My Market

Although I did not work on the Church Street stalls... Could'nt wait for Saturday afternoon, 'up to the market' for a luverly dish of Cockles, oooh I can smell and taste 'em even now! Thanks for the memory of the olde days of kid growing-up in Paddington, London, W.9. Great Website for someone far from 'home.....' Thank You!

Oh yes Mary, you did bring back the memories. The best time of our lives right?Cheers

My first Saturday job was working on the stalls in the market on the handbag stall. I would pull the stall from storage in Little Church Street and set up outside the Doctors surgery. Stock was collected from one of the basement lockup's, at the end of the day everything was packed away and then I would take the stall back. It was a great time working with Mrs Crowley who also served as a dinner lady at the local school.

Just to pick up on Roy's comments, was Mrs Crowley's first name Gert by any chance? as when I was young growing up around Church Street, I believe my Nan worked on a handbag stall...I have fantastic memories of Church Street, Brokers the newsagents, chocolate Joe's, Ernie Noad's and West's...the best of all was the Regent Milk bar..

Great memories Sue. Remember working in Ellis Bags and on the stall on Saturdays? Chocolate Joes was the place to spend your pocket money. My mum worked in Brokers and my brother was a paper boy. Regent Milk Bar - best ice cream ever.

Yes, great memories Wendy. I remember getting my first pair of Green Flash trainers from Ernie Noads. Also the Co-op and my old Dad saying to me..don't forget the stamps! Every Saturday as well waiting outside Brokers along with other people for the delivery of the Evening News...

Nobody has mentioned Giljays record stall for all the latest hits and all the young people who always hung around.

My nan Ethel Jackman (Jackie) had a second hand shop in Church Street next to the Harp pub and two stalls next to the greengrocer's stall. We lived in Salisbury Street above the Harp Pub with Dorothy, Tony, Gerald, Linda and peter Rossiter. I remember broker's sweet shop, well good memories.

In 1962 (at age 12) I got my first Saturday job working for Mr. Craft at his wallpaper and paint shop on Church Street (across the street from Johnny Brokers). I had to trim the edges off the wallpaper that was purchased. Old fashioned trimming machine and lots of room for error! At Christmas he would sell toys - that was a magical time. On Sunday mornings we would load up the truck with paint and wallpaper and head off to Pettocoat Lane.

We used to live next door to you Roy Farrer! I remember Renee, Lolly, Spud and was it Maz (Marilyn?) and an older brother? The Lovelocks 19 -David Little number 18 - The Conways - Kath and Tom Holloway at number 15 - Susan Ford at number 12 - Alan Ward at number 11 (his nan Miss Nibbs further up the street - Christine and Terry Bedwell at number 9 (not there that long) - Big family at 4 - oh yes the Claytons!! I worked at Rosins the baker on Saturdays and then at Jordan's shoe department - loved Church Street Market and spent every Saturday, working or not, in the market!

Beautiful Church Street. 1993 was my first year working for Ellis bags with Jennifer, Kim, Lisa, big Joe, James and Mrs Shooter off course. Missing those delicious falafels from the stall and those lovely prawn baguettes with sliced tomato from that German lady in the cafe next to Alfie's Market. Will never forget one snowy Saturday with my purple ski bottoms standing on the stall frozen and managing to make £38 gross only to be humbled when my boss Ellis hands me over my usual £50 for the effort. A great misunderstood gentleman. A big hello to Alp, Adnan, Daniel, Jill, Ellis, Big Joe, Lisa and James. Great memories, and I still make time to walk down old memory lane annually :)

The photograph of the gentleman at the top of the page looks like Sam Anderson.  He had two brothers George and Ben and  a sister Jessie.  The Andersons had a couple of second-hand furniture shops in Church Street in the 1950s to 1960s. Sam moved away to Sussex I believe and lived in a mansion! The Andersons were friends of my dad who had a shop at number 33 Church Street - one of their shops was next door and they also ran a stall selling fancy goods.  Does anyone remember?

Yes I remember the Andersons, they lived at number 29 Church Street. My mum Elsie Baker and her sister Lil used to live opposite at number 24. They were best friends with Jessie and when Jessie married George James she became, yes Jessie James. They had a daughter called Janice. They moved to Kent I believe but Jessie still had her haberdashery stool in the Market until she had to give it up due to age and ill health and her niece took it over and I think Janice worked there too sometimes. The stall was still there up to a few years ago. It could well be there now.

Thank you for your comment Valerie Jean Fletcher nee Miller.  I remember George James very well, he occasionally looked after my dad's  shop at number 33.  He was a nice man.  I can remember Jessie being very friendly and have a vague recollection of her daughter. I last visited Church Street Market in 2013 and do not recall seeing the stall.  Does anyone remember my dad, Ron Grant?

My family still live in Church Street, when I see the old photos I have a massive smile, Michael Silk, Tommy Sewell, Jimmy Newman, Harry Dwyer, Johnny Broker, Benwoods, Novelty stores, Jordan’s, Chocolate Joes, Tubby, Apple fritters, Georgie & Johnny Simmonds, the list goes on & on.

How lucky we were to have our childhoods there, Magical !!

Hello Terry,

I worked for Joe Giljay on Saturdays from 1951 to 1956 and on Sundays at Petticoat Lane.Playing and selling all the pop records of that time.What lovely memories.Patrick. 04/04/20

My Husband, is Peter Spires, he worked on his Grandparent’s salad stall ( Fan Spires) during the early 60’s. The stall was outside the pie & mash shop ( Fortunes ) and also, on a Sunday, had a winkle stall outside The Old High Admiral pub.

He was born in Ashbridge Street in 1947 and attended Bell Street school. 

His parents were,  Fred & Flo Spires, sister Carol (now Moore ) they lived in Cherwell House, Church Street, in the 1960’s

He often talks about Church Street, the market, the lovely people he knew.

But, most of all, both Pete and Carol, go on and on and on about pie & mash, I believe they were brought up on it! ????

The gentleman in the photo is my Uncle Sam, the Andersons had two shops originally 29 & 45, we lived above 29 before moving to 47 above the doctors surgery.

Sam moved to Sussex but still had a shop in Fulham. Brothers Ben, Bob and George ran 45 until George moved to Kent.  Ben and Bob kept the business until the site was redeveloped. My mum Jessie the haberdashery stall with Bob initially, then with my dad George, I would help out from time to time. My cousin Joan took over later on but when mum moved to Kent gave it up as she had nowhere to store the stock.

I remember my talking about Elsie Baker, and I have lots of memories of Church Street, having my first Saturday job in Charlie Masters shoe shop and then in the Co-op. 
mum buying live eels from Simmonds, saveloys from Murray’s, Brokers for cards, papers and sweets and the apple fritter stall doused in heaps of sugar !