During the early 1960s The Street remained similar to how it appeared at the close of the nineteenth century. The Co-op building, The Crown pub, the Infant’s School, the Upchurch Stores and many of the houses which still exist were already in place. The only buildings not present included The Poles housing estate and the newsagent’s shop.
At the Oak Lane end of The Street the Co-op building had a smaller interior and the counter faced customers as they entered. Charles Mileham, a short man with black hair and black rimmed glasses managed it. The present day Snaffles building opposite served as the village post office run by Fay and Cliff Wanstall with a red letter box and stamp machine outside. Cliff Wanstall’s sister Rhoda lived in part of the building with her husband and bull mastiff dog called Max.
To the left of the post office Derek and Herbert Wildish occupied Myrtle Cottage while Alf, Emma and Jessie Castle occupied Vine Cottage next door. Alf Castle, a dockyard worker, won fame as a cards player in The Crown. Adjacent to Vine Cottage stands the Infant’s School where Miss Yates, later known as Mrs Titmus, served as headmistress, assisted by Mrs Thomas from Rainham and where Emily and Nora Glover from Oak Lane worked as dinner ladies.
To the left of the Infant’s school are Newbery cottages, Acorn Cottage and Norman House. The residents included Alice Ball, Fred, Hilda and Bernard Clemons, Ellen Boast, Win and Cyril Wraight and Newman and Elsie Glover. Most were long term village people.
Next to these cottages and opposite the church is a big white house that during the early 1960s served as ‘The Upchurch Stores’ run by James and Bessie Huggins. Directly outside on the right side stood a red public telephone box and to the left a bubble gum machine. A narrow pavement and a brick wall stretched around the corner into Forge Lane.
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The Street 1967. |
On the opposite side of Forge Lane stood Anvil House. On The Street side of this W H Hales butcher’s shop run by Dick Hales and assisted by Barry Madden faced The Crown. Next to this was an old 18th century building where Fred Clemons had his newspaper sorting office. Opposite this stood The Crown pub run by Albert and Kitty Stewart and where the village football club used a room for their committee meetings. A bit more basic than today, the pub had three parts, a public bar on the left and a saloon bar on the right with a smaller area between known as the Bottle and Jug. The main entrance was at the front of the pub and the conveniences outside in the car park.
A unique, little wooden house existed just past the pub but this was demolished and replaced by Wendy Hair Fashions. Next to this is the building known today as Terry’s. A succession of people occupied the shop which served as a general store and as an antique shop. During the early 1960s Macdonald’s ran the business. The adjoining terraced dwellings known as Haslemere Cottages included residents Frances Wraight, Peter and Shirley Bailey and Betsy and John Seamer. Laying back from the road Suffield Cottages were occupied by farm workers. Those resident in the early 1960s included Alex and Celia Hayward and Albert and Daisy Clemons. To the right of this an orchard existed until the construction of The Poles housing estate around 1963.
The terraced cottages opposite The Poles and which had existed since the 1880s included Dr Longford’s surgery and residents Queenie and Valerie Sifleet, Beryl and Ray Sifleet, Charles and Joan Sifleet, Lily and Stan Frost, Kathleen, John and Ernie Singyard, Louis and Nellie McKerns, Edna and Philip Kemp, Elizabeth Harrell, Len and Nellie Harvey, Emma and Jim Smitherman, Arthur and Minnie Bareham, Ivy Wicks, Freda and Ernie Madden, Edward Robinson, Frank and Gladys Charlton and John and Doris Hamilton.
Changes have taken place over the past sixty years and there are many more parked cars than previously, but much of The Street still remains similar to how it appeared during the early 1960s.
A unique, little wooden house existed just past the pub but this was demolished and replaced by Wendy Hair Fashions. Next to this is the building known today as Terry’s. A succession of people occupied the shop which served as a general store and as an antique shop. During the early 1960s Macdonald’s ran the business. The adjoining terraced dwellings known as Haslemere Cottages included residents Frances Wraight, Peter and Shirley Bailey and Betsy and John Seamer. Laying back from the road Suffield Cottages were occupied by farm workers. Those resident in the early 1960s included Alex and Celia Hayward and Albert and Daisy Clemons. To the right of this an orchard existed until the construction of The Poles housing estate around 1963.
The terraced cottages opposite The Poles and which had existed since the 1880s included Dr Longford’s surgery and residents Queenie and Valerie Sifleet, Beryl and Ray Sifleet, Charles and Joan Sifleet, Lily and Stan Frost, Kathleen, John and Ernie Singyard, Louis and Nellie McKerns, Edna and Philip Kemp, Elizabeth Harrell, Len and Nellie Harvey, Emma and Jim Smitherman, Arthur and Minnie Bareham, Ivy Wicks, Freda and Ernie Madden, Edward Robinson, Frank and Gladys Charlton and John and Doris Hamilton.
Changes have taken place over the past sixty years and there are many more parked cars than previously, but much of The Street still remains similar to how it appeared during the early 1960s.
About David
David Wood was born and raised in Upchurch and is able to write from personal experience about many people and aspects of the village and of changes that have taken place over the years making ‘Memories of Upchurch’ a very readable book and a detailed historical study of the village. David's book ‘Memories of Upchurch’ is available direct from David at: david3702001@yahoo.co.uk or from us here at Upchurch Matters. Price £12 + £3.50 postage and packing.
