Clark’s in the high st, still there? Mum used to take me in there to have my feet measured and then if I’d been a good lad (rarely) take me across the road to Freeman Hardy & Willis for a pair if not back home to Bowes in Charlton Village. Always got me the next size up, I think the idea was I didn’t outgrow them.
Not really the place for this, but in all the affection for the former WEBS head office some further information is appropriate. Did you know that the fashion store at the junction of Powis Street and Barnard Close (the side opposite Clarks) is the former former WEBS head office, in service as such between 1895 and 1935? I may be able to dig out a picture.
Woolwich is an odd place. Went there last year to see the boat before it got decommissioned (which I know is odd in itself but we are anoraks) anyway... The bit that really surprised me is the wrong side of the tracks (in Woolwich's case the road) where in the side close to the river all very nice, youngs? Pubs and flats for yuppies. So very seperate from the other side which has the woolwich I know, it's a bit rough but more me I guess. Never seen such an obvious divide showing gentrification. Surely something some kid at University could do a thesis on, the changing landscape of London.
It is quite remarkable. Almost apartheid, the way Woolwich Road divides the two.
The Arsenal site has always been separate, of course, but not because of money, unlike now.
It does make me hanker after a wrong side of the tracks Woolwich pub crawl though.
That would be fun, I'm sure.
It's probably the thick end of 30 years, maybe more, since I've drunk (been drunk) in Woolwich and I would like to see how many of my old haunts have changed or no longer there.
I fondly remember the Union Tavern off the back of Macbean Street back in the early/mid70s - it was my local when I was at school!
Never lived in Woolwich but remember stumbling upon an old mans type of clothes shop there on the early eighties - full of gabbicci cardigans dirt cheap - they had no idea they were in fashion - was swede and ironmongerymongous - also took me hours to work out the one way system - kept going round in circles on the 161
Ha, do you remember the name or location of the shop?
not really, but i have vague memories of it being nearer the lower road end of the centre of woolwich - a small shop in a row of othedr small shops - not that dissimilar to james terry in eltham - about all i can remember
Woolwich is an odd place. Went there last year to see the boat before it got decommissioned (which I know is odd in itself but we are anoraks) anyway... The bit that really surprised me is the wrong side of the tracks (in Woolwich's case the road) where in the side close to the river all very nice, youngs? Pubs and flats for yuppies. So very seperate from the other side which has the woolwich I know, it's a bit rough but more me I guess. Never seen such an obvious divide showing gentrification. Surely something some kid at University could do a thesis on, the changing landscape of London.
It is quite remarkable. Almost apartheid, the way Woolwich Road divides the two.
The Arsenal site has always been separate, of course, but not because of money, unlike now.
It does make me hanker after a wrong side of the tracks Woolwich pub crawl though.
That would be fun, I'm sure.
It's probably the thick end of 30 years, maybe more, since I've drunk (been drunk) in Woolwich and I would like to see how many of my old haunts have changed or no longer there.
I fondly remember the Union Tavern off the back of Macbean Street back in the early/mid70s - it was my local when I was at school!
Woolwich is an odd place. Went there last year to see the boat before it got decommissioned (which I know is odd in itself but we are anoraks) anyway... The bit that really surprised me is the wrong side of the tracks (in Woolwich's case the road) where in the side close to the river all very nice, youngs? Pubs and flats for yuppies. So very seperate from the other side which has the woolwich I know, it's a bit rough but more me I guess. Never seen such an obvious divide showing gentrification. Surely something some kid at University could do a thesis on, the changing landscape of London.
It is quite remarkable. Almost apartheid, the way Woolwich Road divides the two.
The Arsenal site has always been separate, of course, but not because of money, unlike now.
It does make me hanker after a wrong side of the tracks Woolwich pub crawl though.
That would be fun, I'm sure.
It's probably the thick end of 30 years, maybe more, since I've drunk (been drunk) in Woolwich and I would like to see how many of my old haunts have changed or no longer there.
I fondly remember the Union Tavern off the back of Macbean Street back in the early/mid70s - it was my local when I was at school!
Never lived in Woolwich but remember stumbling upon an old mans type of clothes shop there on the early eighties - full of gabbicci cardigans dirt cheap - they had no idea they were in fashion - was swede and ironmongerymongous - also took me hours to work out the one way system - kept going round in circles on the 161
Ha, do you remember the name or location of the shop?
not really, but i have vague memories of it being nearer the lower road end of the centre of woolwich - a small shop in a row of othedr small shops - not that dissimilar to james terry in eltham - about all i can remember
Facing what is now M&S. I’m sure it’s where Charlton skins got our tonic mohair suits in the late 60s.
Never lived in Woolwich but remember stumbling upon an old mans type of clothes shop there on the early eighties - full of gabbicci cardigans dirt cheap - they had no idea they were in fashion - was swede and ironmongerymongous - also took me hours to work out the one way system - kept going round in circles on the 161
Ha, do you remember the name or location of the shop?
not really, but i have vague memories of it being nearer the lower road end of the centre of woolwich - a small shop in a row of othedr small shops - not that dissimilar to james terry in eltham - about all i can remember
Facing what is now M&S. I’m sure it’s where Charlton skins got our tonic mohair suits in the late 60s.
There was a small traditional mens outfitters in Hare Street that suddenly found it stocked must-have mods gear like silk handkerchieves (for the mohair suit), fred perry polo shirts, sky blue golfing chinos and I recall I bought a pair of tailored strides that looked like mohair. Would have been just past where Primark is now. Our mohair suits only came from one of the Rushey Green tailors opposite the Savoy Rooms, they would make up a suit from cloth you bought from the West End cheaper than anywhere else.
Vague recollection that Fosters may've moved in when Burtons closed?
Burtons was on the opposite corner of Hare Street/Powis Street to where TK Max is in that photo.
If it was in the 80s then Fosters may well have moved to the old Burtons store from Greens End - but it was definitely where the DLR entrance is now back in the 60s/70s.
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Edit; or was that Fentons?
and an earlier picture ....
That's not where I'm remembering Fosters. The shop I recall was in Greens End between the Equitable Building and the Elephant & Castle.
Just checked Google Maps and the entrance to the DLR looks like the location - bang opposite the end of Powis Street.
Your pic seems to be the junction of Powis Street and Hare Street - that TK Max used to be a brilliant record shop.
Burtons was on the opposite corner of Hare Street/Powis Street to where TK Max is in that photo.
If it was in the 80s then Fosters may well have moved to the old Burtons store from Greens End - but it was definitely where the DLR entrance is now back in the 60s/70s.
I left the area in 1985.