Wanstead High Street as seen in 1963, thanks to Wansteadium reader (and former resident) Kerry Renshaw who lived here from 1948 until 1967.
Visible are:
- Furniture shop Edwin Fisher, in the current Churchill’s building.
- A cafe, sometimes known as the Alhambra, where Petty Son and Prestwich are now
- Something called Senior Service, now the Kebab shop. Ideas welcome for what Senior Service was…
- Wanstead Hairdressers, barely changed, which is what people like about it so much. Kerry says it was sometimes known as the Green Saloon.
- Some Routemasters, destination imperceptible, but even then queuing at Wanstead Place.
- No pedestrian crossing.
- In the background, the legendary Andrew’s Builders’ Merchants.
- On the left, a sign pointing to a car park, but pointing not down Grove Park but rather the other side of the Corner House. ???
If anyone can fill in any of the gaps – what was in these shops after the picture – we’d like to build up a complete list based on Wanstead’s collective memory. Please leave comments using the form below or email to info@wansteadium.com.
- Apologies that on some devices pictures are appearing the wrong way up. They must have been working out the answer to the Wansteadium Christmas quiz. (That’s a clue.)
Brilliant picture! Senior Service is of course the name of a cigarette brand, but the shop doesn’t much look like a newsagent or tobacconist.
There was a Chinese restaurant there and next to it a wool shop.
There was a sweet shop and tobacconist at this location until the late 1960’s.
The Chinese came a lot later I am afraid,.probably the 1980’s.
Senior Service? Fags
There was Ted’s Cafe where the Indian restaurant is by The George, and not to forget thebowling alley next door ❤️
Manny’s Cafe
Senior service sign I believe was a cafe in 1963
If I remember aright, the Senior Service sign was on a cafe, which has always been there as far as I know, and in those days was called the Alhambra.
The Alhambra cafe, and the sweet shop were separate entities.
Could you turn pic of present day Wanstead the right way up? And thanks for publishing the old one!
Kerry
Kerry, do you possibly have any other photos of Wanstead High street in the 1960’s?
Internet searches reveal very little.
Another one coming in the next few days…
such a shame the photo is upside down.
Hopefully it’s now sorted.
Didn’t there used to be a chinese restaurant around where senior service was??
Bit of nitpicking I know but those buses are RT’s not Routemasters. Probably route number 10 to Aldgate and Victoria.
Roy, that’s the kind of nitpicking we love. Pray tell us pithily what is the difference between the two?
RT / RM difference
Answer on links below –
https://www.londonbusmuseum.com/rt-family/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AEC_Routemaster
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AEC_Regent_III_RT
There was also a wool shop and a little travel agent where you could book theatre tickets and coach trips – think ithey were both where bambini is now
Edwin Fisher also had a shop opposite their main one – somewhere near Stow Brothers
To the right of Edwin Fishers are Davis & Davis solicitors, next is Alhambra Cafe, then hairdressers, then Wanstead Wool Store, next is Terminus Library a travel agency, Taken from a 1955 Kelly’s directory. The same in the 60’s probably.
Nice work Terence. Would you take a picture of the page? Send it to info@wansteadium.com
Done
Well done Terence. I had forgotten the solicitors. Said “Commissioners for oaths” on the front. I didn’t know what that meant, but my brother told me you went in and swore – bloody hell for instance- and they wrote it down. I guess he was kidding. The buses in Woodbine Place were 101 and 40. The 10 and 20 ran down Wanstead High St. And you could get 148 and 66 on Cambridge Park. By the way, does anyone know anything of Wanstead Prep School in Hermon Hill? Closed 1954.
Cheers to all Wansteadians –
Kerry Renshaw