bird nesting,on Wanstead flats and Wanstead park,what wonderful days they were.
Anyway I was recently having a discussion with one of my grandchildren, who is doing some research work on old English stately homes/houses for a college project and as I had some albeit old knowledge of the area having back in the 50s walked all over the rubble, of what was as I know now the site of the house. I have passed on as much information as I can remember,house site/views down to lake/boat shed/gamekeepers house and finally the reason for my mail,the enclosed area just between the house site and the gamekeepers house,was it a cemetery?
If anyone knows or knows someone who might know,it would be nice to hear from you.
Regards from sunny Australia
Barry Bell (recruitco@iprimus.com.au)
Memories
Forest Gate was my birth place and my son's. It holds great memories for me: I was born 39,Glenparke Rd.We lived in the upstairs flat and Mrs Taylor lived downstairs, she was my God Mother. We were forced to leave when the bomb dropped on "The Princess Alice Public House"; all our ceilings were brought down and the family were moved to 93,Glenparke Rd.
It was a double fronted terrace house with square bayed windows.We lived opposite the Ponsford Family[Ellen,Teddy, and Willie]; I believe their father was a Policeman. I remember the street party and we have photos of it. Sadly when the war was over we had to leave our lovely house as the owners were returning and reclaiming their house.
The council put us in a Prefab in "Upton Avenue"opposite "Upton Lane School" that had been bombed during the war, luckily there were no children in it at the time. It had been my School. I went to Elmhurst Rd. School and had very good friend "Ruth Denham"and we are still friends to this day.
I next attended "Harold Rd.School"for a couple of years and then joined my old mate Ruth at "West Ham Technical School" at Stratford. We lived near "West Ham Park"and the "Spotted Dog Pub"was round the corner. My dad loved the prefab it was like a detached bungalow and we had all mod cons.
I was at prefab 'til I married 1961 and then lived in Neville Road later moving to Vale Rd. My husband David Hopkins worked for "Hales Shopfitter's"in Upton Lane. we then moved to "Haldane Rd"in East Ham and I now live in Hockley,Essex and have done for over 30years.
This is a great site,my old mate Ruth discovered it last Saturday and we both hope to hear from someone who may have known us in those days. We used to regularly cycle over to Sandhills and Wanstead Park.We lived on our bikes and 2 boy's that stand out in my mind was Tony Pippkin and John Mcaully.Please contact if any one remembers us.
Doreen Brown [previously Mitchell] (doreen04@tiscali.co.uk)
Higgs, Furriers
Hi There
Coming across your site certainly stirred up some old memories.
My grand dad opened up a general dealers business in Forest Gate in the late 1800’s,which later became a furriers establishment by name of JW Higgs and Son, Furriers.
My father was the son by name of Dennis Higgs.The family manufactured fur coats in the basement and retailed them through the shop above.My grand father was known as Jimmy Higgs and used to drive a big delivery cart through the streets to deliver goods to customers.My grandmothers name was Rose Higgs.
My aunt Hildred Dove and her husband Bert,ran the shop for many years right through until the 1970’s.There were two other shops,one in Regent St W1 and another one in South End,which is still in operation. I would be very interested in any body that knew the family or had dealings with them. I’ve attached an old pic of my grandfather, Jimmy Higgs
Yours, Dennis Higgs, Simonstown,South Africa (dhiggs@snowisp.com)
Shrewsbury Road School
I lived in South Esk Road from 1935 till 1957 and in all that time I have never queried why my only memories of Shrewsbury Road school are that it was not used - closed, except for a local Scout group, once a week. It had playground air-raid shelters, so I suppose the intention was to use it. Was it not used because of a shortage of teachers; who knows? At Monega Road school we had classes of anything between 40 & 60, so I imagine teacher shortage was an issue. Perhaps someone out there can shed some light on this for me.
Len DesBois (lendesbois@talktalk.net)
Seeking Edward Middle
"Wiedersehen macht Freude" is a Reunion-Service in Germany. We are searching for people who lost track of each other.
We are looking for Edward Middle (date of birth: 25.05.1950).
As far as we know Edward Middle used to live in 1969 at 191 Ham Park Road, Forest Gate, London E7. He was at that time a student. His father was probably of indian origin. I was very suprised to find a webpage on Forest Gate and I thought to give it a try, maybe we have the chance to find somebody that knew him, or maybe he could happen to read the page himself!
Please write to us if you can help us contact Edward Middle. Our email address is: mail@reunionservice.com
Thank you.
MUGA Appeal for Sandringham School
Please may I use your site to advertise the exciting new plans to develop a MUGA at Sandringham school in Sandringham Road, Forest Gate.
A MUGA is a multi use games area. Ours comprises a 5 a side football pitch, hockey pitch, basketball court and cricket nets. It has an all weather surface, andis floodlit. It will be available in 9 months for community use.
We are looking for funding. Our principal sponsor, the FA, requires us to find 20% of the cost. If any of your readers can help with a donation to Sandringham School it will be well appreciated. But even if you cannot make a donation, please send an email to me, as the FA have said they will look sympathetically at our bid if we can demonstrate we have made an effort to raise our share, albeit unsuccesful.
Many thanks. Roger Daniells-Smith, Vice Chair of Governors. (rogerannette@btinternet.com)
Forest Gate Memories
I have just found your website, which brings back lots of memories.
I was born in Glouster road Manor Park, way back in1926 and was evacuated to Suffolk to a place called Eye. I was there for a few months, then a German bomber on his way home hadn't found his target in the Midlands, jettersoned his bombs a few miles from Eye. They hadn't started bombing London at that time. Lots of kids wrote home to tell their parents about the bombing. The parents' response was 'they're bombing our kids', so half the school was called home.
Three weeks after I came home they dropped the first bombs on London. By that time I was living in Katherine Road, Forest Gate.
I too was a skating instrutor and also used to dish out the skates on a busy night. From memory, we used to put out about 2 or 3,000 pairs of skates a night.
I used to go to a pub just round the corner of Katherine Road. It had a cafe next door to it where we would go for our spam and chips. I also worked as a butcher boy in Katherine Road.
I joined the merchant navy when I was about 17, went round the world, then did a trip to Australia. I tried to jump ship but got caught and sailed back to England. Then I decided that I was going to live in the south Pacific. The next trip was to New Zealand, where I successfully jumped ship and became a kiwi. I lived there for most of my life, then in 1995 moved over the ditch to Australia. Now I am an Aussie, living in Queensland: beautiful weather.
I can still remember the fogs and snow, and the slush when it melted in London. But I still have fond memories of Forest Gate. Does anybody remember a Len Johnson, the only name I can remember? Anyone wanting to get in touch ??
regards Jim Chenery (jimson@iprimus.com.au)
Memories of Monega Road
First, Terry, we thought you might be impressed with someone looking at this site and having a picture of Monega Road school on their computer !!! I have attached two pics for your perusal taken in 2004 while on a visit there. My wife attended the school between 1949 and 1951. She lived in Prestbury Road at the time.
With respect to Forest Gate in general, although I was born in Forest Gate Hospital (which I suspect is the Forest Gate Sick Home mentioned on the site) and lived for the first few years at 138 Forest Lane, my parents then bought a house in Keogh Rd which fell under the "Stratford" area. My father built two sheds at the back of our house in Forest Lane (as he did in keogh Rd). The front one was to house his racing pigeons (which he raced successfully for many years) and the rear one held a full size pool table. He and two of his brothers often engaged a neighbour to make up a foursome (with a bet on the side of course) and due to their ability to practice at any time, were often able to beat the unlucky fourth party. One such individual I remember was Mr Ferris who's occupation was greengrocer. When he lost, he would pay his dues in bananas. I can recall strings of bananas hanging on the gas pipe leading down into our cellar to ripen.
I note the Forest Gate Skating Rink has been mentioned a couple of times. I started skating there about 1949 and became fairly proficient to the extent that I was asked to instruct, payment being free entry into the rink as long as I instructed for an hour. I met my wife there and (due to my extraordinary skills) was able to raise her ability to the point where she also became an instructor. This solved our entertainment needs, our exercise needs plus became a large part of our social life. The rink offered a live band every night led by a tuxedo dressed conductor called Joe and had a snack bar which served the best cheesecakes with stringy coconut icing on that became a regular for our breaks.
I can recall having my father take me to the Woodgrange end of Forest Lane the day after a land mine had exploded over that area..........The devastation was unbelievable. My father had a very good friend who ran the shoe repair shop on Forest Lane almost opposite Hamfrith road bridge about half way along it's length(I believe it is not open to vehicles now) When a V2 rocket dropped near the corner of Hamfrith Rd and Earlham Grove, the blast went under a truck parked outside his shop and cut his legs off. After getting artificial legs at Roehamton hospital, he opened another store on Romford Rd closer to Stratford Broadway and my father made a number of specialize pieces of equipment to enable him to do his work.
One final recollection, I used to work part time for the shoe repair man and before school used to take shoes requiring the soles to be sewn on to another shoemaker in Forest Gate who had the machine and after school collected them again. On one of those trips down Forest Lane after a night of bombing I saw that during the night the Germans had tried to bomb the LNER track which ran beside the road. Either their aim had been slightly off or there had been enough wind, in any event, the bombs had made craters all along the wall from Hamfrith Rd down to Forest Gate station.
What an interesting site. Thanks for reminding us of "our beginnings".
Vic & Mavis (mavic@golden.net) in Canada
Fantastic Site!
What a great trip down Memory Lane. I was born and raised on Plashet Road and found my old stomping grounds on your wonderfully detailed Forest Gate map. I attended St. Antony's Elementary School, where we carried our gas masks to school each day and St. Angela's Convent School. About 5 houses down from us a neighborhood man sold "Dragon's Blood" for a penny a glass out of his converted front room. We thought it was truly nectar of the gods.
A large group of friends and I belonged to St. Antony's Dramatic Society. You might be familiar with the name of one of our members - John Junkin. ......... Yes, THE John Junkin of British TV and movie fame. After rehearsal, we would all head for Goff's Meat Pie stand at the Princess Alice. (I wonder now what mystery meat these tasty things might possibly have held !)
I left the area in January 1957 for what I originally intended to be a one year sojourn in the United States. Amazingly, that one year has turned into a 49 year permanent residence. I've lived here in West Chester, Pa., for the past 40 years and am constantly reminded of how much this section of Pennsylvania is like the beautiful countryside of England. The last time I visited Forest Gate was probably about 12 years ago and I wouldn't have recognized the area. Well, they DO say "you can't go home again", don't they!
I'm now widowed, and with my children now living in Virginia and Ohio, I spend a great deal of my time in the car with my books on tape making the 600 and 900 mile round trips to visit them.
One brother remaining in England now lives in Rayleigh, Essex while the other is enjoying life in Dorset. If I make it home again, I'll gather the courage to knock on the door of the old homestead and hope they'll be kind enough tolet me see the home where I spent 20 very happy years.
Pauline Volz (prvolz@comcast.net)
William Blaikie Stewart
I am searching for any descendants of William Blaikie Stewart and Christina Anderson. They lived at 24 Georges Rd. Forest Gate, London E7 Essex from 1901 until 1950?. Their children included John Aiken Stewart, Chirstina, Isabella Gair, William Blaikie, Alexander, Mary, Janet Penman, Helen Bewley, and James Valentine. I am especially interested in tracing Janet Stewart. Does anyone know her married name? I would be most appreciative of any help that you could give me.
Regards, Velma Adams (vmribbon@telus.net)
Murrays - Forest Gate 1833
I am researching my family tree, and find that my 2 x great grandfather had a Shoemakers at 3 Forest St. Forest Gate, he originally came from Ramsden Bellhouse, Essex, and his wife also was born in Ramsden Bellhouse, Mary Ann Layzell. they were married at St.. Martins in the Fields in 1833, and I find on the 1841 Census they are living at Forest Place , Forest Gate. Can anyone tell me where Forest Place, is or was.
One of his sons my great grandfather was Walter Murray born 1845, and he had a Stonemasons business 24 Forest Road. Forest Gate. When he married in 1867 he was living at 6 Chapel Place, Anyone tell me where this is or was.
If anyone can tell me anything about these businesses or the people, would be obliged, and would dearly love to hear from any ancestors of the above named persons.
Maureen Murray (john@jsgar.worldonline.co.uk)
Lasting Friendships from the War Years
I grew up in Beauchamp Road, Forest Gate, having lived for a short time in Elmhurst Road School after our house in Neville Road was bombed in an air raid in the dark days of 1940. Mrs Edge, who owned the house, had moved to Saffron Walden to avoid the bombing and on hearing of our plight instructed her agent to find us and install the three of us, father, mother and six-year old son, in her own house, No 40 Beauchamp Road, fully furnished and just as she left it. It was here that I forged lasting friendships with two boys of my own age that still endure today – Roy Shipton, who lived next door at No 42, and Don Thompson, from No 13. We grew up together, through frequent day and night bombing raids during the darkest days of the war, the V1 Doodlebugs and V2 rockets and survived to celebrate the victory with a stupendous street party in 1945.
Front row: Alan ‘Windy’ Winfield, Donald Thompson, June Hosford
Back row: John Fordree, Roy Shipton, Pat Triphook, Minetta Laws
Other friendships from that time have not survived the years and I would like to trace any of the other friends in the following picture, when we were all around 14 years old, particularly Minetta Laws who lived next door at No 38. The photo was taken in 1948 on a visit to The London Zoo as members of The Penguin Club, founded by Roy’s father, who was also a local Scout leader.
Don, Roy and I went to Elmhurst Road School until we sat scholarships for other establishments – Don to St Bonaventures Grammar School in nearby St Anthony’s Road, Roy to Stratford Grammar School (where he met Alan Winfield), while I, after a short spell at Harold Road School, was awarded a place at West Ham Municipal College, where I studied engineering until I told a furious Mr Free, Head of Engineering, that I was taking a different career path to become a journalist, the profession I've chosen to follow throughout my working life. I still carry a press card.
John Fordree Johnfordree@aol.com
A Longshot
I was born in Forest Gate in March of 1973 and, for various known and unknown reasons, I was put up for adoption at birth, put into a foster home and at the age of 6 months adopted to a family in Hastings.
The name of my mother on my birth certificate was Sandra Anne Kehoe and she was 19 when she had me, so she would now be 50. She called me Melanie! I'm not sure that the surname is correct as I have tried to trace a birth certificate for her and had no luck. I know that she had a step father so could have taken his name. Also on my birth certificate she says she was a telephonist and was born in Kensington.
The address on the birth certificate is 115a Godwin Road, and I have visited this address 10 years ago, it was a flat above a chip shop.
Were you in Forest gate around this time, did you know my mother?
Anyone with any information however trivial can contact me at the following e-mail address: tigermarch2003@yahoo.co.uk
Thank you.
Can You Help?
My partner & I have been tracing our family history with some luck, but unfortunately we have a big problem with my partners grandfather and his ancestors.
Gordon Davies was born on 6th April 1913 at Forest Gate Sick Home to Elizabeth Ann Davies. This information was found on his birth certificate, but no more information can be found. Can anyone help with information on either Gordon or Elizabeth, any information would be very much appreciated.
Many thanks.
Yours sincerely, Michelle Webb (shelly.tony11@btinternet.com)
Clutching at Straws
I realise that I am probably clutching at straws but I am trying to trace any family of Joan Margaret May Slade, who spent some time in Tylney Road in Forest Gate around 1945.
Joan was my father's mother and we have no information on her family. If you know of any information resources that may help then I would be most grateful.
With many thanks, Jane Norris (Pnorris6@aol.com)
Freeman Family of Forest Gate
What a very interesting site this is and very informative, I wonder if anyone can help me in my search,
My father, Frederick Freeman was born at number 11 Dames Road Forest Gate in 1904, he had six brothers and sisters and they were all born in the Forest Gate and West Ham area.
I guess times were very hard in those days and the family moved houses many times, Ingestre Road. Paliament Place, Strode Road and Sandringham Road among them.
I am trying to trace the children of my fathers elder brother, William Henry Freeman and Eadie, their children are William H L Freeman born 1920, Josephine (Joyce) Freeman born 1922 and Betty Freeman born 1927, the family lived in Broxbourne Road in the 1950s.
The photo is of Joyce and Betty Freeman, I would like very much to trace them, or their children. If I am successful, it would be the first time in history that the whole family would be in contact with each other and I can finish the tree.
It is a rather long story, but I have only discovered this since this year, following a journey to New Zealand.
William Henry was the first born in 1897 and stayed in England, the next son, Walter Charles Freeman was put to sea as a cabin boy, at the age of 9 by his mother as punishment for breaking a church window, he stayed at sea until jumping ship in Canada at 14, then lied about his age and joined the Canadian Army. I have traced his two sons out there.
The next son, Francis George Freeman also went to sea and jumped ship in Australia 18 and made a life out there, I have traced and contacted his two sons.
There was a sister, Nellie, who also had two sons, she ended up in New Zealand and I have contacted them too. I discovered also that my father had a younger sister, Lilian, but she died at the age of 20 from TB in 1930, my father also had TB but recovered, it seems that TB was rife in the area in the 1930s.
I would be grateful if anyone can assist me in finding them and if anyone has a photo of 11 Dames Road that would be a bonus.
Sincerely, Ray Freeman (rayfreeman@btinternet.com)
An Ex-Resident Writes . . .
Just for fun I typed in Forest Gate into Google and was astounded to find this area had an actual web site!
Since I live in Sylmar, California why would I do that?
Our family was one of the first immigrants from India who settled in Forest Gate in 1962 at a home in 66 Glenparke Road. My brother and I attended St. Bonaventure's School and my sisters, St. Angela's. We were members of St. Anthony's RC Parish. We did not have a car so we got to know the streets and shops of Upton Lane, Woodgrange Road, Romford Road and Green Street very well. The main supermarkets were Sainsbury's on Romford Rd, Fine Fair on Woodgrange Rd near Forest Gate Station and later the Co-op on Upton Lane. I thought at that time the Co-op layout was really innovative. There were many occasions that I helped my mother wash clothes at the Launderette on Upton Lane. When I got older, one of my favorite places was the Spotted Dog pub on Upton Lane.
I left Forest Gate in 1966 to attend Liverpool University. I never returned to live in Forest Gate because I got my first job in Oldham, Lancashire in 1969. By 1974 I emigrated to Canada. For the past 21 years, Southern California has been my home. My parents eventually left the area in 1977 for Canada. One of my sisters ended up in Spain, the other in Basingstoke and my brother in Slough. We know of only one friend who still lives there at 22 Glenparke Road.
Our dad purchased our terraced home for 2,800 Pounds in 1962. When they left in 1977 they sold it to my brother for 16,000 Pounds. I have no idea what he sold it for when he moved to Slough many years later. It will be interesting to know what that property would sell for today.
I have two unusual memories living there. The area had a terrible fog during our first winter in Forest Gate. It lasted for days and everything turned black. On Easter Sunday in 1963, we had a freak snow storm that filled the streets with snow, waist high.
I came across my 6th Form Class photo of 1965 while looking for something else today. It was in color. One thing really stood out. Every boy was white except I! I'm certain the demographics would be very different today.
The Forest Gate web site taught me more about the area than I ever knew. My family and I have happy memories living on Glenparke Road. I sincerely appreciate that people actually took the time to create and maintain a site like this. I shall go back often.
Yours sincerely, Edwin Bernard, California, USA (edbernard@mac.com)
From Canada
Hi there from British Columbia, Canada.
I discovered your site while trying to track down my mother's roots. I learned a lot about where she was born: didn't realize it is so close to London. It made sense for me to see the map and realize the horror of what she went through with bombs dropping and being bombed out twice with my two eldest siblings.
Can you give any help in trying to track down who her mum and dad were? The only information I have is that his name was Frederick North, her mum was Gertie and they lived in Forest Gate when my mum Gladys Vera was born in 1916. She had a brother, Fred, a sister Freda and a half brother Gordon, (from her dad's second marriage to Lydia). Gertie died in 1919 when my mum Gladys was 3 years old. That's all I have to go on at this point. Any help on where to get started with this would be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely, Susan Wardle, BC, Canada (abe_1_1 @hotmail.com)
Good morning From Australia (part 1)
I hope you can help me solve a mystery concerning my family's heritage.
I am currently writing a novel which loosely traces the life of Alice Grafton.(born14th April 1884). I have knowledge that her father was born in Cheltenham Glous.. in 1842 and died in South Australia in 1888.He was the son of a wealthy wool Draper (Grafton Mr. Wm. C., 7 Pitville villa Cheltenham).
As family history tells, Alice left Australia sometime @ 1909 to stay and study singing under Dame Clara Butt. I have a copy of her autograph book which has her address in London as 419 Mowford Rd, Forest Gate. Unfortunately the name of the street is hard to decipher and it could also be Nowford. I have been unable to track down this address and would very much appreciate your help. I would be most grateful to know also the name of the residents if that is possible to find out. (as I have no idea with whom she stayed and what the connection was to Forest Gate.) Her Mothers Maiden name was Stoneham and their family were from SSX.
Also do you know if Upton park Essex is close by? I have a love note to her, from one W.Harry Biles 98 Harold Rd, Upton Park Essex. Alice would have been around 15 when she went to London,if you could point me in the direction of any good research material that would help me I would be most grateful.
Thank you for you kind attention to this matter,
Deborah Pintur, Melbourne, Australia (deb@itw.com.au)
... Part 2
I was quite surprised to come across you website.
I have lived in Victoria, Australia for the last 35 years. I was born in Canning Town, but after the War lived in a Prefab in Odessa Road, Forest Gate. I went to Odessa Road School, then to Whitehall Place where we played on the roof. I still have my report book. Miss McAllister was Head Mistress, but later Mr. Rose was brought in to straighten out the school.
We used to walk once a week back to Odessa Road School as that was where the wood working classes were. We passed a tiny shop in the wall were an old lady sold Pop for a penny a bottle. I remember old Doctor Watson who owned the Chemist Shop in Woodgrange Road. He gave all the children a cough lolly when they came in, no matter how bad it tasted. I can see him now riding along on his old black roadster bike, with his long white hair flowing behind him.
You mentioned the fire at the orphanage in Forest Lane. My Great Grandfather was Superintendent of West Ham Fire Brigade, William Jones, and was at that time stationed at Forest Gate Fire Station, which was by the Railway Station. He received a medal for rescuing many of the children from that fire. I went to Saturday morning pictures at the Odeon, by the Princess Alice, and roller skated at the Forest Gate Rink.
You site triggered these memories.
Regards, Ray Jones (banjones@iprimus.com.au)
My Birthplace!
I was born in Beauchamp Road in Feb. 1935,where I lived until moving to Hornchurch in 1971.
I lived there throughout the war years,and was educated at Elmhurst Rd School, then Upton Lane. When that was bombed, we were sent to the "Sarah Bonell Finishing School for young ladies" (imagine that now!!!). After some more moving i was eventually sent to St Antonys RC school. I finished up at St Bonaventures Grammar School in St Antonys Rd.
I can remember seeing a V2 rocket coming down,and that memory will stay with me forever. It landed on the Carter Pattison haulage yard in Romford Rd.(Opposite the Pigeons),killing 3 people and several horses.
My school pal and neighbour was Ted Childs the famous TV writer and producer (Sweeney,Z Cars, The Professionals, etc).
Forest Gate still holds many fond memories for me, and always will, particularly the closeness of the people, especially during the dark days of the war. I can even now put a name to every house in Beauchamp Rd, and still visit in my car, sit outside No 13 and let my mind wander back to probably the best days of my life.
Thank you for a very interesting site.
Don Thompson (lok99@tesco.net)
Billy Joel?
I realise this is a long shot, but I wonder if you could please assist. I have just started a life long journey into my geneology.
I am searching for information on my Grandfather William Frederic Joel, born 05 July 1908 at Forest Gate. His passport simply gave his name as Bill Joel.
The passport describes him as a Private Secretary, aged 31 when issued on 25/06/1920. It goes on to describe him at 5ft 10 inches tall, with Grey Eyes, fair hair and a mole on upper lip.
His wife was Cathryn. She was born 10/09/1905 and died 01/10/97.
This is truly all the information I have on them and am desperate to search out my history.
Should you have any information on these members of my family I would be most grateful, or if you have any hints or tips on how I can discover more on them, or whom I could contact in the Forest Gate region - I would be so appreciative.
Many thanks,
Briggitta du Plessis, South Africa (breeze2@telkomsa.net)
Lived There!
Your site brings back some memories, I used to live Sherrard Road in the 1950`s then moved to 191 Strone Road in the late 50`s and was there till 1970 when I moved to Leyton. I went to Monega Infants and Junior School before going onto Sandringham Secondary School which I left in 1966.
In those days I chummed around with the likes of Barry Fitch, whose parents ran a cafe on Romford Road, Alan Leonard who lived up the road to me, Graham Ellis who lived over the road, John Weir who lived up the road near High Street North.
I always look back on those days with fond memories we used to play on the school football team together for all our school years back then. I now live in Canada on Vancouver Island in British Columbia and have been here for 25 years.
Keep up the good work I love going into your web page to remember home.
All the best
Terry Knowles, Vancouver, Canada (Terry.Knowles@norskecanada.com)
Help: Who remembers Alan and James Webster?
Is there anyone who recognises following names and addresses or has some information about them?
1. Alan Webster (connected in some way to the S/S Cardiganshire, Royal Mail Steam Packet Company) 27 St James Road, Forest Gate, Essex, and,
2. James Webster, The Mall House, Wanstead, Essex (related to Alan Webster). If it is right that the S/S Cardiganshire was scrapped in 1929, Alan and James Webster were at the addresses mentioned above, before 1929.
This picture was taken in about the same range of years:
It is possible that one of the Websters or their relatives took it. The text was written on the backside of the photo but unfortunately, a part was cut off and also was the text.
The background is: my mother Raymonde Geeraerts, was born in 1915 in Stratford, Romford Road, during World War 1. Her parents were refugees. I'm trying ( on het demand ) to trace the people she and my grandparents knew during their stay in London.
Addresses and photo are from that period, and that's about all we have.
Many thanks.
Paul Claes, Belgium (claesp2@tiscali.be)
Help Needed
I'm looking for information on the Allen family, who lived at 24 Hampton Road, Forest Gate, from the late 1880s into the 1890s at least (I don't know when they moved).
Sidney Herbert Allen was a bank clerk. His wife was Emily (Hollington) and their children were Sid, Arthur, Winifred (who married Fred Medleycott and lived in Fulham), Fred, Grace (who nursed during WW1 then moved to Vancouver, Canada), Ethel (who may live in Yorkshire now) and ?
This family is such a mystery (even though Grace was my husband's grandmother) that I'm not even sure of the "fact" that they were Jewish. Was there a Jewish community in Forest Gate at the turn of the century?
Any information most appreciated.
Joan (je_fisher@telus.net)
Help needed to identify Mayor
 |
Hello, I have been requested to identify an old photograph.
It is of a mayor (I do believe) and it was taken at F.W.Clark's Studio at 284 Romford Road, Forest Gate. I presume the date is the early 20th century. Any chance anyone knows who it was and when it might have been taken? Presumably if it is of a mayor, it would be at his time of appointment. Many thanks in advance. Alan F. Ellis, Vancouver, BC. (alan_ellis@telus.net) |
Just a couple of quick answers
St.James church was on the corner of Forest Lane and St.James Road but was destroyed during the war I think.
The name of the school with a playground on the roof was Whitehall school. It was demolished around 1969-70 when Forest Gate community school was built to replace it.
...and the new library is meant to represent Forest Gate, I think. The forest on the windows and the gate. The windows are the only thing I like!
Carol Price (c43pennyarcade@hotmail.com)
It was not until the 1870s that the area to the south of Wanstead Flats become recognizably a London suburb.
As a native of the area, I continue to be amazed and saddened by the fact that so many called historians, pundits and politians refer to this area as been part of London (pre 1965). Anyone with half a brain, who has read about the history of this area and the rest of Newham will realise that the area was in fact part of ' Metropolitan Essex', along with Leyton, Leytonstone, Walthamstow and Ilford, and not London!! Has everyone forgotten or what?
The only book that I have read, which I feel correctly tells the story of Newham without spin is book called 'Discovering Essex In London' by Kenneth J Neale.
Back to this area being part of an 'Inner London Borough' (another label I have problems with) You'll find that to most people who were born and bred in the area would not class Forest Gate as Inner London!
Herbee Thomas
The search for my father's mother
For twenty years I have been searching for my father's mother in England.
My father searched all his life, trying to find who his mother was, who he belonged to, to know his identity. He had no birth certificate.
My father, Albert, was emigrated to Western Australia in 1927 as a boy aged 8 years old under the auspices of the Fairbridge Child Emigration Scheme. Until he was a teenager he stayed at the Fairbridge Village school in Pinjarra, just out of Perth, and joined the Australian Army as a private, serving in the Middle East and New Guinea campaigns of the Second World War. He took up a War Service Land Settlement farm in our beautiful south west, married and raised five children. I am the eldest daughter and I long to know of details of my grandmother.
Two days ago I had confirmation of her details. Her name was Mabel Ethel Powell and she gave birth to my father on 9th June 1919 at the Forest Gate Sick Home. I would like to know as much about her as possible and if there are any living relatives. There is so much catching up and celebration to be had.
With kind regards.
Barbara Powell, Australia (bpowell@dodo.com.au)
About The Gate
I like your website-it serves a real purpose.
I saw the entries about 'The Gate' ,the new non-library. This place, which contains very few books, but plenty of yob kids playing with computers, tells you everything you need to know about Newham Council.
Firstly, in this class-ridden country, the council is dominated by middle-class people who are ashamed of being middle class-hence the desperate dumbed down attempts to gain street cred. They would rather die than give kids the same cultural opportunities that they themselves had. So you get a library with no books and a silly 'cool' name that is really just a walk in centre so that the passive victims of council policy can patiently queue up to be told why the council has failed to deliver on its 'service' commitments (keeping the streets clean, providing proper public lavatories etc).
Ironically, if you go next door to Ilford in distinctly un-hip Redbridge, which for most of its existence has been run in the interests of allegedly philistine Tory businessmen, you will encounter one of the best libraries I've ever seen-it even outdoes some university libraries.
Which just goes to show-nobody hates education quite as much as the progressive middle classes.
Incidentally, there's a second hand shop a few doors down from the Gate which, in a corner, carries a much better book stock. At 40p per item this represents far better value than the millions of pounds of public money that have funded the Gate(can you imagine the planning meeting at which the Robins and Ruperts decided on this right-on , ever so contemporary name?)
Best wishes
Mac
A nostalgic return to Forest Gate, London E.7.
I recently bought a computer and looked up my birthplace and the area where I was brought up and went to school - Forest Gate.
I lived with my parents and brothers in Clova Road, from 1931 until 1939 and then returned after the war in 1945 until we moved to north west London in 1951.
I went to school in Godwin Road and after the war to Pitmans college in Romford Road. My parents had a business in Wentworth Street, London e. 1. and used the 63 tram, followed by the 663 trollye-bus or 25b bus.
I remember the beautiful church on the corner of Norwich rd and romford rd. We also attended the Synagogue in Earlham Road.
I remember the land mine which I believe destroyed the Princes Alice pub on the corner of romford road & Woodgrange rd. Also I remember there were two cinemas almost next to each other in romford road by the Princes Alice pub called the Queens and the Odeon.
I have drive a cab in London for the past 40 years and believe me, I have seen many changes and whenever I get a fare east, I always stop at no. 56 Clova Road and have a look at the house and look at the window which was my bedroom of 7o to 55 years ago. I remember walking along Margery Park Road towards and into West Ham Park.
My brothers attended a school near to Forset Gate station which had a playground on the roof.
Gerald Lewis, Lympstone, Devon (Casalewis7@aol.com)
Greetings from Las Vegas
I am attaching a picture of my gr-grandmother and her daughters. I was hoping you could tell me a bit more information about where it was taken. This Nichols' family lived in Forest Gate around the turn of the century.
Stated on the back of the photo is "Taken in back of Crawford House" -Forest Gate - a notation also states it is now a hotel? I recall my grandmother saying it was on Romford Road. I could be wrong. My gr-grandfather John Nichols (The older woman's husband) had a 'chain' of butcher stores in the area for a number of years until his death in 1922.
At time of death he was living at #2 Atherton Road, Forest Gate and the son John Nichols Jr. who took over the butcher shops lived at 31 Dames Road, Forest Gate. Do you know offhand if the house on Atherton is still standing?
According to your website there have been a lot of changes in the area. I look forward to any information you may have! Thank you
Cindy Giallanza, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA (Kodachrome362@hotmail.com )
Tower Hamlets Road
I am trying to find information about my grandmother, whom I never knew, who lived at 95 Tower Hamlets Road and was married to Robert Muir at St. James Church, Forest Gate, in 1907 (this information is from her marriage certificate).
I would appreciate knowing what kind of establishment was located at 95 Tower Hamlets Road and where St. James Church was located in 1907. I have searched all the 'church sites' on the web and come up with nothing about this church that I believe was Church of England.
Even if you could tell me where to obtain this information, I will be truly grateful.
Thank you.
Roberta Muir, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (muir43@hotmail.com)
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