Wansteadium reader Sharon posted this on our Facebook page, writing: “Thought I would share this. This was my husband’s grandad’s building including Vane’s library (which he ran as a stationery shop) in Cambridge Park, taken January 1959.” 
16 thoughts on “Wanstead, 1959-style”
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Growing up in Wanstead, I loved Vanes and used to go there to buy all sorts of crafty things like little squares of felt. Happy memories.
Remember that. Started in Wanstead softball rd 1958 x
Peter Yates
Remember vanes and stockdales.
Vanes had stopped being a library by the time I was old enough to notice, but sold books and other stationary items. It was the place to go to for everything like that and I still have a book I bought from there about 50 years ago.
My text should have read Spratt hall ( ha not softball ha)
Remember both of them.
Stockdales also had a branch in Stratford, near where the Discovery Center is now. The signage is still visible.
thanks for that. knew it was familiar but didnt know why!
I remember my first visit to Wanstead in 1968 to the Social Security office above what is now the coffee shop
When did the stationary shop close? There was definitely one there in the 70s. I loved that place.
Vane’s was there when we moved to Wanstead in the mid 70s – lovely shop.
I remember them too! Sleepy old fashioned suburb.
I am looking but I cannot see a Waitrose or M&S Food? Why the obsession today..
Wow – talk about blast from the past! Got my first fountain pen from Vanes….and a bottle of ink to re-fill it.
So glad to see this photo — I remember Vanes well from the 1970s! As a schoolgirl, myself and a pal would love browsing through the shop; we bought stationery, binder folders for our girlish poetry projects, books, etc. A blast from the past. I’d forgotten exactly where it was but now I’m reminded, thanks so much for this. More pictures of Wanstead-past would be magnificent!