There it was is'nt it?

[computedshorty]

Have you ever passed a place expecting to see a certain building or structure?

The Co-op building near Northcross Road has changed three times, firstly the Co-op shops that got bombed then the Prefabricated Grocery Shop and the smaller Butchers shop alongside.

Now the present Co-op shops.

I can still visualise them as they were.

Gone

The Railway Bridge that spanned Lordship Lane now removed with the high embankment removed back to where the Lordship Lane Station was.

Gone

Honour Oak Railway Bridge that spanned Forrest Hill Road, was removed with the Honour Oak Station and Goods sidings in Wood Vale.

Gone

The Dulwich Workingman?s Club 110 Lordship Lane, cheap drinks and a social meeting place, if you were proposed and seconded to be a member you had to be vetted in front of the Committee, I think the Membership was Ten Bob ( now 50 Pence ), I could buy a half pint of Makeson Stout for less than fifty old pence.

Gone

The street traders four wheeled barrows for hire on the forecourt of the shop in Whateley Road

These were used by the unfortunate people who got bombed out and what belonging were salvage loaded and pushed by them to a temporary place to stay, and that shop that sold coal and coke, and delivered it to your home, in big black tarred bags, the coalman wearing a cap with a leather neck protector hanging from it to stop the dust going down his neck.

Gone

Are the brick built arched roofed Air Raid Shelters in Basano Street built on the left side from Lordship Lane near to the curb.

Gone

Are the two brick flat roofed Air Raid Shelters in the Library Gardens, the one near the traffic lights was later converted into Public Toilets.

Gone

Are the big red lumbering Trams that were very noisy running on the steel tracks passing our front door. They passed every few minutes as three services the one to Blackwell Tunnel No 58, the one to Dulwich Library No 60, the other one to Forrest Hill No 72.

Gone

Is the Fire Station in Lordship Lane bombed and not replaced, now a Telephone Exchange.

Gone

Are the 20 Rowing Boats on Dulwich Park Lake, and the Scaffold built Stage where the entertainers put on shows, six pence to hire a folding seat in the audience and listen to the performance from a large Tannoy Trumpet style loud speaker mounted on a small van parked at the side.

How many things have now gone that you can recall?

[Salsaboy]

My slim stomach from my early 20's :(

[SilverSurfer65]

My hair colour and my memory sometimes.

[steveo]

The Grove Tavern, the Moore Park Tavern, Kings on the Rye, the Heber, the proper St. Barnabas church, SG Smith's petrol station, Mr. Banfield's wood yard, Barnardi's off licence, Inside 72, the Drum, the porno tailor.

[KidKruger]

only 10 or so people waiting on ED station platform for the 0805 train to London Bridge !

[richard tudor]

Being able to row all round the boating lake in wonderful wooden boats, playing pirates and falling in.

No H & S in those days.

[Lynne]

On NorthX Rd Watch/clock menders, haberdashers, St John's & St Clements. Jewellers on LL. Jumble sales everywhere every weekend

Lynne

[computedshorty]

Hot chestnut Vendor cooked as you watch over glowing coke, bought in a brown paper bag, to burn your cold hands.

Could be seen on the corner of Northcross Road 1961.

I wonder what these days Health & Safety would make of a cyclist riding round with an open fire, spilling ash on the road.

Att.p