Memories of Walworth Camberwell & Bermondsey, When Days Were Long

[@ObservantHistorian]

I from the States and as a young man lived in Waterloo and worked in Blackfriars and later in Bermondsey in the late 70s, I was working with Blackfriars Settlement, the Waterloo Action Centre, and the Advice Centre in the Blue as a full-time student intern. I've lived all over the US and in various places around the world, but few places have ever felt as home to me as living and working in north Southwark. The photos show the area much as I remember it, before gentrification and Americanization brought such changes. Thanks for sharing these memories.

[@marke.blewer1279]

My mum, was born in Bermondsey, my dad, in Camberwell. I was born in The General Lying In Hospital, York Road, lived in Camberwell, all my life and still do. What a film to bring back so many familiar places, so many pubs I had played darts in, over forty years playing in Bermondsey, Camberwell, Peckham, Rotherhithe and Walworth. So many sights and faces, George Barnes, a familiar sight at his Sarsaparilla stall in East Lane market. A steaming hot glass of Blackcurrant, or Sarsaparilla, always warmed you up when you were being dragged the length of the market in search of bargains. The Bell, The Gladstone and The Good Intent, a few of the pubs we used to play in and around the market. Thanks for this memory jerker, memories are always individual, but other people's memories fire your own.

[@user-itschad1954]

I too was born in the General Lying In hospital and lived in Camberwell Grove.

[@dickc906]

Thank you. More photos on our group.

[@suejaneuk1681]

I was born in Kings College Hospital and lived in a tower block in Wyndham Road until 4yrs, then moved to Tulse Hill and then when I was 8 until 19, in Walworth Draco Street. We then left London and moved to Swindon and now Minehead. I loved the Liam ogs Irish pub in Walworth.

[@themassofmen]

A nice compilation which is sad to see, given the change in south London today.

[@carolwaugh5466]

I love the song, so much that I watch this whenever it turns up. The old pictures too are fascinating.

[@ttonypayne5077]

I have just re watched this all over again, So lovely the the photographs, When day's were long pure chemistry, nostalgia of my younger days 40s 50s and 60s You have to have been brought up and lived in these parts of London to feel and understand what we had or did not have. Once again thank you for sharing

[@dickc906]

Thanks

[@leakoe3797]

My parents left Camberwell in 1959 but still kept friends with Freddie Mills & his 2 daughters til his demise very sad sad news to all

[@peterclark4084]

Thank you for allowing me to join your Group. I actually live in Kent but in the 1960s worked at London Bridge and Bricklayers Arms on the railway, in 1981 on the railway again at Loughborough Junction and from 2012 to date (not retired yet) as a bus driver at Walworth garage, so I feel at home in the area!

[@QueSeraFredE]

Thank you and well done Dick. An entertaining and memory provoking compilation all set to a nice tune from Chas & Dave.

[@patrickpayne8272]

Beautiful post...I was born and brought up down "the lane"...got my first job at 6 helping to sell fruit and veg..and went to Townsend school and a lovely hard school Paragon

[@jamesmanning2516]

I went to paragon to from 1964-69 they were the days

[@mongolmcphee7791]

I worked in Bermondsey and Walworth for a couple of years when I was a young lad. 2004 - 2006. So your pictures pre-date me a bit. I loved it though. Great video well done.

[@dickc906]

Thank you!

[@Sthmohtwenty]

I work in shops on Walworth Rd in d 9000sssss I had a nice time

[@porkscratchings5428]

My missus now lives on Long Lane in a fancy new build penthouse. It’s still a shit hole in my eyes as I grew up round there in the 60’s and 70’s but new money is in and making it trendy now. Borough Market now lol, what a rip off lol. I remember going there in the old days and seeing a few guys with my Nan who she knew for cheap veg and she’d give it out to her friends on the walk back home, we all use to look after each other then. Bleedin’ hell I don’t recognise most of the place now! Nice memories on this vid. Ta! 👍

[@peterburton6223]

It's so sad, But Im so happy that our lives were real, then. And at least, wew have good memories, and the not so, so Cher's to you one and all for the people we were, and the times that made us, lv ya, x

[@dannylfcmeatloaf]

So many memories of my own, but they dont date back that far!! Fantastic video, and the song is quite fitting too.

[@dickc906]

Thank you

[@peterburton6223]

I wonder how many burtons there's around in the elephant and castle, my dad mutave,been,working for the milk man ha ha love ya all

[@kristinaspencer2037]

Arments, wonderful pie and mash, the shop where my grandad bought my first bike! I loved it.

[@porkscratchings5428]

I remember that place lol

[@RobertHoward-d8g]

I grew up in Cobourg Road, S.E.5. Went to the primary school there. The whole area was razed to make way for Burgess Park. It's amazing to think that we used to save all our pocket money, and when we had enough, travel on a Greenline bus either down into Kent, or up to Twickenham to go fishing, when people now fish in Burgess Park. I was in the choir of St. Marks church, which is now North Peckham Mosque, and the youth club based there. Soap-box carts, one-chase-all-chase, roller skates with iron wheels, Mobo scooters, building a bike out of parts found on rubbish dumps,16-a-side football matches that lasted 3 days, knock-down ginger, the shrimp & winkle man, park keepers in brown uniforms, getting a clip around the ear from the local copper - whether you'd done anything wrong or not - you usually had, or at least thought about it. A bath once a week at the bath house in Wells Way, the doctor chasing you round the surgery to give you your polio jab, East Lane on a Sunday morning then hanging around outside the Thomas A Becket in the Old Kent Road to shout "Wotcher" to Henry Cooper and his brother George as they came out after training. 'Pops' sweet shop in Brymer Road. Nah... Don't remember any of that.

[@davidlewis3201]

My dad's shop was Lewis 403 Walworth Road On the corner of Arnside Street.

[@1144abbsug]

I read , in one comment, that someone remembered the department store in Peckham, Jone’s and Higgin’s. I’ve lived in the States since 1966, and haven’t, in all that time, seen reference to the store. We lived in New Cross and on many Saturdays would go to Jone’s and Higgin’s to shop. I was about 11. Yes, memories.....loved the song!

[@adrianpollard2763]

Beautiful. Great song as well.

[@johndaarteest]

Great vid, some of these are from Lambeth Waterloo area, 5:59 is David Greigs Supermarket on Waterloo Road, 6:11 is Waterloo Station from York Road.

[@juliesmith5567]

That's a loverly one too brings back things backs memories to some who want

[@ttonypayne5077]

Thank you for sharing brought back many memories of my growing up in Southwark. Could I live there again? I do not think so, no central heating, outside toilet, gas lighting upstairs, tin bath, and a occasional trip to Manor place for public baths (Sheer luxury) But lovely and HAPPY times.

[@dickc906]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@peterburton6223]

Such happiness in long ago. Chatteris, road se17, love you my old friends, so sadly missed. But will never forget x born and bred, thank you. 😊😊🙌💞💕born in the 50s

[@carolwaugh5466]

My grandmother’s house was gas lit. I was about 4 or 5 and haven’t forgotten. I’m nearly 80 now, but childhood memories of New Cross are as fresh as ever. I love the song…..

[@user-itschad1954]

Born in Bermondsey, Rolls Road is where we lived, then moved to Peckham. I got married and we lived in Brockley Rise for about a year then to Camberwell until 1993. I remember Jones & Higgins, Edwardes bike shop in Camberwell is where we bought our kids their bicycles. I remember a Trocadero at the Elephant and Baldwins on Walworth Road, still there. Music and song for this video is very appropriate.

[@Parseenfroo]

I grew up in Dunton Road, in the railway houses at the foot of the bridge, you probably knew the Hibberts.

[@user-itschad1954]

@@Parseenfroo Well how about that? I know the Hibbert's because I am one. Do you remember the chip shop opposite Winnie Brown's newsagent. I remember the English family and a few others that I fail to recall. I now live in Yorkshire, where are you? I often travel to London to see family, maybe one day after Covid we could meet up and have a beer. Won't be The Dun Cow as it's now a doctor's surgery.

[@Parseenfroo]

@@user-itschad1954 That`s amazing! Are you David, Trevor, Colin or Tracy? I remember Peter English, he had older brothers and a collie dog. I remember the chip shop very well.

[@Parseenfroo]

@@user-itschad1954 You probably knew Steven and Gary Lettern who lived in the first house. We lived three doors down from them. I`m John and my brothers are Brian and Michael, we had a sister called Christina.

[@user-itschad1954]

@@Parseenfroo Oh yes I remember the Lettern's, used to get along famously with their mum & dad. Quaint houses they were, went down Rolls Rd about 5 years ago, didn't recognise the place, no longer a Dunton Bridge. My brother and I used to "do" the railway yard over the green gate, I couldn't climb so jumped off the bridge onto sand in the yard and we "helped" ourselves. Little girl, can't remember her name, bubbled us to the woodentops, she lived a few doors down from the English family. Oh boy, such memories, fond memories. I'm Trevor, yeah, I remember the collie. The older boy, think his name was John, was born with one leg longer than the other, or one leg shorter than the other, whichever way you look at it. My eyes, you remember all my siblings names. Well done.

[@Casshern_Sin]

Grew up around there, sad to see what state its in now.

[@rjauto7215]

Bloody hell edwardes cycles I had my first tomahawk push bike from there in 1977 my dad owned popular book centre in Camberwell green lol

[@maconescotland8996]

Really interesting - nostalgia ain't what it used to be !!!

[@dickc906]

Thanks you!

[@gordonayres2609]

Very nice . I lived in Peckham - Walworth- then Bermondsey for years.

[@Isleofskye]

Me too Gordon. Where are you now, please, Gordon?

[@dickc906]

Hi Gordon, this is Dick from the off licence!

[@uktravel8341]

Imagine if the 1952 Housing Act under Winston Churchill had never happened, which forced all of those hideous grey tower blocks on us.

[@englishcountrylife3805]

I lived there from 1985 until 1998. I loved shopping in Walworth market. I haven’t been back since.

[@dannykirton6445]

Make sure you don't as it would break your heart seeing it today, keep those memories as they are.

[@colinmorgan6733]

I was born in the Lying-In-Hospital. My Grandad had a stall on the East Lane Market. We lived near the Old Dun Cow pub. Grandparents in Lynton Road and Oakley Place.

[@ExcelTaughtQuickly]

That's Mary Poppins at 01:03 !!

[@barbarajohnson2504]

omg theys a picture of the rockingham est martin and l first flate the very block great video

[@dickc906]

Thank you

[@frankprice9386]

Happy days

[@kathyhoney7017]

I come from Walworth

[@aread2373]

My family lived at Manor Place for over 50 years. I have recently found a newspaper cutting from 1935 calling my G Grandad "one of the terrors of Walworth" His name was Ernest Gregory.

[@ttonypayne5077]

Hi a c, not being picky but I am not sure that Manor place came under Walworth I would have assumed it would have been Newington? may be some one may throw some light on this T Take care Tony

[@redflag8970]

I used to go army cadets in manor place in the 70s I came from Tulse hill know camberwell an walworth well

[@tonystoner9351]

Bobby Vernon and Fred Davey. Vernon Davey School of motoring. My employers for around 3 years in the mid 70's

[@dickc906]

Do join the FB group and message me.

[@Mikeveeh]

If I remember, wasn't Vernon Davey School of Motoring on the Old Kent Road? And wasn't it right next to the post office?

[@tonystoner9351]

@@Mikeveeh Can't remember the post office but Vernon Davey had 2 offices, 238 Old Kent Road, nearly opposite the Dun Cow and another at the Elephant end of the Walworth Road which was really just a cubby hole under the bridge.

[@Mikeveeh]

@@tonystoner9351 Yes, I remember the Vernon Davey at the end of Walworth Road also. Upon looking at the map, I see that the post office which was nearly across from The Dun Cow is still there are all these years. I don't know if it's the same post office though.

[@stevemccready6289]

may i know your name as i worked for vernon davey

[@Guccit865]

I bought my first racing bike at Edwards Camberwell in 1973 i remember it was terrible service useless staff and a year on i got ran over by a post office van i was okay but bike smashed such is life i did laugh so i bought a car from Peckham motors and never looked back or rode a bike again.

[@trevormadden4301]

Hey Man. Cheers for the videos. Based in Peckham. Wheres that at 1.24 ? Love the photo

[@dickc906]

It's St Mary's Church Street in Rotherhithe SE16. Much changed now! Thank you.

[@suejaneuk1681]

Been great if you had put the names of the roads.

[@dickc906]

This was my first attempt. The other videos were labelled but it takes a long time to do it with so many pictures.

[@spiritofsalt6780]

@@dickc906 Thank you for both and the time you spent on it, much appreciated

[@dickc906]

@@spiritofsalt6780 Thanks for the comment. Not everyone realises how much time these videos take. There are a few more on KZbin and I hope to do more in the future.

[@dannywaters7827]

good intent , early morn pub, down the lane, east street

[@billperryman6783]

Delicious Sarsaparella drinks in the bustling East Lane market where you could buy anything, a new Honda motorcycle from Edwardes..... I didn't see the old tramps lying on benches in Camberwell Green, the old, plump newspaper seller near the police station; 'NOOSTARAN STANDA!' One of my teachers told me that people used to have sheep on the Green because it was 'common land'. It's difficult to believe now that all the areas of south London were villages.

[@ttonypayne5077]

Hi Bill not a criticism so please understand my reply. Thank you. I remember one particular down and out showing me and my mates some of his medal from ww11 many of those (tramps) may have suffered what I could not imagine and were forgotten by society

[@billperryman6783]

@@ttonypayne5077 Yes, I understand they might have seen 'better' days. As a child/teenager walking through The Green, I guess I was judgemental. Now, I'm more sympathetic; sad how we still don't support our ex military as much as needed!

[@ttonypayne5077]

Thanks Bill Like you age has made a difference to myself, Take care Tony

[@RobertRobinson-x6f]

I went to comber grove school 1951/ 56 I rember salmonella poisoning of everybody at Xmas dinner 1952 accidently

[@samsum3738]

I lived in walworth from 1952 until 1956 , a great place to live , until the politcians and developers destroyed it .

[@originalherdsman3524]

Yes great times having to go out to use the loo, having no central heating , keeping the coal fire going, being the last in the old tin bath renting a tv with one chanel, starting the car with a crank handle, washing the nappies and putting them through the mangle etc etc etc What great times they were we never moaned about it though we just got on with it not like this generation of today.

[@samsum3738]

@@originalherdsman3524 where i lived in walworth , we had a fitted bath , inside toilet and an electric fire . Local pubs , East lane market , decent shops in the walworth road , the biggest cinema in the U K , top class boxing matches at Manor Place Baths, pie and mash shops , fish and chips , Bob Whites sea food shop , good community and sense of family , very little street crime , lambeth Hospital , a good health centre , a local police station and to finish , we owned our tv , which had 2 stations with the coming of ITV in 1955 .What s not to like ?

[@originalherdsman3524]

@@samsum3738 so your saying you squatted, jibed in to the events you could do and had a right good earnings on a day trip before getting back to the manner for some supping of ale 😎

[@originalherdsman3524]

@@samsum3738 only having a tin bath mate. You was lucky though to of had inside carzy and bath. I'm a sixtys born and raised with great respect for my naighbours , don’t swing on their gate if you don't want a clip round your ear. No good going home crying because you would of got another one. 😂😅 Bring back bob a job 🤗

[@samsum3738]

@@originalherdsman3524 I dare say it makes perfect sense to yourself as to what you have just written , but i lost it when you mentioned squatted and jibed .please elucidate .

[@doyoumind9356]

Co-operative House was Peckham .. top of Rye Lane

[@abzanali7779]

Not much has charged I see lol