Post-Woolies Wanstead

Nice post on the Wanstead Society blog about how our High Street shops are trying to fill the Woolies’ shaped hole.

Mas Beg and his doughty assistant Trevour [at the Pet Shop] are at this moment rejigging the shelves to accommodate more such useful items. Trevour tells us that they are open to suggestions and will always try to order whatever is requested. This is yet another example of how special it is to have our own small shops. They are Wanstead’s equivalent of the U.S. cavalry galloping to our assistance.

Introduction to Wanstead

Interesting introduction to Wanstead – plus stunning pictures – from Jonathan Lethbridge at the Wanstead Birder blog.

What is now known as Wanstead (from the Anglo Saxon “Wen”, a small hill, and “Stede”, meaning a settlement) once formed the extensive and manicured grounds of Wanstead House, until it was demolished in the 19th century. The owner, one William Wellesley-Long, was somewhat of a gambler, and after losing his fortune on VIIIVIIIVIII.com, had to sell the house – literally, brick by brick