Welcome to a new member of HOL, Pat Stuart, who has shared these evocative memories of a childhood in wartime Harringay
At 80 years, so pleased to discover this site.
I was born in January 1936, our family lived in a flat above Disney stores in Green lanes.
Early recollections are outbreak of war causing our front windows to be criss crossed with sticky brown paper to protect from blast. This made my view of the trolley bus and other passing traffic difficult to watch as they passed below.
Finsbury Park had huge grey barrage ballons that looked to me like huge floating elephants in the sky helping to keep enemy bombers away. There was also a big gun that I was told was named Big Bertha. During raids my brother and I sat on our flats staircase and felt safe when we heard the big gun.
Later on our family moved to St Ann's road into a ground floor flat of a block called Salisbury Mansions and I started school in Woodlands Park School Infants, later the Junior School whose entrance was at the rear of the buildings. On the way to school was a little bakery on the corner I think of Etherley Road where I could, once a week, buy a sticky bun for a farthing, my weekly treat.
Many children were unfortunate to catch ringworm and we were sent to the clinic in Chestnut Park where treatment was to be announced with gentian violet, sent back to school with violet markers to let all know our plight. I had ringworm on the head and when evacuated with the school in 1941 was completely bald.
For a time, many children were brought home for various reasons and I was one of a number who as schools all closed had the freedom to roam . We got up to many tricks and called ourselves the Chestnut Park gang. Hardly any cars meant the roads were our playground until the powers that be gathered us all up and got the school on again.
The Ever Ready factory in St Ann's road was bombed and our flat windows blew in and glass cut through our parents eiderdown and mattress. Luckily mum and I were in the Morrison shelter and had only few cuts to show for our adventure. My dad and brother were on duty that night dad as ARP warden and John as messenger. Dad was also in the Auxiliary Fire Service and was part of team who saved St Paul Cathedral's when it was hit. The blitz decided my parents that it would be safer to go to sleep in the underground shelter in Manor House tube and I have many memories of those nights .
Just a few memories stirred.
No doubt I'll have more to add as I lived in Harringay until I married in 1954. Good to have a spot for my recall of those times.
Tags for Forum Posts: world war two
Thanks for posting- more stories please!
Hello Elinor, I'm so surprised that people find my rambling memories interesting. It is amazing this internet with so many ways connections can be made. I'm blessed with 6 adult grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren who have helped grandma to get to grips with this magic.
Evacuation from London sent me off twice from London blitz first to Wales at 4yrs and then again to Cheshire with woodlands park school at about 7yrs. I was nearly 10 at end of war.
Think this experience had two effects I still hold which is my schooling interuptions caused gap in knowledge of maths and my " things will get better tomorrow " optimism.
One anecdote you may be interested to hear.
My mother brought me home from evacuation in Cheshire and as the schools were all closed and used for other purposes the brought home children had unbelievable freedom and I became a streetwise tomboy.
One day I climbed into an outside coal bunker to retrieve a ball that had been kicked into it. I became even dirtier and scruffier than usual. My dad was told a v2 rocket had dropped in harringay alarmed he rushed home from work. When he saw me as he got off bus by St Anne's road covered in coaldust and grazed knees he thought we had been bombed out. His rushing to me and crying "Is mum alright" as he hugged me was good at first but then took me to Conway road baths for a bath.
He was very cross that I was so sooty.
The weekly trip to London County council baths were only way we had a bath as no hot water in our flat . Water ration was kept strictly. and you took your own soap. You did get a towel with LCC stamped on in blue letters.
The baths were in cubicles with latches to shut the doors. Hooks to hang your clothes and a wooden slatted bathmat was all that was there. When ready you called the attendant to turn on the water from a main control. Water for a bath was 3 inches children and 5 inches for adults.
No showers and I do wonder just how did elderly manage at that time .
At 80 I certainly cannot get in or out safely from a bath and enjoy and appreciate my walk in shower and constant hot water . No electricity in the flat just gas mantles electric put in after the war ended. Therefore no central heating.
Coal fires in winter which only warmed the kitchen living room . My bedroom was so Cold in winter weather I used to scrape ice from inside the windows.
Now I have spray to clear ice from my car windscreen and I still grumble. Life now is luxury. Enjoy every moment Regards Pat
Hello Eddie I was so surprised to read your comments and have to own up I was Pat Blight and amazed you even recall our family flat in Salisbury Mansions being ground floor flat. You must have been part of the Chestnut Park kids who spent all day free to roam. The park superintendent we called "Parkie" and we were constantly causing him trouble. Three on a swing and walking up the slide instead of sliding down. These antics really upset the poor chap. Dad had an allotment in the park and my job was to collect whatever mum required in the way of vegetable I had number written with indelible Pensil on my arm to remember our plot number. Took some bravado to convince "Parkie" it wasn't me he had chased off the roundabout earlier in the day. Yes I did go apple scrumping but had forgotten where interested to know it was St Anne's hospital grounds which makes sense as opposite woodlands park school and the park. Yes I went to the speedway track to cheer on the Harringly racers and Vic Duggan and his team " 2 4 6 8 waiting at the starting gate who the Harringay racers , come on chaps and turn on the taps take the right line right along the white line , what do we want to see him and her and me Vic Vic and victory" such a great place to go the Harringay arena home to so much entertainments. The circus , ice hockey, Billy Graham the American evangelist held a huge Christian crusade there too. I went with a friend from work and it was quite a show. I think horse of the year was held there too. Do you remember the coliseum picture palace we called the colly opposite the Salisbury pub my friend and I used to stand outside when it was adult only films and say "take me in mister" shudder to think now how foolish we were.
So much you recall makes me think we were very good friends Eddie . Best of wishes Pat Stuart nee Blight.
So quick to respond Eddie. My maiden name was Blight I did marry in 1954 that physical training instructor after he was demobbed from serving his national service 2 years.
We were married 25 years but sadly divorced . My second marriage is why my surname became Stuart we were happily together for 32 yrs until he died last July.
Many friends from woodlands park school lost touch as we were all sent to different secondary schools and sadly only a few names you mention I recall.
I went to Downhills central school and left at 15 to work at the British drug houses in city road. My brother John was 9 yrs older than me so that is maybe why you thought I was an only child.
Eddie now you tell me you came from a large family I think I do recall the name Constable and Frank Scarfe not sure I was sweet on anyone we were all just happy kids together after all. Shirley Sargent and Maureen Davis ring bells too. Did you know Doris Aldridge and Rene Keylock or Wendy Brown who lived flat above us and later on marriage moved into one of the other flats in the mansions.
Definitely would not have noticed what you wore for my wardrobe was made up of caste me downs too. Yes my memories of Haringey are all good. Passing of time change people and places so much.
Am I happy now yes life is sweet and I have a wonderful family and extended family of my second husband who supported me during my husbands long illness and now as I face life as a widow. I have interests and friends and good memories to sweeten the bad.
Proud to have 6 grandchildren and 3 step grandchildren and blessed with 6 great grandchildren eldest 16 youngest 6 months.
Take care Pat
Antoinette I have to say that I'm so amazed to realise how our long term memories are greeted with such interest.
I quess we have to accept our 1940,s childhood accounts are useful verbal history.
It was a difficult time to be a child and a time when danger pushed adults and children to become aware of each others need.
Yes it's very nice to find out that 70 odd years ago I was liked and remembered . then as now young boys did not wear their hearts on their sleeves so I was unaware of these feelings.
Regards Pat
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