Home Page - Last updated: 11 March 2010

... to a website dedicated to recording the memories of those who were born, arrived, lived, worked or died in the old Essex County Borough of Walthamstow, now part of the London Borough of Waltham Forest.

The site stores people's memories but also acts as a bulletin-board service listing the numerous emails we receive - seeking help with everything from family research to "Do your remember . . . ?"

We list received emails with an email link to the sender. We will try to answer any queries, if we can, but in most instances we simply do not know the answers to the questions we receive - but... you never know who might!

Scroll down for more info on how this website works and what it contains. For beginners my tip is to view some of the Personal Stories first, then trawl through some emails in our "Postbag" collection.

Yes, all human existence is here - provided its roots lie in Walthamstow - lost but not forgotten!

Send your emails to either the site originator, John Knowles at email or to our newest partner in this project, Daniel Quinn email. Daniel is providing a greater range of information and better feedback for all of us who contribute and use the site. If you have anything you want to send us then try either Daniel or myself. We look forward to his growing contribution to the work here. If anybody else would like to join us then please get in touch - there is always plenty to do!

What's New?

11 Mar 2010 : Hi John, I've been updating my family tree over the past few months and have started to scan in some family photographs, a few of which are from the Walthamstow area.
Here are a few to start with... (see them Here )
Steve Goodall email

11-Mar-2010 - Families: Hi, my Great Grandparents George and Edith Mickleburgh ran a shop in Walthamstow some time between 1914 and 1935. Can anyone help me find out where it was? Thanks,
Chris email

From Daniel: Chris your email is incomplete: please contact me Here

27-Feb-2010: From Daniel:
Dear All, a few more pictures have been added in the Postcards section.
Hope you enjoy your visit here! Regards,
Daniel

Read the emails from the current year in Postbag 2010

First time?

For those visiting this site for the first time, you might start browsing in the personal recollections by many past residents of this old County Borough - part of Essex as it then was. See the "Memories" menu at the top of this page.
If you are 'digging your roots', the Family History section contains emails we received, grouped alphabetically by Surname.
Our "Postbags", grouped by years (see menu at top of page), contain all the emails we received.
For those interested in music groups, the section Local Bands shows some from the 1950s through to the early 70s. Memories: this is an archive of photographs and stories about institutions, local traders, places and historic events that reflect the history of the old County Borough of Walthamstow and the surrounding area.

Why are we doing this? Read our aims in here ...

Other news...

Many of the photographs that were previously on the site are currently unavailable and will be placed on the website again at some point as a gallery - although many can be found in individual memories and stories.

Please feel free to email any material on Walthamstow - we will always try to feature it.

We are particularly interested in photographs and copies of documents that relate to the history of Walthamstow and the neighbouring London suburbs of Leyton, Chingford, Woodford, Highams Park and Loughton.

All material should be emailed to either John or Daniel

The pictures here are taken from the stories of those whose parents lived and worked in Walthamstow.
Read more about life in 20th century Walthamstow...