Woodgrange Road in 1900 - East Side

This is the second, of two, blogs attempting to capture how Woodgrange Road looked at the start of the twentieth century, using a combination of the copy from Kelly's 1900 Directory, adverts from the 1896 Forest Gate Weekly News and contemporary photographs.

Not all of the 1900 buildings survive, of course.  World War II bombs took out the lower East side of Woodgrange Road (From Romford Road, to Osborne Road) and parts of the West side.

Additionally, what is now Station Parade, opposite the station, hosted a cluster of coal merchants around the year 1900 (obviously bringing in their stock by train and storing it as close to the railway as possible), as the blog shows.

So, what follows are the businesses listed in the 1900 directory, by name and function, with what occupies the store today -where appropriate - (in brackets and italics), immediately after. The photos are of street scenes, usually looking down the roads, as they are crossed, or significant buildings (like the train or fire station.

East Side

Looking up Woodgrange Road,
 from Romford Road 1903

2 - Freeman Hardy and Willis - Bootmakers (Iceland - Supermarket and the Gate - Library and Council centre and offices occupy the space up to Post Office Approach)
2a - Robert Page - Florists (Ditto)

2b - Norman Lang - Confectioner (Ditto)
2c - Mrs Gilbert - Fancy rep (Ditto)
4 - George Smart - Butcher (Ditto)
6 - H Williams - Hosier (Ditto)
8 - Gedge Brothers - Drapers (Ditto)
10 - John Munro - Grocer (Ditto)
12 - George Davy - Mantle maker (Ditto)
14 - Henry Palmer - China dealers (Ditto)
16 & 3 - John Spurgeon - Tailor (Ditto)
18 - Edward Taylor - Furniture dealer (Ditto)
20 - Walter Lidbury - Fishmonger (Ditto)
20 a - James Halsey - Sanitary engineer (Ditto)

Windsor Road (Post Office Approach)

22a - Young Men's Christian Association (Tesco - Supermarket) 
22 - Picken Brothers - Tea dealers (Ditto)

24 - Picken Brothers - Chemists (Ditto)
26 - Joseph Rockley - Piano and music warehouse (Ditto)
28 - 34 - Leslie Spratt - Draper (MK Bros - Butchers and Cash and carry)
36 - Robert Bonar - Mantle warehouse (Pradip Patel - Opticians)
38 - Samuel Weakley - Physician and surgeon (Travel Track - Travel agents)

Claremont Road

Claremont Road c 1908

Wesleyan Methodist Chapel

Above, looking up Woodgrange Road,
 from Romford Road, featuring Woodgrange
 Methodist church, below the original
 church, prior to its WW2 bombing

Osborne Road

40 - Lord and Co - Drapers (Woodgrange Medical Practice - Health centre)

42 - E Sudworth - Dairy (Ditto)

44 - Lewis Lawrence - Baker (Mobile Shop - Internet cafe)

46 - Curtis and Hamme - Fishmonger (Woodgrange Solicitors - Solicitors)
50 - Ind, Coope and Co - Brewers and wine and spirit merchants (vacant - formerly Herbal Land - Chinese medicine)
52 - Albert Govier - Bootmaker (Charsitikka - Afghan restaurant)

54 - Hy Dyer and Sons - Undertakers (Salam Global/ Map Express - Cargo/internet)
56 - Harold Mitchell and Co - Drug stores (Moon House - Chinese takeaway)

58 - John Kettle - Grocer (Vacant - very formerly Victoria Wine - Off licence; and soon to be Corner Kitchen, deli/pizzeria?)

Healthy whisky
salesman- Cllr John Kettle

Hampton Road

Hampton Road, 1902

60 - Thomas Walker - Post, telegraph and savings bank office and fancy stationer (Pizza Hut - Fast food)

62 - Bodega Co - Wine merchants (Nandy & Co - Solicitors)

64 - Truefit Bro - Tailors and outfitters (Ladbrokes - Bookmakers)
66 - Albert Baker - Tobacconists (Naz - Photographic studio)
66 - Craddock and Co - Hairdressers (3 Station Parade - Tiger - Dry cleaners)

68 a - Frederick Warren - Coal merchants (4 Station Parade - Umar - Hairdressers)
68 b - Tyne Main Coal company - Coal merchants (5 -6 Station Parade - IT Solutions - Computer repair)
68 c  - Great Eastern Direct - Coal merchants (7 Station Parade - Vaping House - Electronic cigarettes) 
68 d - BM Tite and Sons - Coal merchants  (8 Station Parade - Eat More - Fast food)
68 e - CW Tanner - Coal merchants (9 Station Parade - Pak Money - Money Transfer)
68 f - Carrick, Davies and Partners - Coal and coke merchants (10 Station Parade - Postal Service - Mail depot)
68 g - William Cook - Coal merchants 
68 h - T Porter - Coal merchants
68 i - MH Abbott - Coal merchants
70 - Salmon and Gluckstein - Tobacconists (Spencer's - Estate agents)
72 - JH Venables - Shoeing forge (London Sweets and Grocery - Supermarket)
74 - Thomas and Miss Mary Whenn - Cocoa rooms (Dixey Chicken - Fast food)
76 - John Weeden - Oilman (Firawari - Supermarket)
78 - Gleich and Son - Hairdresser (Wilkinson - Estate agents)

Sebert Road

Looking towards the clock,
 from Sebert Road

Sebert Road c 1908

Forest Gate sub Fire Station (this was a sub station of the West Ham Fire Brigade, which closed in the 1920's, when the service became fully motorised, and so vehicles could move more quickly from the main station, next to Stratford Town hall - which can still be seen. Thanks to Peter Williams for the contents of this note.)

80 - Ford's Drug's Stores (Woodgrange Dental Surgery - Dentist)
82 - Henry Noble - Plumber (Vacant)

84 - George Bishop - Greengrocer (Soultrim - Barber)
86 - George Winter's - Cheesemonger (Preston Motors - Car showroom)
88 - Smith & Veasey - Baby linen warehouse (Ditto)

Smith and Veasey

90 - John Day - Pork butcher (Forest Gate Food and Wine - Supermarket)
92 - Henry Tennett - Grocer (Bangla Cash and Carry - Supermarket)
94 - David Cannan - Physician and surgeon (Forest Gate Opticians - Opticians)
96 - Ward Whiteway & Co - Printers (Interiors London - Interior decor)

98 - Forest Gate Gazette and West Ham Herald (Jamia Darussunah - Mosque)
100 - Frederick Brion - Baker (Sherman Pharmacy - Chemists)
102 - William Hattersley - Ironmonger (Blackbird Travel Agency - Travel agents)
104 - 106 - Henry Dyer - Undertakers (Zan's - Hairdressers)
108 - Dunn and Co - Tailors (Amba News - Newsagents)
110 - The Danish Dairy Co - dairy supplies (Country Style - Caribbean restaurant)
112 - The Eagle and Child - Public house (Woodgrange Pharmacy - Chemists)

Detail from frontage of Eagle
 and Child pub, rebuilt 1896

118 - Francis Trimmer - Surgeon (Berek Food Centre - Supermarket)
120 - J Mardling & Co - Furniture Removers (Compotes - Bakers + Cafe and Contemporary Home design - Kitchen furniture)

Looking north, towards
 Wanstead Park station

Wanstead Park Railway Station

A wander down Woodgrange Road in 1900 - West Side

 As this web site enters its third year, we thought it would be good to look at Woodgrange Road, Now and Then. We'll be running two posts to try and give a feel for how this central high street was at the turn of the nineteenth/twentieth centuries, and compare it with how things look today.

So, using the contents of the Kelly's 1900 Directory, we've been able to discover what shops operated along this thoroughfare at the start of the last century, and adverts from the short-lived Forest Gate Weekly News, of 1896 give a little of the flavour of what the shops sold, and sometimes, looked like.

There are a number of photos and postcards surviving from the first decade of the twentieth century.  We've added a few of these, to give a more visual feel for how the street looked at the end of the Victorian era.

This feature will be run over two postings, the first is of the West side (the odd numbers) and next week, we'll give a similar treatment to the East side.

Not all of the 1900 buildings survive, of course.  World War II bombs took out the lower East side of Woodgrange Road (From Romford Road, to Osborne Road) and parts of the West side (notably the section from Earlham Grove to Forest Gate railway station, and the section north of what is now Brooking Close (then Forest Street). But in most cases, there have been replacement buildings, and many of them continue to offer a retail option.

So, what follows are the businesses listed in the 1900 directory, by name and function, with what occupies the space today - where appropriate - (in brackets and italics), immediately after. The photos are of street scenes, usually looking down the roads, as they are crossed Woodgrange Road, or significant buildings like the train or fire station.

West Side

Princess Alice Hotel (Palm Tree, Chum Chums - Restaurant)

Princess Alice c 1908

Looking up Woodgrange Road,
 from Romford Road c 1903

1a - H Williams - Hatters 
1 - Home and Colonial Stores (Betfred - Bookmakers)
3 - John Spurgeon - Tailor's (Westex - Clothing)

5 - Lipton - Tea and provision merchants (Woodgrange Supermarket - Supermarket)
7 - Edmund Hussey - Ironmonger (Sharon's - Clothes)

9 - Parkes - Drugs Store (Subway - Fast food)
11 - Benjamin Byatt - Pork Butchers (Assam Enterprise - Mobile phones)
13  - Rockley - Piano and musical warehouse (Percy Ingle - Bakers)

Rockley's - shop to the left,
Public Hall to right of photograph

Public Hall (Rail ventilation shaft)

Forest Gate Public Hall, built 1902

15 - Frederick White - Confectioners (Mansons - Pharmacy)
17 - John Sainsbury - Provisions (Sola Satellites - Electronics)
19 - Alfred Shortland - Hosier (Alert in Newham - Charity)

21 - George Santer - Draper (WH Smith and Post Office)

23 - Joseph Brain - Bootmaker (WH Smith and Post Office)

25 and 27 - RJ Bridgland - Mantle manufacturer (Woodgrange News - Newsagents and Gift for You - Household goods)

Artist's sketch of buildings, c 1900,
 after construction of these shops
 in 1897, to replace the former
 Pawnbrokers' Almshouses

29 - London and Midland bank (H+T Pawnbrokers - Pawnbrokers)
31 - Eugene Avery - Fancy stationer (KFC - Fast food)

33 - CF Wheeler - Oilman (Paddy Power - Bookmakers)
35 - Mrs Emma Meita - Servants' registry office (Karuri News - Newsagents)
37 - William Maggs - Watchmaker (Willam Hill - Bookmakers and Papa's - Fast food)
39 - London and County Bank (Gregg's - Bakers, Fonefingz - Mobile phones and Sky Travel - Luggage)
 41 - 47 - Private residences (Noor Farm Fresh - Grocers, Santander - Bank, NUR Grill - Restaurant, Khan Brothers - butchers, Favourite Chicken - Fast food, Chain 21 - Clothes and Madina - Dry cleaners)
49 - Robert Miller - Physician and surgeon (Jennings - Bookmakers and Barry's Meat Market - Butchers)

Earlham Grove

Earlham Grove, 1903

55 - Rupert Cumine - Dental Surgeon (Angie's Stock Shop - Grocers, Vacant, Durning Hall Charity Shop)
57 - WJ Harris - Sewing machine manufacturers (Tennyson Monroe - Solicitors)
59 - 61 - Lilley and Skinners - Boot manufacturers (Hallmark - Card shop, Forest Restaurant - restaurant) 
63 - Singer - Sewing machines (Malchem - Pharmacy)
65 - Edward Wright - Photographer (Vacant)

67 - Alfred Wood - Newsagent (Co-operative - Supermarket)
69 -George Ernest Stanfield - Tailor; South Essex Club (?) and A C P Commercial College (Co-operative - Supermarket)

71 - Alfred Quail - Bootmaker (Unnamed - Greengrocers)
71a - Robert Peach - Hosier (Unnamed - News stall)
73 -  Frederick Warren - Coal merchants (Station Parade: 1, Sky View Travel - Travel Agents , 2  Haj and Umra Travel - Travel agents)

Forest Gate Station

Forest Gate station 1906

1899 third class ticket from Forest
 Gate to Stratford - 1d (half a penny!)

1894 advert for Wanstead Park as
 a day trip/ tourist destination,
 via the nearby Forest Gate railway station

Clock, looking towards Forest Lane

75 - Rickett, Smith and Co - Coal merchants (Station widened)
Forest Lane

Forest Lane

77 -Forest Gate and Upton Liberal and Radical Association
79 - Wood and Page - Florist (De Angels - Restaurant (closed) and Osiedlak - Polish delicatessens)
81 William Quorn - Coffee Rooms (Golden Touch - Hairdresser)
83 - John Richards - Grocer (Karolina - Beauty salon)
85 - Walter Maynard - Fruiterer (Mist Lounge - Night club and Saif - Barbers)
87 - John Wilding - Cheesemonger (Preston Autos - Show ground)
89 - George Tobitt - Confectioner (Ditto)
91 - 93 - Frederick West - Butcher (!!) (Ditto)
95 - London Shoe Factors (Mak - Estate agents)
97 - Charles Richard Nicholls - Fishmonger (Seafood's R Us - Fishmonger)
99 - John Shell - Jeweller (Vacant)
101 - JH Visick - Dairyman (AMB Food4You - Supermarket)
103 - JH Visick - Corn chandlers (Siam Cafe - Restaurant)
105 - John Deave - Hatter (Charcoal Grill - Fast food)
107 - Gardner and Sons - Dyers (Golden Grill - Restaurant)
109 - George Doswell - Sewing machine maker (Skoda Autos - Car showroom)
111 - Horace Allen - Saddler
113 - John Atkinson - Oilman
115 - Edwin Smith - Draper
117 - Mrs Alice Horrocks - Confectioner (Smallholders - Pets and garden centre)
119 - George Paul - Pawnbroker

Forest Street (now Brooking Close)

Council redevelopment in the 1960's and '70's demolished most of the shops, below.  They have subsequently been replaced by housing and the Lord Lister Health Centre)

125 - Paul Salisbury - Butcher
127 - Frank Sizer - Corn merchant
129 - G Pettit - Greengrocer

Parade of shops between Forest Street
 and Oakhurst Road, where the Lord Lister
 Clinic is now situated.  These shops
 remained virtually unchanged until demolished
 for redevelopment in the 1960's/70s.
 Thanks to Carol Price for the photo.

Oakhurst Road

131 - Arthur Pash - Bootmaker
133 - Maurice Manby - Draper
135 - John Adams - Picture framemaker and artists colourman
137 - Wallis' Stores
139 - Robert Arthur - Dairyman
141 - AJ Hewitt - Draper

145 - Napoleon Cattaneo - Confectioner
147 - Savid's Furnishing Stores

Stacey Road

Dames Road