Francis Frith logo

The Francis Frith Collection Francis Frith

An Historical Photographic Archive of National Importance

Call: +44 (0)1722 716 376
Sign-in or Register
Contact Us
Trustpilot
Sign-in or Register
Delivery Info Help Contact Us
US ($)
Choose A Francis Frith Shop
 UK (£) For UK & International delivery US ($) For US/Canada delivery
Call +44 (0)1722 716376
0 Items: View Basket
Shopping Basket
Trustpilot
  1. Home
  2. Sidcup
  3. Memories
  4. Sidcup High Street

Sidcup High Street

A Memory of Sidcup.

Just looking at this photo brings a lump to my throat. We lived in Blackhorse Road just off the High Street. The shop in the photo is on the corner of Blackhorse Road. I was 15 yrs old in 1965 and the Beatles were topping the charts and Mods & Rockers were the latest thing! My Dad had a fruit & veg stall at top of Hadlow Road and my Mum did all her grocery shopping in Cave Austin. Fish from Pearce Bros, meat from butchers (there were 3 butchers then to choose from). Ham and cheese from David Greigs. Fresh bread from Tidmarshes on St John's parade. As a teenager I worked in Woolworths in the High Street on Saturdays, it was wonderful. I even got a holiday job in Dorothy Perkins. No shops there any more, it's all very sad, even Wooly's has gone.
We went to St Lawrences RC church every Sunday all of us married there, kids baptised there and sadly parents funerals there. I still feel more at home in Sidcup than anywhere else. I used to play on the Green every day I got the chance, we just called it the Park. I can't believe how old fashioned the people look in 1965 in the photos! I can see the huge clock that overhung the jewellers and the front of what was the cafe. I remember Hansons the chemist and Dawsons the department store (now Somefields). There was a little old haberdashers called Stangers on the corner of Blackhorse Road and the High St. this is now a chemist. There was a time I could walk the entire High Street and name all the shops but some I forget now. Thanks for bringing back so many happy memories - would be nice if there were still some shops in Sidcup.

Added 09 September 2009

#225917

Comments & Feedback

Hi, I too lived in Blackhorse Road at number 4 from 1966- 1998, my dearest friend Peggy Breeds lived next door at number three.
I now live in Adelaide South Australia and have done so since I left Blackhorse Road.I remember your Dad's Veggies at the top of Hadlow Road,I think his name was Mick and your Mum Christine, hope this is right. I would not recognise Sidcup now I don't think.
By thomasandpamela90 on Mon Nov 9th 2015, at 9:19 am
Contact User
Report
I went to St Lawrences every Tuesday morning as a pupil of St Josephs Convent, loved every minute of it; although it seems every sermon I've heard since I was 10 is a reiteration of what I heard at St Lawrences.
The church has been redecorated and not for the better. The arched blue ceiling is now a glaring white and the wonderful 50 foot curtain that was at the back behind the altar, with it's beautiful floral design has disappeared.

With regards to shops, those that have disappeared-
the sweet shop on the left had side (opposite Barclays) that had its V shaped window display removed & stopped selling the best hand made coconut ice you ever tasted. I think the old girl who made it wasn't around in the 1980s, wish I knew her coconut ice recipe.

There was music shop - records & instruments almost next to the police station and I wish i knew its name, closed around 1980.
Another record shop was almost opposite Hatherly Road, in fact it was opposite Woolworths, both gone now. But it had that 'feel' of being a record shop.
The Anglian building society became a Nationwide, and opposite that building was a Burton's which had a 'B' crest on the railings outside the 1st floor
By samourx1 on Mon Feb 1st 2016, at 6:31 am
Contact User
Report
I lived in Sidcup/North Cray between 1960 and 1978. I seem to recall a record shop on the high street called 'John Menzies'. Not sure if its the shop you refer to, but I bought my first record (Ride a White Swan) there. There was another record shop further down the high street, on the opposite side of the road to where Woolworths were situated. Can' recall the name of it though.
By philjosephs1 on Wed Oct 5th 2016, at 6:07 pm
Contact User
Report
I have great memories of my teenage years. My first girlfriend was the daughter of the owner of the fruit and veg stall. Such a long time ago, and so very young.
We all had a fantastic time in sidcup, with all our friends at the local youth club.
By sm-solutions on Mon Feb 6th 2017, at 10:46 pm
Contact User
Report
Thomas & Pamela - I remember Peggy very well. Christine is my sister and Mick is her husband. They took over the fruit & veggie stall briefly when my dear old Dad sadly passed away in 1967. They moved back into Blackhorse Road in 2000 into one of the houses just opposite to where you and Peggy lived. Sidcup has changed out of all recognition from the time you lived there but I still love it.
By Maura Russell on Tue Feb 7th 2017, at 10:41 am
Contact User
Report
Samourx1 I totally agree with you about St Lawrences. I loved that Church but they have totally stripped every ounce of character from it. I still pop in there whenever I'm in Sidcup but it always makes me sad to see the damage they have done.
By Maura Russell on Tue Feb 7th 2017, at 10:44 am
Contact User
Report
sm-solutions....now I am curious. Was that me or one of my sisters? I used to go to the club in Hatherley Crescent which was known as the Boys Club and I think was part of a group of clubs run by Frankie Vaughan the singer...or at least he was involved with it somehow. They allowed girls to join around 1964/5 I think. I was 14 when I joined and remember my first boyfriend very well. The club took us on a trip to Belgium - very happy memories and soooo long ago.
By Maura Russell on Tue Feb 7th 2017, at 10:49 am
Contact User
Report
Do you remember siting in the American style coffee bar, just up the road from you in the high street (drinking "frothy" coffee, and I think they may have had a duke box?) I think it was Blankenburg
By Richard on Wed Feb 8th 2017, at 11:10 am
Contact User
Report
Yes it was Blankenburg and I do remember a coffee bar but can't remember if I ever went in there.The Youth Club I went to was in Hatherley Crescent? We used to walk to the fish and chip shop on the Parade by the railway station.Did you live in Faraday Avenue?
By Maura Russell on Wed Feb 8th 2017, at 12:19 pm
Contact User
Report
Mr Murray ran the record shop , which was then the second shop down in the 50's and he stocked all the latest rock n roll 78's, then 45's and 33's in wooden racks, with a Danzette player on the counter for us to listen. I bought my first record there called 'Where are you little star' after attending Mass at St Lawrences where I was an alter boy.
By frankrimer on Thu Apr 19th 2018, at 12:53 pm
Contact User
Report
Hi Frank - did you have a sister called Rita?
By Maura Russell on Thu Apr 19th 2018, at 7:03 pm
Contact User
Report
I went back to Sidcup last week after 40 years to re-kindle fond memories, I parked where my father used to park his car (in the road outside the library) when he went shopping with my mother every Saturday morning. I enjoyed the walk down the high street, but sad many of the landmarks are missing especially Woolworths and the Public House by the new hotel.. I walked down Blackhorse road for the first time.
By Richard on Sun Aug 26th 2018, at 5:17 pm
Contact User
Report
We lived at 75 sidcup hill in the 50's,lovely old house,it was knocked down and flats built,used to help out at Sidcup hill motors.
By fleemanroger on Sun Feb 3rd 2019, at 3:15 pm
Contact User
Report
Hello Roger - I'm Jim Farrant [he of the Lincoln Road tribe] and I remember you well - also your serene mother who, I seem to sadly recall, was a young widow. Yes, your detached house was truly impressive - strange I know, but I was always fascinated by the yellow St John's Wort that grew in your front garden. Having a bus-stop outside, I often passed no.75, looking for used bus-tickets for my collection and, much more often, for my unforgettable, first girl-friend, who lived on the corner of Knoll Road. Happy days - and Roger, I wish you many yet to come, J.
By jimfarrant73 on Sun Apr 21st 2019, at 12:29 pm
Contact User
Report
I moved to Sidcup in 1964 ,lived at 1 Warwick road and went to Hurstmere school boys. I remember the fruit stall top of Hadlow road and many of the shops of the time 1940 dry cleaners ,Burtons, Francis Chapel ,Dales etc and one you could do a Harry Worth in the door way.The club in Hartherly road was indeed a Frankie Vaughan partonized set up. I some others got banned due to our weekend attendance of the Austral in Longlands road. I thought the Hatherley road cluh a bit uncool,but realize how beneficial and supportive it was for many and regret in my advanced years not being just that,but what do you know aged 14, everything and nothing of course is the correct answer!I Delivered morning and evening papers and oddly to Blackhorse road and back road. I was a milk boy with Express in fact when I was'nt clubbing I grafted . Bailed out of school aged just 15oved to Bromley in 1969 but have fond memories of Sidcup and it's folk 50+ years on
By simonworman9 on Mon Aug 23rd 2021, at 7:25 pm
Contact User
Report

Add your comment

You must be signed-in to your Frith account to post a comment.

Sign-in or Register to post a Comment.

Add to Album
What's an Album? Info

Sparked a Memory for you?

If this has sparked a memory, why not share it here?

Add a memory of Sidcup