The Arcade in the High Street in Eltham

A short series looking at the story behind the picture.

When you don’t have a market, an arcade is the next best thing.

Arcades like markets cater for those small independent traders and there is nothing better than wandering under the glass canopy at what’s on offer.

I suppose it is also that  it is just that bit different.

You have to come off the High Street and  make a conscious decision to go in.  There is no traffic to watch out for and I always feel a sense of adventure, even when you know each of the shops and even more when you don't particularly need any of them

Eltham Arcade was built in 1930 and was intended to be a bigger development.

Twenty years earlier the site had been home to Whittaker & Smith the coach builders, a baker, an iron mongers along with Thomas Grant boot maker and one of the seventy hardware stores of George Mence Smith who also sold oil.

Picture; from the collection of Jean Gammons