The former shops and businesses of Brixton
- Thread starter Brixton Hatter
- Start date
Mrs Magpie
On a bit of break...
Parish boundaries.newbie said:
I still call it the Grain Barn sometimes and I moved here in the spring of 1981.......newbie said:
newbie
undisambiguated
editor said:
That's the bunny.
Have you got any photos of Brixtons candidates for the smallest shops in the country, either side of Sabina (sp?) on Atlantic? They'll be the subject of a nostalgia thread one day.
which leads me on to...is the hole in the wall at the end of Gauden Rd opposite Clapham North station still there? It was tiny (though not as small as the ones on Atlantic) and in the 70s was all night, run by an old couple who did teas and fags, mostly for cab drivers (& stoned freaKs with the munchies
).
Brixton Hatter
Home is south London mate
Yeah I am too. What is it about men and maps? I've got loads of them, including a load of Brixton ones, I could stare at them for hourseditor said:
<...wanders off to study the 1890 parish boundaries...>
lang rabbie
Je ne regrette les gazebos
newbie said:
Think the significance of 1856 was that this was the first year of secular local government under the Metropolis Local Management Act 1855. This created the Vestry Board for Lambeth as a separate body from the ecclesiastical parish of St Mary at Lambeth.
The former parish vestry had a Lighting Commitee for Brixton from 1832-1856.
Source: Guide to Lambeth Archives
Can't recall when gas lighting was introduced to public roads in the area - think some private developers of respectable estates had introduced it in the late 1830s(?)
Of course, mod cons came at a price:
Dore: Lambeth Gasworks 1872
Gramsci
Well-Known Member
newbie said:
Mrs Magpie is correct their was a Continental Food store as well as a hardware shop.The bike shop was originally in one of the small shops underneath Clifton Mansions.
The Arcade bakery is not returning.It did the best (fresh) patties in Brixton.Its being replaced by a cafe/bar.The arcade seems to be trying to reinvent itself as "Brixton Village" -a funky happening place supposedly
.If you really want to go back into the mists of time the original Victorian block of flats in Vining st(demolished for the MHT development) had small shops on the ground floor including an ancient cobbler who had been their for years.
I cant remember whether the "Grain Barn" had a painted sign.Its just that everyone called it that.
I remember it but I thought it was further up than the hotel, more like where Nyam's is (or thereabouts). Probably my memory playing tricks. It was a handy place -- open lateish and bigger than a convenience store but not so big as to have all the hassle of a supermarket. This was early 90s though, not 80s.Mrs Magpie said:
These are from very early childhood memories.
The Times furniture shop on the corner of acre lane and brixton rd.
Elaine barries shoe shop on brixton rd by the cop shop.
Lewis the dairy shop on stockwell rd by landor rd.
Davey grieggs grocery shop on brixton station rd.
pride and clarkes motor shops, of which there were at least a dozen on
stockwell rd in the early sixties. Actually ive got loads of other memories of various shops around that time, but cant remember the names of them !
The Times furniture shop on the corner of acre lane and brixton rd.
Elaine barries shoe shop on brixton rd by the cop shop.
Lewis the dairy shop on stockwell rd by landor rd.
Davey grieggs grocery shop on brixton station rd.
pride and clarkes motor shops, of which there were at least a dozen on
stockwell rd in the early sixties. Actually ive got loads of other memories of various shops around that time, but cant remember the names of them !
newbie said:I shall stamp and scweem and scweem and scweem.
Good patties aren't that hard to find but a good bunloaf - where to buy a decent one now? The queues suggest the place on Atlantic but I've not been that impressed.
The place on Atlantic is poor for either Bun or Bread. Have you tried Dee Bess on Acre Lane?
newbie
undisambiguated
Um, yes. They had a shop in the market, too. It was empty while the punters queued patiently just around the corner. Says it all, really 
I'd forgotten all about Pride & Clark, but the mere mention conjured up an immediate image of Stockwell Rd in their particularly vile shade of red.
I'd forgotten all about Pride & Clark, but the mere mention conjured up an immediate image of Stockwell Rd in their particularly vile shade of red.
I used to live at 252 Brixton Road in the 1970s. It's only a couple of doors down from the Crown & Anchor pub, which I believe is still there. I'm told the Old White Horse building is still there but is no longer a pub, but some kind of Restaurant, is that true?
Walking across from the Old White Horse Building, towards Brixton, where the Angel estate is, I remember there used to be a row of shops on what is now just grass. I can only remember my parents dragging me along to a bank there, can't remember what other shops there used to be, but I think some kind of TV shop used to be there as well.
I remember Shoppers Paradise opposite. I'll never forget someone driving through the shop window during the first riots. It was mental to watch, but a bit scary. I was just a kid looking down from the balcony, we used to live right at the top, above the shops. Underneath us was a printing company. They got busted for printing porn once. Anyway, my parents and other punters had to barracade themselves into the White Horse. What a great situation to be in.....actually be locked into a pub with no way out!
Going back towards the Oval on the left hand side, on the corner of Lorn Rd, I missed Franks Corner which used to be a toy shop. He used to have some really good model cars and some nice train sets. Poor old Frank gave up his business because he was beaten by a load of rioters during the second Brixton riots. Frank is most probably dead by now as he was getting on a bit.
We left 252 Brixton Rd when my parents were offered a wad of cash to move out. We moved to Cranmere road which was a backstreet on the opposite side of Brixton road to the Cowley estate. My step dad used to be a milkman so I certainly saw a lot of Brixton when I helped him out. At 17 I moved to Bermondsey, because my parents became landlords there. What a shocking difference that place is to Brixton! I lived in Lewisham for a while and then moved out to Europe, finally ending up here in Eastbourne, where my parents also live. I'm enjoying it here. Only 30 seconds away from the beach. I would love to move back to Brixton for a while one day, but nothing would be better, than to own / lease that flat at the top of 252 Brixton Road....that would be great. I would love it. It would bring all those childhood memories back.
Walking across from the Old White Horse Building, towards Brixton, where the Angel estate is, I remember there used to be a row of shops on what is now just grass. I can only remember my parents dragging me along to a bank there, can't remember what other shops there used to be, but I think some kind of TV shop used to be there as well.
I remember Shoppers Paradise opposite. I'll never forget someone driving through the shop window during the first riots. It was mental to watch, but a bit scary. I was just a kid looking down from the balcony, we used to live right at the top, above the shops. Underneath us was a printing company. They got busted for printing porn once. Anyway, my parents and other punters had to barracade themselves into the White Horse. What a great situation to be in.....actually be locked into a pub with no way out!
Going back towards the Oval on the left hand side, on the corner of Lorn Rd, I missed Franks Corner which used to be a toy shop. He used to have some really good model cars and some nice train sets. Poor old Frank gave up his business because he was beaten by a load of rioters during the second Brixton riots. Frank is most probably dead by now as he was getting on a bit.
We left 252 Brixton Rd when my parents were offered a wad of cash to move out. We moved to Cranmere road which was a backstreet on the opposite side of Brixton road to the Cowley estate. My step dad used to be a milkman so I certainly saw a lot of Brixton when I helped him out. At 17 I moved to Bermondsey, because my parents became landlords there. What a shocking difference that place is to Brixton! I lived in Lewisham for a while and then moved out to Europe, finally ending up here in Eastbourne, where my parents also live. I'm enjoying it here. Only 30 seconds away from the beach. I would love to move back to Brixton for a while one day, but nothing would be better, than to own / lease that flat at the top of 252 Brixton Road....that would be great. I would love it. It would bring all those childhood memories back.
Mrs Magpie
On a bit of break...
The old Eagle Printing Works was that, layabout?
theBEAST666
it is me, hehe
Yeah Acme Comics man, twas a crying shame when that place closed down.
There also used to be a chippy on Blenheim Gardens (the road the goes to the windmill pub from brixton hill?). It was run by a chinese family. It was much better than Alberts Plaice (though nuff respect the the Alberts Plaice crew, 'specially for still remembering me when I go in for a patty evry now and then). the chips (at the chinese place) were wicked crispy, not soggy (like alberts).
One time when I was a kid I had a piss on the big wooden doors next to the chippy, suddenly they opened up and I was faced with about 20 chinese people sitting there all laughing at me. God I was mortified. Never pissed there again I tell ya.
My mum used to take me shopping for clothes etc... at Bon Marche.
When I was a teenager we used to score from what we called 'the old man shop' on railton road. It was a pretty bare shop but you could get a decent 10 draw from behind the counter. You had to get a mars bar or can of coke at the same time so he could put it next to it. It was run by an old Rasta. It used to stay open pretty late too. We'd get a draw on saturday night then head to the allnighter at the ritzy to get stoned and sniff amyl etc...
There was the old cool tan sites too. effra parade then the voice building.
I could go for ages.
L8rs
Potato's
There also used to be a chippy on Blenheim Gardens (the road the goes to the windmill pub from brixton hill?). It was run by a chinese family. It was much better than Alberts Plaice (though nuff respect the the Alberts Plaice crew, 'specially for still remembering me when I go in for a patty evry now and then). the chips (at the chinese place) were wicked crispy, not soggy (like alberts).
One time when I was a kid I had a piss on the big wooden doors next to the chippy, suddenly they opened up and I was faced with about 20 chinese people sitting there all laughing at me. God I was mortified. Never pissed there again I tell ya.
My mum used to take me shopping for clothes etc... at Bon Marche.
When I was a teenager we used to score from what we called 'the old man shop' on railton road. It was a pretty bare shop but you could get a decent 10 draw from behind the counter. You had to get a mars bar or can of coke at the same time so he could put it next to it. It was run by an old Rasta. It used to stay open pretty late too. We'd get a draw on saturday night then head to the allnighter at the ritzy to get stoned and sniff amyl etc...
There was the old cool tan sites too. effra parade then the voice building.
I could go for ages.
L8rs
Potato's
Oh yeah...I remember a camping shop a couple of doors down. It was the biggest shop on that row. It also used to be an asian convience store. I know the cab office is still there on the end of Robsart street.
I used to go to St Helans Annex and St Helans Junior school.
The Annex used to be in Robsart street, while the junior school is next to that Catholic church..can'y remember the name of the church now...you know...the brown bricked church.
Anyway, the Annex school is no more on Robsart street, they pulled down that building and built some houses in it's place. I was gutted when I learnt of that. That building was really nice and it should of been converted rather than shut down. That building had real character.
I used to go to St Helans Annex and St Helans Junior school.
The Annex used to be in Robsart street, while the junior school is next to that Catholic church..can'y remember the name of the church now...you know...the brown bricked church.
Anyway, the Annex school is no more on Robsart street, they pulled down that building and built some houses in it's place. I was gutted when I learnt of that. That building was really nice and it should of been converted rather than shut down. That building had real character.
Mrs Magpie
On a bit of break...
I remember that! Blimey I'd completely forgotten.......you slowly get used to what's there now, rather than what used to be......layabout said:
Have you seen the Brixton Then and Now photos layabout?
www.urban75.org/brixton/history/index.html
Here you go.
http://landmark.lambeth.gov.uk/display_page.asp?section=landmark_fullsize&id=108
See the Joeseph Auctions room place. I used to live right at the top of that.
I think however, the flat I lived in was built right on the top as an afterthought. The floor was so slanted it was unreal! All my childhood friends would piss themselves with laughter when they first walked along our hallway!
I couldn't believe that the Crown & Anchor pub was so tall at one point!
I would love to see a "today" picture to compare that one to.
I'm definatly going to buy a few copies of that print. I had other relatives in that building who would love a copy.
That place is right opposite Burton Road.
Burton road became a small dead end road when they built an estate off it.
There was 2 massive run down houses on either side with big gardens that faced us. Squatters took them other and everyone and anyone used to dump their shit in the gardens.
Oh yeah!!!!!!!
Is that secound hand car dealership still there? It was inbetween the the Burton road and the Old White Horse.
http://landmark.lambeth.gov.uk/display_page.asp?section=landmark_fullsize&id=108
See the Joeseph Auctions room place. I used to live right at the top of that.
I think however, the flat I lived in was built right on the top as an afterthought. The floor was so slanted it was unreal! All my childhood friends would piss themselves with laughter when they first walked along our hallway!
I couldn't believe that the Crown & Anchor pub was so tall at one point!
I would love to see a "today" picture to compare that one to.
I'm definatly going to buy a few copies of that print. I had other relatives in that building who would love a copy.
That place is right opposite Burton Road.
Burton road became a small dead end road when they built an estate off it.
There was 2 massive run down houses on either side with big gardens that faced us. Squatters took them other and everyone and anyone used to dump their shit in the gardens.
Oh yeah!!!!!!!
Is that secound hand car dealership still there? It was inbetween the the Burton road and the Old White Horse.
Oh yeah...
If you look at that photo again.
Where you see that sign that says "Miche". The shop below that used to be a florist. Someone bought it but would not do anything with it. There was always a pitbull dog in there that would be eagerly barking at us from the front shop window. Poor thing. The shop to our right of it, used to be a or still is, a chinese restaurant.
The shop to our left of Joesepths Auction rooms.....used to be an antiques in the 70s. It was run by a Russian woman. She sussed that the KGB were spying on her and the British authorities just came along one night and moved her out as quickly as possible. She left us a load of antiques, she was crying and she said she would miss us. I would love to catch up with her one day!
Just across from the road that leads into Slade gardens.....I believe the chip shop, offer license and the newsagents are still there. A friend of mine used to work in the offer license. The newsagents have ALWAYs been Pakistani, even in the 70s.
I remember a glass shop and a car battery shop further down. I remember a black barbers setting up shop there. I remember once being too lazy to walk down to Michael's in Loughbourgh junction and got my hair cut at that barbers....I got back to my flat and my mum was shocked! She said "I told you....black barbers can only fucking cut afro hair!...look at the state of you!"
There also used to be a "Chick King" place there. My parents were always worried about the hygine of that place, but I don't know if it was down to some kind of racism as that was the first black place we knew of that sold food on that row of shops.
If you look at that photo again.
Where you see that sign that says "Miche". The shop below that used to be a florist. Someone bought it but would not do anything with it. There was always a pitbull dog in there that would be eagerly barking at us from the front shop window. Poor thing. The shop to our right of it, used to be a or still is, a chinese restaurant.
The shop to our left of Joesepths Auction rooms.....used to be an antiques in the 70s. It was run by a Russian woman. She sussed that the KGB were spying on her and the British authorities just came along one night and moved her out as quickly as possible. She left us a load of antiques, she was crying and she said she would miss us. I would love to catch up with her one day!
Just across from the road that leads into Slade gardens.....I believe the chip shop, offer license and the newsagents are still there. A friend of mine used to work in the offer license. The newsagents have ALWAYs been Pakistani, even in the 70s.
I remember a glass shop and a car battery shop further down. I remember a black barbers setting up shop there. I remember once being too lazy to walk down to Michael's in Loughbourgh junction and got my hair cut at that barbers....I got back to my flat and my mum was shocked! She said "I told you....black barbers can only fucking cut afro hair!...look at the state of you!"
There also used to be a "Chick King" place there. My parents were always worried about the hygine of that place, but I don't know if it was down to some kind of racism as that was the first black place we knew of that sold food on that row of shops.
Does anyone know what happened to the Russel Hotel?
Please don't tell me it looks like this still
http://web.ukonline.co.uk/localonline/d/pubrusse.jpg
My dad would never drink in there during the 80s. Too violent.
Please don't tell me it looks like this still
http://web.ukonline.co.uk/localonline/d/pubrusse.jpg
My dad would never drink in there during the 80s. Too violent.
LOL...I'm just remembering all the mischief I used to get up as a right little bastard living at the top of those shops. You see I had easy access to chimneys all along that row of shows by climbing over the roof tops. I used to throw half sized bricks down the chimneys without realizing the consequences of my actions. I got a good belting for that one day. The Russians were watching TV and half a brick certainly startled them when it hit their fireplace at full velocity!
My aunt used to live below and she would sometimes sun bath in the summer. I chucked a load of ice cream down at her once, that was fucking hilarious because it landed right on her tits!
Oh those where the days!
My aunt used to live below and she would sometimes sun bath in the summer. I chucked a load of ice cream down at her once, that was fucking hilarious because it landed right on her tits!
Oh those where the days!
Minnie_the_Minx
someinenhhanding menbag and me ah bollox
layabout said:
It's become 2/3 bedroom apartments upstairs. Not sure what will happen to the ground floor though. There's a couple of threads about it somewhere where I told people it was called Brady's which confused a few people here
Minnie_the_Minx
someinenhhanding menbag and me ah bollox
newbie said:... almost everywhere on earth is
The two shops I miss most are that chippie (name? it's bugging me) and the bakers that used to be on New Park Rd.
I do miss that bakers. b/f went to Brixton on Saturday and couldn't find a loaf of bread ANYWHERE
Would agree with you about Alberts, or Poison Alberts as it is more commonly known
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