Erith, Memories Of The Old Days

I read you comment with a great deal of interest. I to am Erith born and bred and still live there. There is a local history facebook page which I manage which has photos of the town and surrounding area then and now. Try it Erith and Belvedere LHS facebook. By the way I went to Crescent Road School with Kenny Hodsall, I think he lived in Pier Road, but it is such a long time ago...

Hi Kenneth, thanks for adding a comment to my memory of Erith. I also went to Crescent Road school, as did my brothers, Ken & Brian. My sister Andrea also went there. My brother Ken sadly passed away a few years ago. We all lived in those early years down at 91 Pier Road. I often wonder why the old town of Erith was torn down. It seemed such a busy place. When I returned on occasion to visit my folks I was saddened to see what it had become, perhaps I can only see it now through rose coloured glasses!! I

Hi. I loved looking at all the old photos. I was born in Alexander Road and as a child remembering the old high street well. We used to go to a lovely fish and chip shop then.

Hi, my dad lived at 25 Frinsted Road, Jim Billington. He now lives in Gravesend and remembers you Michael and your family. He often talks about who and what was in Erith. Do you remember him?

Hi Michael, dad has just told me that your sister lives in the next road to him.

Hi, wow, what a small world. Yes I remember him, also Rose, who I think was about the same age as myself. #25 was just across the road from our house. My sister Andrea live in the Istead Rise area of Northfleet so he must live in that area. My sister Pauline lives in the Gravesend area. He probably remembers us boys playing soccer on the green on the corner of Frinsted Road. He will also remember them building the rest of Frinsted Road and Broadoak Road and the rest of that estate. It all seems a long time ago now but they seem to have been such happy and busy times, we were always up to something, knock down ginger, scrumping and so many things we probably shouldn't have been doing.
I really do appreciate you getting in touch, living over here in western canada I don't ever get to reminisce with the kids that I grew up with.
Mike Hodsall

Hi Mike, Dad was really happy to know that you still remembered them. Sadly Rose died in 2013. Dad often talks about the 'old' days and wonders where everyone has ended up. He became a dockworker at Erith Deep Wharf until it closed in 1991. Do you know the whereabouts of anyone else? He talks a lot about Peter Fawcett too as he moved to Canada as well. Dad lives in Istead Rise near Andrea. He says: Hope you are keeping well and pleased to hear from a past neighbour. If you have old photos, let me know and I can give you my e-mail address to send them to - I will try to upload a photo too - do you recognise everyone in it?

Hi, thanks for your comment, great to hear from you. Sorry to hear about Rose, I think she was my first girlfriend. It's interesting that you say your dad worked at the Erith Deep Wharf, I was born at 91 Pier Road which was at the bottom end of Pier Road below the High St. At that time the entrance to Cory's wharf was beside the railway lines that ran out to the pier. When I was back there with my family the early 80's the houses had gone and it was now part of the Deep Wharf area.
My wife and I remember the Fawcett family, as I remember there was Tony, Peter & I think John. I have no idea of their whereabouts. I'm afraid I have no photographs of the old days and have had no contact with any of my childhood friends probably because I have lived out of the country since the 60's. There was a Ron Jones that lived at the top end of Frinsted Road at that time and I met him back in the 80's when I was visiting my sister Andrea over in the Istead Rise area. I haven't seen him since.
I would really pleased if you could send me a photograph that you may have, who knows, I may recognize someone. Please send it directly to my email address as I am having some problems getting to my comments page on this website. Please pass on my regards to your dad, and yes we are keeping well.
Thanks again for your comments. Mike Hodsall

We lived in Birling Road ..moved in when a lot of it was still being built. Our surname was Russell..brother Rick (guitarist who sadly died in 1977 aged 24) and sister Linda. had loads of friends in surrounding Roads cos we all played in the street then and made loads of friends..in birling Road..Linda Larence, Zena Stroud, Frank Harrris, Billy King, Lianne Vallis, Carol Davis. Yvonne carol, Daphne & Julie and Ray Walker. Alan Magin, Brian Fribbins, Jill Fribbins..so many more, the Bikllintons the smiths, the Grants..happy days.Saturday Morning Pictures..walking to the Off licence in Colyers Labe..changing bottles for money. Penny for the Guy and big bonfire on the Green..then back to our ack garding (backed onto the Grants) for our bonfire which was always huge and all our neighbours joined us..we burnt a piano nearly every year. Would love to hear from anyone who remembers us.x

In reply to janna8, Hi Janna?, It was quite a surprise to get feedback after all this time, but great just the same. Like you I moved into the area of Frinsted Rd & Berling Rd in the very early days. When we moved to 16 Frinsted I was 6 years old, which means it would have been 1947' ish. There only the steel houses then and parts of Berlin Rd. as I remember. No Valentine Rd. The area behind our house was all open fields. Then the building started and a lot of the work was being done by prisoners of war. I can remember getting a ride with one of the prisoners, his name was Lawrence, on a dumpster. He gave me a cup of coffee from a big cauldron on an open fire. I wondered what it was I was drinking. He made me a Christmas present, a man that could walk down a slope, it was made of wood. Isn't it strange what one remembers after all these years. I'm 78 now. The only name I can remember from Berling Rd. was a lad, a little older than me, his name was Walter Gafney as I remember. He lived at the Frinsted Rd. end of Berling Rd.
Like you I remember Saturday morning picture, I think it was sixpence to get in. Fish and chips from the fish & chip shop across from the Odeum cinima. ( spelling may be wrong) Bonfire night was a big thing I remember. It's not celebrated over here in western Canada. Do you remember the Lido swimming pool, Franks park for chestnuts, scrumping on Colyers Lane. The army tanks down at the river site after the war and being able to get into the tanks. Such memories.
Perhaps we can find more memories when we think back,
Meantime, take care,
Mike Hodsall.