Southall Chat

Southall-History actively solicits and gratefully welcomes any personal recollections, or scans of old photographs of the town, from current and former ‘long-time’ Southall residents.

Building this website on Southall’s past is to a great extent something of a community project, as although the editor can compile numerous facts, figures and even images relating to Southall’s past, page features are afforded a ‘life of their own’ with the addition of personal contributions from old Southallians.

The period covered by Southall-History extends from the earliest times to the mid 1980’s and all contributions will help to build this free resource into a substantial source of interest for anyone interested in Southall as it used to be; in former, perhaps more genteel times. Feel free to leave your experiences below.

159 responses

  1. Martin Thomas avatar
    Martin Thomas

    Hi , Does anybody remember the Shoe Shop , Lesters in Southall ?

    Sold all the DM boots , Tassel Loafers etc ?

    1. Michael Broom avatar
      Michael Broom

      Lesters used to be on the corner of Northcote Avenue. The owner was very cheerful guy with rosy cheeks.

      1. Russell Wileman avatar
        Russell Wileman

        There used to be a Lester’s Grocery store in Western Road, near to the Prince of Wales public house. They could have been related to the family that owned the shoe shop to which you refer.

  2. L. Butler avatar
    L. Butler

    does anybody remember the Lawrence family in Scots Road Southall

  3. Colin Wise avatar
    Colin Wise

    We have a large box of hand written letters written around 1919/1920 between a young lady who lived in Portland Road, Southall and her gentleman friend who lived in Peckham Rye and we would love someone with an interest in Southall history to have them. These two eventually married and became my wife’s grandparents – both now sadly departed.
    There’s a lot of detail in the letters – all very innocent – but the texts do offer a glimpse of life as youngsters in that time and how they lived, worked and got about. It also looks like the letters were often posted in the morning and being delivered in the afternoon – almost up to e-mail standard!
    If you would like these letters please e-mail me at [email protected] . I’m afraid if no one comes forward they’re likely to be sent to the dump

  4. Peter avatar
    Peter

    I lived in a small block of flats opposite St Johns church called Wesrern court in Western road Southall in the fifties and attended Western road Junior School.I can remember when a Dakota plane came down in Lady Margeret road.

    1. Malcolm Wardlaw avatar
      Malcolm Wardlaw

      I was born in 1942 and lived in 12 Western road. I remember the plane crash,

  5. Fran S avatar
    Fran S

    Would anyone know what year Hambrough Primary School opened please?

  6. Arun Vajpey avatar
    Arun Vajpey

    I am a retired British GP and Titanic researcher. At present I am researching into life and times of a man named MARIUS PETERSEN who might have been a victim of the Titanic disaster. Petersen was originally from Denmark and a Dairy Farm worker by trade. In 1911 he emigrated to England and briefly lived and worked in Southall dairy but I do not have those details. He reportedly made many friends while he was in Southall.

    Marius Petersen was definitely booked to sail on the ill-fated maiden voyage of the Titanic. But there is controversy about whether he actually boarded the ship and that is what my research is about. Some accounts say that he boarded the Titanic as planned in Southampton but was one of over 1500 people who died in the sinking. Other sources – including an article in the West Middlesex Gazette dated 19th April 1912 – claim that Petersen cancelled his ticket in the last minute, got a refund and eventually returned to Denmark. I want to find out which of the two eventualities is true.

    If you are unable to supply direct information, perhaps a list of major Dairy Farms in Southhall in early 20th century might help? I can email my queries to them.

    Thanks

    Arun Vajpey

  7. Dave Hill avatar
    Dave Hill

    Amongst uncle Johns small collection of postcards (he lived in Southall, died years ago, I think he mighta gone to the postcard fairs in Ealing) is one stated to be The Old Smithy 1902 now New Broadway Southall, its shown next to The Three Horseshoes pub, where was it?
    Do they still have the horse sales? I can remember the rag & bone men coming from all over London to buy their horses in the 1970’s, One musta rented a van and tried to get the horse in, you could see where the horses hooves nearly came thru the sides!

    1. Christine Lucia avatar
      Christine Lucia

      I have a drawing by TS Allan called “Old Smithy Southall” that I inherited from my maternal grandfather, James Scott, who established with his colleague R ? Butler the men’s tailors and outfitters “Butler & Scott” at No. 1, The Broadway – in the 1920s, I think. This shop was right on the corner of The Broadway and High Street. So if that postcard was based on this drawing, then that’s where the old smithy once stood, and my grandparents may have liked the drawing because it was the site where the shop now stood. It looks like an original, still in its original frame. They also acquired TS Allan’s “Old Manor House Southall”, which I have. (I was born in Southall in 1947, and I remember the rag & bone men from the 1950s.)

  8. Amar avatar
    Amar

    Hello,

    Would you happen to know any history on the pharmacies in Southall?

    I have been told that Sherry’s Chemist on South Road is the longest serving, however I cannot find anything to support this nor an establishment date.

    Kindest regards,
    Amar

  9. Vivien avatar
    Vivien

    Hi my name is Vivien and spent my very early years in Southall where I started life in Western Road then moved on to Marlborough Road I went to school at featherstone infants and juniors between the years of 1958 to 1966 is there anyone who remember this school then and I spent many hours at Southall rec and the canal as well

    1. tom elliott avatar
      tom elliott

      Yes..i attrended Featherstone Juniors around 1964’ish. My brothers Paul and David also attended. We also went to the Featherstone High School in Western Rd.. You may remember the head Teacher f the Junior School Mrs Howard…

      We lived in the Heathway along by the Grand Union Canal.. Happy days..

      1. Russell Wileman avatar
        Russell Wileman

        Hi Tom, my name is Russell Wileman. I was in the same class as you in the infants school and although we were not in the same class in the Junior School, we attended that together. The head of the Infants School was Miss Coward. The head of the junior School was Mr Moore for our first year and then for the next three years; Mr Lewis. My dad was secretary of the PTA.

  10. barry hand avatar
    barry hand

    i am trying to find a clipping in any local paper at the time of a young boy who assisted a policemen in stopping a runaway horse and cart on southall bridge, 20th august 1935, the boy was my father gordon hand, or can anybody tell me how i go about getting this information, thank you!.

    1. barry gordon hand avatar
      barry gordon hand

      reference to the above, the horse bolting, did not happen on southall bridge as someone pointed out earlier the bridge was not there then, having looked at the letter my dads dad received thanking my dad for his help in stopping the horse from the then secretary who signed the letter it happened in south rd, if i remember right there used to be a level crossing there, my dad told me he was walking down the rd when he heard this noise behind him saw the policeman hanging on to the horse by its reigns, he ran out in the rd and grabbed the horses reigns on his side and hung on, he told me he looked over his shoulder and there was a shower of sparks coming off his boots as he had blakeys on front and back of the soles on the boots, also the local lads were running after the horse/cart which carried fruit/veg shoving whatever they could into there shirts/jackets with no attempt to assist in stopping the horse!.

  11. Gina Johnson avatar
    Gina Johnson

    Hello, I wonder if you would be interested in seeing my late father’s memoirs (about 8,000 words). His name was George Albert Webb and he lived in Southall from 1907.

    Thank you,
    Gina Johnson

  12. april wood ashton avatar
    april wood ashton

    Southall Development Syndicate – does anyone have any knowledge of this organisation in existance in early days of building property in Southall c.1900? They had a London Registered Office, and according to local newspapers appear to have bought up parcels of land for development for instance, Townsend Road which was built in 1908, I believe by this company; but I can find very little detail.

    1. Peter langley avatar
      Peter langley

      Hi April

      This is the first time that I have been in this site since 23 Sept 2018, looking back it looks like you may have answered my post about Julia Irene Langley nee Tullett. Although I am still finding it impossible to find more about my mother in St Bernard’s, I would like to thank you for your reply . Sorry for such a delay .

  13. april wood ashton avatar
    april wood ashton

    SOUTHALL c.1910

    I have a scanned photo of Southall and its blacksmith’s forge c.1910- canI send it in for posting on the site, where to and what size / format?

  14. april wood ashton avatar
    april wood ashton

    Does anyone have any knowlege of the Southall Swimming Club c.1930?

  15. april wood ashton avatar
    april wood ashton

    Burtons, perhaps?

  16. john maloney avatar
    john maloney

    In the mid-1960s I had a ‘Saturday job’ in a quite large clothes shop in Southall Broadway but I can’t remember the name of it ~ do you know it?

    Thanks, John Maloney

  17. Martin Holt avatar
    Martin Holt

    What I’m trying to find out for my dad is that he was once told by his scripture teacher that his dad was a really good footballer. Two medals have recently come to light and we are trying to get more info on them, one was for runner up in the Gosney cup 1926, and the other for Hanwell and district Junior league football no date. Would you have any information on what team he may of played for or any information on the Gosney cup. My dad used to live in Oaklands Road and went to Oaklands road school he was born in 1938 my dad’s name is Royston William Holt, His dad was Leonard William Holt and possibly also went to the same School he was born in 1912. I have tried several avenues to get information but I’m not getting anywhere. I picked up on an article on your site Growing-up With Southall From 1904 (Memories of R.J. Meads)
    POSTED ON JANUARY 11, 2011 BY ADMIN that mentions the cup. any information would be gratefully received

    1. april wood ashton avatar
      april wood ashton

      There is The Southall F C with a website – maybe they can give you some guidance?

  18. Abi Payne (Worth) avatar
    Abi Payne (Worth)

    I am trying to find a long lost friend of my fathers for him. I am looking for a gentleman called Paul Thomas, my dad Ivor attended Featherstone infant school and high school. They were both members of the Featherstone Brass Youth Band in the 1960s. If anyone has any information I would be very grateful.

    Kind Regards

    Abi

  19. Paul Bargon avatar
    Paul Bargon

    I grew up in Southall from 1948 until my family migrated to Australia in 1963. Until I was seven we lived at West Avenue. We then moved to Gregory Road on the Havelock estate.

    I am interested in making contact with my old school friends who attended Featherstone County Secondary Boys School between 1960 and 1963. Most of them would have been in classes 1a in 1960, 2 alpha in 1961, 3 alpha/alpha in 1962 and 4alpha/alpha in 1963.

  20. Ann Owen new Cordery avatar
    Ann Owen new Cordery

    My daughter is compiling a family tree.It concerns family’s Cordery and Carter of Regina Road Southall.Jefferies of Florence Rd.Stannett of Beverley Rd.Any time during 30’s and 40’s.I would love to find any cousins I may have.

    1. Pat Bright avatar
      Pat Bright

      I am a member of the Jefferies family from Florence Road and my grandfather and mother’s maiden name was Cordero.


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