Walthamstow Memories

Home Page- Last updated: 28 January 2010
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... 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 and then trawl through some emails in our Postbag.

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!

Search for any word in the Walthamstow Memories site:

What's New?

06-Feb-2010 - Important message from the editors:

   The Walthamstow Memories Site will soon have a new menu system, to simplify access to the various sections. Also a slight general rearrangement of the structure is on its way, and the switch-over date is scheduled for Feb. the 14th (Happy St. Valentine's!!).
   All care will be taken to make the change as quick and painless as possible (just during the upload of the new version you might experience some 'pages not found' messages). We recon that the whole process should be over in about an hour.
   We apologise for any inconvenience, but we are sure you will appreciate the new functions.

Both Daniel & I have our ears wide open to hear from you!

Read all your emails for the current year in Postbag 10

Why are we doing this? This email from Kiran Meen sums up the reason why we started this website. Many of us have wanted to ask our deceased parents what was Walthamstow like all those years ago...

...Kiran writes "it was with great affection I was directed to your website by an old friend of mine. After the death of my father I was no longer able to ask or hear stories of what Walthamstow was like when he first emigrated to this area during the late 1950's. This has now caused for me to think back to my own youth of things I remember that are no longer standing or have been redeveloped.

The areas in particular intrest to me were of Blackhorse Lane Infants School, the old Stoneydown Park, the Jubilee street parties and the Crown Luggage factory. Any information, memories or pictures any of the website members would have on any of these topics would be fantastic as internet searches have proved difficult.

If you could make a plea on my behalf it would be greatly appreciated. Kind Regards, Kiran."

I am happy to receive emails on your memories and items about Walthamstow as well as those on lost relatives for both personal reasons and family history research. These will remain in the latest Postbag until time permits them to be sorted on to other pages.

I am not able to answer any queries about the history of Walthamstow or about relatives etc. - I provide a bulletin board service where your query is recorded with your email address in the hope that someone browsing the website may have an answer for you. In the past this has worked well and numerous queries have received responses and connections have been made between people. So keep them coming...

First time?

For those visiting this site for the first time the pages that create the most interest are the personal recollections by so many past residents of this old County Borough - part of Essex as it then was. The Forum pages contain recollections listed by category. the most visited are the Family History, Postbag and the history of some Local Bands 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. More...

Forum: is a kind of index of sections. It is divided into the following sections: Family History, Lost and Found, Schooldays, Local Bands, Postbag - More...

John's new address for all contact is: email

Other news...

Local bands? go to local bands The Alexander Patton Group.

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...

John Knowles is a freelance consultant for digital media and the consultant for digital media to Alan Brodie Representation
who represent some 120 writers largely in theatre, TV and Radio and include the
Noël Coward and Terence Rattigan Estates. His websites include:
noelcoward.net • noelcoward.org • noelcoward.com • noelcoward.co.uk • noelcowardmusic.com
lathom-park-trust.org.uk • savoirefaire-jazz.co.uk • robjacksonfotos.co.uk • jjassociatesusa.com
must-close-saturday-records • michaelkingpaintings.com • maddermarkettheatre.co.uk • julianslade.com
thenorwichsociety.co.uk • alanbrodie.com • terencerattigan.com