Stanley Road late 1960s

Comment by John Shulver on May 2, 2025 at 20:22

Oh Hugh.........a personal gem of a find for me thank you !!  Stanley Road holds many memories for me and of some significance in my family's story. 

My Dad lived much of his childhood/teen years here living in a one bedroomed flat within a horrid old tenement block down the bottom end of the road on right hand side (number 12C).  He lived there with his mother, brother, 2 half brothers and a sister. Both my paternal and maternal grandmothers died in that flat, I don't know of circumstances, only death certificates as evidence.  My Mum, Dad, Brother and sister also lived there with Nan.

Mum and Dad moved out in July 1948 but presumably Dad's siblings had left the flat prior to Mum and Dad's arrival around 1940. A lovely old white haired Aunty Ann lived opposite with her family at number 11.  I recall there being close knit extended family living around there, lodging or whatever. 

Dad's boyhood mate lived at top end around first bay fronted house on extreme left of photo, (number 43 I think ?) and of course MP Ted Willis lived couple doors further up. 

Spent a lot of my childhood around Stanley Road (just living around corner in Harringay Road) and remember those "3 obliterated roads" mentioned.  I think they were intact when I left area in 1970.....???   But on returning a few years later I was so disappointed/horrified to find that "horrible old tenement block" flattened. And at the stage in my life when family history and connections became important and interesting. I would loved to have been able to capture an image of that old place ! But alas......time waits for nobody.   

Memories and so many unanswered questions.  Thanks Hugh.

Comment by Hugh on May 2, 2025 at 20:34

Thanks for sharing those personal memories, john. They give the photo such texture. If any more photos of Stanley Road come my way, I’ll let you know.

Comment by StephenBln on May 6, 2025 at 13:04

John, that area, in fact both side of West Green Road, was demolished between 1969/1972. The area was full of earlier type, piecemeal housing, including cottages on West Green Road, not streets of similar terraced housing that came towards the end of the 19th century and had character. There was also a sprinkling of very small businesses, as well as a stonemasons, I seem to remember (Where my grandfather's grave stone came from - or so I was told).

Comment by Geraldine on May 9, 2025 at 0:47

Love your memories, John.  They bring the past to life.

Comment by John Shulver on Wednesday

Thanks for your comments Hugh, Stephen and Geraldine.

Comment by Roy aka Smiffy on Friday

Family history, so many memories triggered by a simple photograph.

We have to thank the photographer (perhaps the proud owner of 3615 MF) for taking it and the miracle that it has survived.

Thank you, Hugh.

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