Since I started renewing and updating this website I’ve had some interesting comments from new readers. Very recently I was contacted by Lesley who wrote:
“I lived in Corfield Street from 1956 and the layout of the flats had changed from those shown on your archive pages. I could probably provide a rough outline of our flat if it is of interest. Also, by that time the top of the buildings were flat and provided a place for people who did not live on the ground floor (who had direct access to the communal yard between the buildings), to dry their washing in the fresh air. In the winter it was great fun to go up there and have a snowball fight across the street with kids on the roof of the opposite building.”
As one my the main goals of this site is to collect together stories and information from those who lived in the estate I was very keen to get in contact with her and find out more. Luckily Lesley was extremely generous with her time and agreed to answer some questions and even sent over some photographs and a plan of her flat as it was when she lived in it.
First here are the Photographs she sent me.
“Here is a copy of the best picture of Corfield Street I have found in my photo collection. I guess that it was taken about 1960. The photo is taken from the Three Colts Lane end looking along the street, with Ainsley Street buildings visible in the distance. The buildings on the left (that I lived in) have now been demolished as you know. The raised ‘boundaries’ around the bottom of the buildings originally housed iron railings which I guess were recycled during the war.”
It’s interesting to see the blocks on the western side of Corfield Street, they’ve since been demolished to make space for the series of houses in Cul-de-sacs and the open garden space at the north end of Corfield Street. I have tracked down some more images of these blocks which you can see here.
“This one is taken looking toward Three Colts Lane, at the same time as the original photo I sent through.”
“I think this was taken on Boxing Day 1962 – the big snow”
“Me with my primary school in the background (it is still there as a business centre I believe) – Hague Primary School. Weavers Field as is (directly behind me) was then just a bomb site.”
“The last photo is taken in Three Colts Lane at a similar place, looking back towards Wilmot Street. If I remember correctly, the building on the left (just beyond the priest) was a Barnado’s boys home at the time.”
“I have also done a ‘rough’ outline of our flat in Corfield Street. We were on the side of the block without the bay window. I remember that at the entrance to the flats there were under stairs store rooms which you could rent to put bikes etc. in.”
I commented to Lesley that the layout seemed fairly similar to their current configuration and she replied that “one of my Uncles went to view the converted flats when they became available in the 60’s and he said that to make the bigger units, the joining wall (shown as the right hand side kitchen wall in my diagram) between the two flats had been removed to make one larger flat.”
Lesley was then very kind and spent time answering some questions I had:
How old were you when your family moved to Corfield Street ? .. where they from Bethnal Green originally ?
I was 2yrs old when my family moved to Corfield St.in 1956. My fathers family are all from the area, my mothers family was from Kent.
What did your family do ?
My father worked as a production controller in the ‘rag trade’ and was based in various places in London – Aldgate, Mortimer St (W.End) etc.. My mother worked as an accountant at Allen and Hanbury’s in Bethnal Green, just around the corner in Three Colts Lane! I remember that site quite well, the main building now being the Pill Box.
Did you have any relatives living nearby ?
Most of my fathers family also lived in Bethnal Green. One sister and one brother lived in Brady Street mansions in Brady Street with their respective partners. Brady St mansions looked fairly similar to Corfield Street but with a communal ‘front courtyard’ – I don’t know if they were built by the same company. Another brother lived in St Matthews Row (west of Weavers Field) and his mother and youngest brother both still lived in Barnard House in Ellsworth Street (opposite the Bethnal Green Road end of Ainsley Street). My paternal grandmothers brothers and sisters also lived in the area, having been born there. When I traced my family tree, I gathered my grandmother had never lived further than 2 miles from where she was born, except when evacuated during the war!
Can you describe your childhood when living in Corfield Street ?
I remember living in Corfield St with mostly fond memories. I had friends from school also living in the street and we used to play outside together when our parents allowed which was usually for a couple of hours after school. At that time Corfield St was designated a ‘play street’ (there were signs at both end of the street) which meant that through traffic was prohibited. We rode our bikes and played football or cricket with the other kids in the street. Violet Street was accessible by an arch between the buildings and was a pedestrian cut through. Someone had drawn stumps on the wall at the end with chalk and it was a favourite place to play cricket. The security guards in the entrance lodge at A&H were forever retrieving balls for us! As we got older we were allowed to stray further afield on our bikes but only to explore the surrounding area of the Waterlow Buildings. On Sundays the ‘winkle man’ used to come around, pushing his barrow ladened with shell fish – winkles, whelks, prawns. I also remember the ‘Corona man’ came once a week – this time with a lorry full of fizzy pop. Of course there was always the rag and bone man.
Did you go to school locally ?
I went to Hague Primary School (Mape Street) until I was 11yrs old.
Are there any particular local shops or pubs that you remember ?
I always remember Ron’s the barber on the corner of Corfield St and Three Colts Lane and the 2 shops (a newsagent and a grocers) as previously described between Finnis and Wilmot Street. I think the now Good Shepherd Mission was a Barnado’s Home at that time. There was also a pub on Three Colts Lane, but I’m not sure what it was called, being too young to notice – it might have been the Lamb on the corner of Wilmot St but I can remember another too – which was probably The Duke of Wellington, just around the corner next to A&H. I remember the Police Station on Bethnal Green road, The Shakespeare pub next door (where a neighbour held their post marriage festivities) and the shop on the corner of Wilmot St which is Furniture Xpress now was a furniture shop then too. Obviously Kelly’s pie and eel shop was a staple and we used to go to the Brick Lane to purchase bagels from the many jewish bakers in the area. There used to be many market barrows running along the southern side of the Bethnal Green road from Wilmot St to Vallance Rd selling groceries, fruit and sundries. There was a fish stall (outside of Kelly’s I think) which sold fresh eels, which would be sleepily slithering around on ice. There’s an old story (no idea if its actually true) to the effect that one day an eel escaped and was making its way across the Bethnal Green road. A woman waiting at the stall shouted out to the stall holder ‘quick, save that eel, it’s just about to be run over by a bus!’ The stallholder stopped the bus just in time, retrieved the eel and returned to his stall. The woman who had shouted out then said ‘I’ll have that one’ at which point the fishmonger chopped the head and tail off, split it, removed the guts and wrapped it up and sold it to her.
Do you remember the buildings themselves ? .. were they in good condition at that time ?
At my time in Corfield St (1956-1966) I thought the buildings were nice and in good shape, looked after proudly by the residents. People took it in turn to wash down the communal stairs and I don’t remember there being any rubbish around, even in the alleyways. There was no feeling of ‘slum’ or ‘underpriviledged’ and most parents were able to pay for their kids school dinners. In those days if you couldn’t afford to pay for dinner, you had a different colour dinner card, so it was pretty obvious who was really poor.
Do you know if they had been altered much from their original Victorian state ?
I was far too young to realise the provenance of the buildings.
Was the roof pitched or flat when you lived there ? .. were you able to gain access to the roofs ?
The building roofs were communal (ran the length of each block) and flat. They were accessed from the top floor of the stairway which ran up to an access door which were mounted on the side of a raised rectangle. As I said previously, when the snow came we had snowball fights across the road from there with the kids from the opposite side of the road.
What state was Weavers’ Fields in at this time ? .. where any of the old cottages still present ?
Weavers Field was a bomb site in those days and wasn’t developed until after my time I think. There were no buildings there to my recollection.
Do any local characters or stories spring to mind ?
The east end was full of characters in those days, but none in my street that I particularly remember. The Krays were pretty active at that time of course and Vallance Road was not far away. Interestingly they seemed to be pretty well respected in the area by the ‘populus’ (and not from a fear of them) – as they were seen to ‘look after their own’. I remember the shooting happening in the Blind Beggar and local rumours were that some of the Krays ‘victims’ were disposed of in the concrete pillars of the then under construction Bow flyover. It will be interesting to see if this urban legend is proved correct if the flyover is ever removed!
I have found some information that the Improved Industrial Dwellings Co. changed its name to Greencoat Properties in 1962, it seems that soon after this questions were asked about the condition of the buildings and the local Authority stepped in and took them over very soon after. Here’s a quote:
“During the Twentieth century, Waterlow’s buildings, were sorely neglected. They had moved from the management of the Improved Industrial Dwellings Company to Greencoat Properties Ltd. By the early 1960s these flat were described as ‘malodorous litter dens’. In 1962 Greencoat threatened tenants on the nearby Waterlow estate with doubled rents or eviction, which led to a rent strike. The result was the purchase of all former IIDCo properties in the area by Tower Hamlets council in the 1960s.”
Do you know anything about this ?
I do not remember anything about a rent strike (I wasn’t paying it of course) and the description of ‘malodorous litter dens’ does not square with my memories of the place up until 1966.
When did you move away ?, did you stay in the Bethnal Green area ?
We moved to newer rented accommodation in South London in 1966 (before the world cup).
Have you been back and visited since you left ?
Yes, I have been back a couple of times while researching my family tree.
Lastly, I’ve heard a rumour about a man who lived on Wilmot Street in the 1960s who won the pools. Apparently he paid the rent of everyone nearby .. I don’t suppose you ever heard this story ?
I definitely remember a man in Wilmot Street winning the pools. I think he may have been widowed (or divorced) as I think that only his daughter lived with him. It was certainly big news at the time – not sure how much he won but something like £2k or £5k comes to mind. It was a fortune in those days. I cannot confirm the story that he paid the locals rent though.
I want to thank Lesley for taking the time to find and send over these photographs and answer all my questions so thoroughly. I’d also like to thank her for giving me permission to share them here. This is precisely what I had hoped this site would become – a place to share stories and piece together the story of the Estate over the years.
If you or someone you know lived on the Waterlow Estate at any point I would absolutely love to hear from you. Please drop a line in the comments and I’ll be in touch.
It was my next door neighbour at 117 Wilmot Street who won the Pools. He won £25,000 riches beyond our wildest dreams in those days. I don’t think he did pay everyone’s rent that was a rumour that went around. He did buy a Rolls Royce, which neither he nor any of the family ever got around to learning to drive. It sat outside the flats for a couple of years getting dirty, and eventually disappeared. They were a rather different sort of family. He was in his 30’s I think and unmarried, lived with Mum and Dad and another grown up brother. Kept to themselves and never spoke to anyone. We were the two basement flats with back doors opening on to a small yard, and they grew a very high hedge must have been over 7′ all round their back yard so no one could see in. We moved away to Cranbrook Estate in 1962 and they were still living there.
Hi Janis, Thank you so much for the shedding some light on this story. I’ve had quite a few replies on the Facebook group that also add some more perspectives. I’m going to put together a post this weekend and keep evolving and adding to it as more information comes to light, do you mind if I email you and ask you a couple of extra questions this weekend ?
thanks once again.
Janis, do you remember me from Hague st school.
I am Emmet Hayes
Emmet Hayes
I remember you from school you moved to Cambridge Heath road just past the stn On the left
Also a list of kids on our street and ainsley street Finnis st wilmot st
I remember
Corfield Gordon collingwood
Derek van teenam ?
Jimmy o Leary
John higggelton
John king
John wood house
David wood house
Peter mears
Chris ayling
Stanley Ford
Billy Vaness
Tony plaster
John simmons
Peter flowers
Paul grainier
Alan ball
Brian dipple
John swift
Derek king
David Yates
George Copeland (corner. Shop ainsley st/willmot st
Alan bridgeman
Jeffery sleet
Michael Hughes
Alan duggan (corner shop corfield st)
Frankie bennett
Eddy sweeney
Girls
Barbara evans
Carol Cooper
Jackie Lawrence
Brenda. Lawrence
Jean sweeney
Pat silk
Denise sinclair
Carol petts
Valerie Bennett
Gillian atkinson
Sorry if I’ve forgotten someone it’s belong time hahahha
Janis, you must remember me, Emmet Hayes. We were at Hague street together. We were i the same class with Mr Epps.
My name is Jim Patton and I was born at 99 Corfield Street in 1952. My mates were Jimmy Chandler, Connie Taylor and Micheal Pearce who lived in Ainsly Street. I also knocked about with the Kirk twins who lived in the Lamb pub in Three Colt’s Lane. I went to Stewart Hedlam school and we moved out in 1962
Hello Jim,
I lived in Corfield street but Im afraid I don’t remember you, but I do remember Cornelius Taylor and his sister Christine as they moved in along my landing when we all moved to Cranbrook Estate, down Roman road in 1964. I can’t remember the Kirk twins, but I do remember Stephen Kirk from the Lamb Pub, I’m sure he had bright ginger hair, perhaps he was an older brother to the twins!
Hi my name is Elaine Bradley( nee Ilett) I lived in Corfield st number 347 from birth 1954 till I was 12 then I moved to wilmot street the end block thats now behind mcdonalds I went to hague st school and then to st Judes in old bethnal green rd. The roofs were flat on Corefield and Wilmot and we used to sun bathe up there in the summer amongst the chimney pots and when we played run outs we used to hide up there as you could come down any block for half the length of the street. And my nan used to be the cook in the Lamb pub at the end of Wilmot st, round the corner from that in between wilmot and finnis st (my husband Micky Bradley came from Finnis st) was Alans the paper shop and Ernie’s the grocers were you could sit an have a chat, all my mums and most of my dads relations lived in Corfield. Finnis. Wilmot or Ainsley st. As you used to just tell the council if you had a brother or sister that were getting married and they would get a flat quite quickly.
Hi!!!! oh my gosh, I cant believe this website exists im soo happy, thank you sooo much! I recently moved out of Corfield street in nearly 2 years ago from 262 , Ive lived there for 15years and I miss it greatly. I now live in Poplar. Im still a student so Corfield street as supposed to now didnt change for me much.When I was there it was a multicultural neighbourhood and people got on really well as neighbours, I one of the things I love most about it. I love History and always wondered what the history behind Ainsley street to corfield street to weavers field and everything in between. Ive been looking at the images of Corfield street and laughed at the snow day image, nothing has changed xD i remember my snow days, I was in year 4 and it was May! I woke up to suddenly find bethnal green filled with a blanket of snow, my mum wasnt aware that on snow days schools were closed but we went anyway, only to find out that the snow was at knee length.School was obviously closed (I went to Hague primary school i miss it so much), I remember though my primary friends all made it too school, not knowing it was closed and we ended up playing in the snow instead in the park and in Corfield street.It was the nicest feeling ever, a real sense of community.That was one of my most memorable days. Its so nice to see these images and see others who grew up in the same area as me. Thank you so much.
My father was born in 165 Corfield Street in 1905. Not sure whether the flats were there then but would love to know more about the living conditions then if anyone can help.
Hello Mo,
Yes the flats were definitely there on Corfield Street in 1905. The Corfield Street flats were completed by 1885. As far as I have discovered so far the living conditions were considered very good for the time. It was only as the buildings aged and the facilities that were once considered ahead of their time started to become dated that there were concerns about the estate (from 1960s onwards it seems). To give you an idea here’s a transcript from a walk through the estate from Charles Booth’s Notebook dated 1898, written while compiling his Poverty Maps (https://booth.lse.ac.uk/map/14/-0.1174/51.5064/100/0)
Transcribed from Booths Notebook page 219 – Walk with Inspector Barker, District 9 [Bethnal Green, North and South], 28 March [1898]
Corfield St, Finnis St, Wilmot St + Ainslie [sic] St are all Waterlow Buildings ‘The best class of Buildings in London said Barker. Very ugly bow? windowed, 5 storied, but well look after and get in a more respectable set than any of the neighbouring streets, mechanics, police ‘even? from Commercial St, railway men: character purple to pink. china pots, flowers, clean windows none broken. In Corfield St are 43 blocks with 10 families in each. 22 blocks on the west side and 21 m[ore] on the east – 7/9 to 9/6 for 3×4 room. [no?] one roomed tenaments. At the north end of Finnis St Ainslie[sic] Street runs east and meets Corfield St. Corfield Street is continued north to the B.G road [??] Buildings on its west side & the Police Station again on its east.
Hello there. I Found this webpage by accident, so great to be able to contribute my own experiences from Living in Corfield Street. We lived at No 338 , prior to moving to Kent in late 1965. I attended Haughe Street School, along with my elder brother. We had grandparents living in Wilmott Street, and we would play football in the yard. The cut through, were cricket was played,was also where i learnt my football skills. My sister was born in 1962 and has blossemed into a true East End girl. Although we live in Kent, you cannot take the East End out of the Eastender.
Hi there everyone,
I have only just come across this website and I’m so excited as perhaps someone from there might recognise my single name which was Jean Sweeney!
My dear Mum was born in Corfield Street in 1917. I believe it was at number 206 although I’m not sure if I’ve got the right number as my mum died 3 years ago at the ripe old age of 98 but her memory of Bethnal was spot on. In 1950 I too was born in Corfield Street, number 387, which was on the 3rd floor, the block was right next to the alleyway which was called violet street. The left side of the brickwork just as you walked under the flats had a rough looking dickiebird that had been chalked or painted on it and was still there when we moved to Cranbrook estate, Roman Road in 1964. My Granddad lived in the next block which was on the right hand side of violet street, he lived on the first floor number 294. There was a grocery shop called vicky’s on the corner of Corfield st and Three Colt Lane. My brother and I had lots of friends that we would love to hear from but I’m not sure if I have the right to put their names on here without some sort of permission. I’m sure I have a couple of photos tucked away somewhere of our flat and maybe one that was taken in the street that I will try to find.
Hi Jean, Sorry I have only just seen this comment and so have only just approved it. So sorry for the delay .. I hope that you hear from some people you remember ! .. it’s also worth checking out the Streets of Bethnal Green and Waterlow Estate group on facebook – https://www.facebook.com/groups/WaterlowEstate/?ref=bookmarks
Hi Jean, your name is very familiar to me. I too lived in corfield street at exactly the same time as you. We lived at 160 top floor. I think we were at school together at Hague primary school in miss oven’s class or Mrs slade as she became.
Hello Tony,
I’m sure I remember you! We’re you blonde and quite tall for your age? and we’re your parents friends with Christine Sheffield’s parents? Also Christine Taylor’s parents?
Hi Jean. Not so blond now. Yes my parents were friends with the Sheffields. They met them in the lamb pub. At one time I had grandparents, 3 aunts and uncles and a cousin all living in the flats. We moved out in 1968 to Charles Dickens house behind tescos in bethnal green road. That was the first time I had my own bedroom at the grand old age of 18. Also we had a bath. Previous to that we used to visit York hall slipper baths for our weekly bath! I seem to remember my cousin met her husband on a march trying to persuade the council to take over the flats. I have so many happy memories of living in corfield st and going to Hague street school. A lot of the time our playground was the bomb sites and derelict houses surrounding the flats. We even found bullet shells on the way to school one day. I must sit down one day and write down all my memories before they are forgotten.
Hi Jean. Jumping in rather late here. Two things: I wonder if you or anyone remembers my ancestors Emma (d 1948) and Alfred Terry (d 1939) and their several children. They lived at 9 Finnis Street from 1911 until at least 1939. Their children were Alfred, Elizabeth, William, Lydia (my grandmother) and Beatrice.
And: My Sweeney ancestors were Jeremiah and Hanora, whose daughter Ellen married James Whitehead. They lived in BG at George Street and Carlton Road in the 1870 and 1880s. I wonder if you are related.
Well well, I remember you and your brother Eddie lived in the next block to us… Where have all those happy years gone.
Lovely reading all about corfield street i lived there from 1945 at No 52 untill we moved accross the road next to ron the barbars i must have been about 20 then i was known as george jones then
Hi, I lived in Corfield Street from a very young age until 1958/9. We then moved to Walthamstow. I thought that was very posh because we had trees in the street. I was friends with Valerie Bennett who live opposite and various others. I went first to Wilmot Street school and then on to Hague Street. My dad also went to Hague Street before me. In fact i still have his leaving report and he would have been 113 now. I also remember we had a Coronation party in the yard. Loads of tressle tables and despite the rain we had a good time.
My friend JohnWedge lived at 129, Finnis St with his mum Rose & dad Bert. Their flat had only 1 bedroom so Every night John, an only child, had to go to bed in the living room on a put u up bed.
It wasn’t until he was 17 or 18 (1965) that they were rehoused to Gainford House, Ellesworth St.
I remember Finnis St well.
Hi , I lived in finnis street until 1959 ,and first went to Wilmot Street school ,then Stewart Hedlam school through the arches , my dads mum lived in finnis street as well , at the back of our flat was Corefield street,and remember all the washing lines being pulled across with lovely white washing , also we didn’t have a bath ,and our mum use to take us to York Hall baths ,also use to go swimming at York Hall baths ,and barmy park , as family lived in Hackney ,and Roman Road bow, very happy times
Recently i bought a book with a sticker on the front with W. F. Houghton awarding the book to someone named Tony Plaster from Hague Primary in July 1961 and was researching this and found this website and thought it was really interesting thanks for making it.
Hi Oliver. Wow!!! I left hague primary school in 1961 to go to Parmiters grammar school. The only book I can recollect receiving was on leaving. This was as far as I can remember was” the cruel sea” for perseverance
Tony, I went to Hague street then on to Parmiters in 1961-ish as well. Do you remember me, I am Emmet Hayes Lived at 146 Corfield Street till about 1960.
Hi, I was born in 1946, lived in 196 Finnis St. with my parents from 1946 to 1951, we moved in 1951 to 157 Corfield St. and remember Tony Plaster, lived above us at no.160. Both my grandmother lived on the Waterlow’s Estate, one in Wilmott St and Ainsley St., Aunts. Uncles and there children (surname,s Mayor, Collingwood, Gocke) also lived in Corfield St. I went to Wilmott infant school, and then to Hague St. primary school. I have great memories of playing around the estate, I also remember we had a Coronation party in the yard. Loads of tresslle tables and despite the rain we had a good time. The caretaker of Wilmott St School, opened up the school so we could continue the party.
We moved in 1956 to Dalston, and to Essex in 1959.
Do you remember robert mundy he would walk on his toes (funny thing to remember))
Hi, I was also born 1946 in The London Hospital, and lived at 45 Corfield Street until 1963. Your name sounds familiar, as I also went to Wilmot Street infants then onto Hague Street Primary. My maternal grandparents lived at 17 Ainsley Street (name Deverill), I had other family living on the estate, you had to have a family connection to get a flat there. I have just found this site by accident. Your recollection of the Coronation Street party, brings it all back, I won a Coronation pen & pencil set but not sure why now. Playing in the street was so normal, no traffic back then, not sure there was even one car in the street in the early 50s. My maiden name was Lauraine Haswell (now Baker)
My dad and grandad once lived at no. 26 Corfield Street, Bethnal Green. Charles John Styles (my paternal grandfather) lived there from 1951 to 1964. I’d love to know what the house or flat looked like.
Hello, I have just read through this site with great interest, my name was Pat Felt and I lived in Kinsham House, attending Hague Street School until moving to CFS, Spital Square in 1963. I have fond memories of that time, and remember names of some of my classmates, and of school holidays to Swanage and the Isle of Wight. Unfortunately we didn’t have Weaver’s Field to play in, but there was a lovely expanse of green between the blocks on Hereford Estate with a concrete “castle” that was our camp, climbing frame and anything we imagined.
Hi
I lived in corfield street at 198 then to 183 then to 308 after they were converted went to Hague street school I remember mrs slade after leaving wilmot st nursery after went to Stewart headlam st for a few weeks then to hague st then. to daneford st then daniel st (gossett st)
does any one remember me from school if feel f ree to contact me if you wish
many thanks. jim sinclair
Have so much enjoyed reading this site. I was born at 80 Corfield St 1952 lived there until 1960 then we moved to Kent. I was Linda Smith my best friend in Corfield St was Kathryn Spurgeon, we both went to Wilmot infant school then to Hague St school. Our favourite play places were Victoria Park.Does anyone remember Edward Brennan ? My maternal grandparents lived in Wilmot Street. I recall a shop on corner of Finnis St that sold Lucky Numbers my favourite sweets, the market barrows in Bethnal Green road and my fascination of the live eels swimming in trays. I remember a boy called Emmet but can’t remember remember anything about him. Corfield St was then a play street with no cars allowed but there was one parked there. Roof top was flat I used to go up there sometimes to play with others.
Hi just seen this website. I lived at 44 Corfield Street and went to Hague school. I was born in 1954 and remember Lesley Larkin and Elaine Islet really well and also Sharon Haswell. Good memories. Lesley Ettridge
Does anyone remember the Stannard family???
Hello, Last night I was idly half watching a film about the Kray twins, My interest picked up when a policeman asked one of the Krays what school he attended and he replied Parmiters! My grandson attends Parmiters at Garston. Is it really true that the Krays are Old Boys?
I lived in Finnis Street from 1964 to 1970 and went to Hague School from 1967 to 1973 I left when I was 9 because we moved to Bow.
I don’t have any pictures myself, and as I moved away when I was 6 and stopped travelling back on the bus to school between 9 and 11 (guess what. I was back on the number 8 bus at 11, because I went to Daneford). I think if I had stayed until 11 I’d have remembered more classmates and more teachers names at Hague. I spent a lot of year on the number 8. I stayed on at Daneford until 1982. But that’s a whole ‘nother story.
I am trying to find out the details of the speech school or unit that was in the grounds of The Hague School Finnis Street.
My husband attended between 1957 and 1964 but we can’t find any mention of it anywhere.
We visited the school and it awakened lots of memories for my husband but we can’t even find out the name of the unit
Many thanks for your time
Looking at the dates the previous comments were posted, l do wonder if anyone will see this post.
My name is Chris Ayling and l lived in Corfield St from birth until l was 18. 1947 till 1965.
I believe in 1947 we lived at number 90, then moved to 427, of which l have the most memories and eventually down one floor to 426 ( because it was a bigger flat). There was my parents and my older brother John.
I went to Hague St school and went on to St Jude’s Church of England school went it was opened by Princess Margaret,and that in our year there was only one class with 30 girls and 4 boys. Our teacher was Miss Bone.
I remember Ron’s barbers ( which was directly beneath us) and Kittty,s corner shop opposite.
From all the names mentioned l only remember
Jimmy o Leary
Peter Mears
John Higgleton
All of which I used to hang out with. I often wonder what happened to them.
From the age of11 l used to help the milkman 7 days a week
Before l went to school l used to deliver to the left hand side of the street (looking from Three colts lane) l believe it was 21 blocks ( up one block over the roof and down the next one, delivering milk as l go.
I used th race the milkman Eddy to see who could finish the street first
Great memories great times