Pictures from an Eltham Walk ......no. 1 ...... goodbye after 87 years

If you are going out for a walk, always take a picture.  

Looking for a Police Station, 2023

My friend Larissa does and it follows on from her very succesful project of capturing scenes of Eltham from a bus.*

And the first of the new series is that empty space at the top of Well Hall Road, close to the High Street.

Most of us will know it as the former Police Station which I took for granted while I was growing up in Well Hall.

At the time I never gave it much thought and if I did I guess I thought it was rather ugly.

But the passage of time has made me think it was a fine example of late 1930s architecture, where purpose took precedence over style, although I do think it does have style.

Passing the Police Station, 2015

Or I should say did, because for all of us who no longer live in Eltham I can report it has gone.

It was closed some years ago, recently  demolished and is the site is waiting for something to happen.

And as you do I went looking for a planning application for its redevelopment on Greenwich's planning portal.

So far there is no reference for what is to happen, although I did  stumble across the two applications to knock it down, the first in September 2022 and the second in the November of the same year.

That said someone may know.

Knocking on the door, 2015

Leaving me just to reflect that I have wondered about when it was built***

The search ended up with the Greenwich Heritage Centre who came up with a date between 1936-39.

"The only clues as to the date of the station I’ve found come from the electoral register and the ordnance survey map. The ordnance survey as revised in 1936 shows the site on which the station would come to be built as empty. 

Fortunately, it appears that when built there were three flats incorporated into the station - for married members of the force or possibly caretakers, I would imagine – which means that the police station, with its residents, was included in the electoral register. 

The first time it appears is in October 1939. So 1936-39 is as close as I can come to a date."

Although there is a picture of the station just before it opened with a suggested date of 1936/7.

So, that may be when it was built and 87 years later it has gone.

Apologies to anyone who knew it is no more and a thank you to Larissa for the pictures and the start of a new Eltham series.

A space, 2023

Picture; Eltham Police Station, Well Hall Road, 2015, from the collection of Elizabeth and Colin Fitzpatrick and the space that was Eltham Police Station, courtesy of Larissa Hamment

Tomorrow; the sad end of our Police Station

*Picture; from an Eltham Bus; https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.com/search/label/Pictures%20from%20an%20Eltham%20Bus

** Greenwich Planning Portal, https://planning.royalgreenwich.gov.uk/online-applications/searchResultsBack.do?action=back

***Eltham Police Station .............. one of those buildings I have always taken for granted, https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.com/2019/06/eltham-police-station-one-of-those.html

****Greenwich Heritage Centre, http://www.greenwichheritage.org/site/index.php

When a little bit of home falls through our letter box in Manchester……. SEnine

Now it’s one of those little treats I look forward to when Larissa parcels up a collection of the SEnine magazine and sends them north to us in Manchester.

It is a variation on that old idea of food parcels, but for me is far more pleasurable.

They sit beside copies of the quarterly bulletin from the Eltham Society, and bring Well Hall just that bit closer.

My favourite in the SEnine has to be John Kennett’s history articles, but then it couldn’t be anything else given my own fascination for the past.

So, there it is, my half yearly collection of recent Eltham, sent as ever by my friend Larissa, to which as ever I say a big thank you.

Location; Eltham






Picture; covers from SEnine, Issue 148, March, 2019 and Issue 150, May 2019

Pictures from an Eltham bus ........ no.29 ....... almost done

The top deck of a London bus has to be a pretty neat way of seeing the world below.

And when it is the same bus at about the same time every day, then you have got yourself a project.

All you need is a camera, and the patience each week to record the same spot, and the rest as they say is Larissa Hamment’s “Pictures from an Eltham bus”.*

In the case of our new cinema, Larissa has been recording the story from before the old Co-op building came down, and has covered its demolition, the clearing of the site and the slow rise of the new picture house, our first for decades.

And here is her picture, taken on Saturday, with, “Final adjustments to the cinema”.

Location; Eltham

Pictures; the new cinema, 2019, from the collection Larissa Hamment

*Pictures from an Eltham bus, https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Pictures%20from%20an%20Eltham%20Bus

Pictures from an Eltham bus ........ no.24 ....... the cinema

The top deck of a London bus has to be a pretty neat way of seeing the world below.

Almost finished, 2018

And when it is the same bus at about the same time every day, then you have got yourself a project.

All you need is a camera, and the patience each week to record the same spot, and the rest as they say is Larissa Hamment’s “Pictures from an Eltham bus”.*

In the case of our new cinema, Larissa has been recording the story from before the old Co-op building came down, and has covered its demolition, the clearing of the site and the slow rise of the new picture house, our first for decades.

Back in 2017

Now what I like about todays picture, is that amongst the early morning commuters, she has captured Greggs, open for business, poking out from the edge of the development.

Those, who like me left Eltham a long time ago, will be intrigued by the return of a picture house.

I remember all three from the ABC, to the Eltham Hill Gaumont which was the Odeon and of course my favourite, the one by the roundabout in Well Hall.

I have memories of what I went to see at each and which girl friend I accompanied too all of them.

 Eltham Cinema, 1913

But there was an earlier cinema which was on the corner of the High Street and Westmount Road.

It was opened in 1913 and demolished in 1968 which means I must have seen it countless times on my way to school at Crown Woods but even now it does not register with me.”

During the winter of 1913 had been around  I might well have decided to take myself off to where I could have seen epics like the Battle of Waterloo, stories drawn from great novels like Zola’s Germinal or melodramas loosely based on the Old Testament along with documentaries about nature, disasters at sea and much more.

The Battle of Waterloo, 1913

Its proprietor was a Mr Robert Frederick Bean who was listed in 1913 at 4 Everest Road.

A few years earlier he was in Brockley describing himself as a manufacturer’s agent for lace.

He was 31, had been married for three years and had two children and employed a nurse and a housemaid.

I wish I knew more about them but that is about it although they do seem to have moved around a bit living in Lewisham as well as Brockley and Eltham.

Before the new cinema, 2016

And Tricia had found out more, "it had 1 screen and seated 400  people. It was built in 1912 opened 1913 and closed 1937”.

So we have a rich inheritance of silver screens, which will soon be back.

Location; Eltham

Pictures; the new cinema, 2018, and earlier in 2016-7 from the collection Larissa Hamment, Eltham Cinema, courtesy of Thisiseltham, and screenshot from The Kinematograph Year Book, 1914,

*Pictures from an Eltham bus, https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Pictures%20from%20an%20Eltham%20Bus


**Eltham's cinemas, https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.com/search/label/Eltham%27s%20Cinemas

***Thisiselatham, http://www.thisiseltham.co.uk/

Pictures from an Eltham bus ........ no.23 ....... today at the cinema

The top deck of a London bus has to be a pretty neat way of seeing the world below.

From the High Street, 2018

And when it is the same bus at about the same time every day then you have got yourself a project.

All you need is a camera, and the patience each week to record the same spot, and the rest as they say is Larissa Hamment’s “Pictures from an Eltham bus”.*

And we are now getting closer to that first performance of "Gone with the Wind" in Eltham since its premiere.

So, when it is all finished perhaps a trip down from the North for the grand opening.

From the car park, 2018

We shall see.

In the meantime I shall just say "look upon my works" you cinema goers and be prepared to be have some fun.

Location; Eltham





Pictures;  the site of the new cinema, 2018, from the collection of Larissa Hamment

*Pictures from an Eltham bus, https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Pictures%20from%20an%20Eltham%20Bus

Pictures from an Eltham bus ........ no.22 ....... one step closer to that cinema

The top deck of a London bus has to be a pretty neat way of seeing the world below.

Saturday, August 18, 2018

And when it is the same bus at about the same time every day then you have got yourself a project.

All you need is a camera and the patience each week to record the same spot and the rest as they say is Larissa Hamment’s “Pictures from an Eltham bus”.*

And we are now getting closer to that first performance of Gone with the Wind" in Eltham since its premiere.

So, when it is all finished perhaps a trip down from the North for the grand opening.

We shall see.

Location; Eltham

Pictures;  the site of the new cinema, 2018, from the collection of Larissa Hamment

*Pictures from an Eltham bus, https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Pictures%20from%20an%20Eltham%20Bus

Pictures from an Eltham bus ........ no.21 ....... coming soon a cinema near you

The top deck of a London bus has to be a pretty neat way of seeing the world below.

And when it is the same bus at about the same time every day then you have got yourself a project.

All you need is a camera and the patience each week to record the same spot and the rest as they say is Larissa Hamment’s “Pictures from an Eltham bus”.*

One step nearer to that first performance of Gone with the Wind" in Eltham since its premiere .

Pictures;  the site of the new cinema, 2018, from the collection of Larissa Hamment

*Pictures from an Eltham bus, https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Pictures%20from%20an%20Eltham%20Bus

Pictures from an Eltham bus ........ no.20 ....... from a car park near you

The top deck of a London bus has to be a pretty neat way of seeing the world below.

And when it is the same bus at about the same time every day then you have got yourself a project.

All you need is a camera and the patience each week to record the same spot and the rest as they say is Larissa Hamment’s “Pictures from an Eltham bus.”*

Although in this case it was the back of a car park, with Larissa explaining, "I took this snap of the back of what will be the new cinema from Sainsburys car park  this evening".

And for all those waiting to catch the first showing of Gone with the Wind" in Eltham since its premiere this has to be good news.

Pictures;  the site of the new cinema, 2018, from the collection of Larissa Hamment

*Pictures from an Eltham bus, https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Pictures%20from%20an%20Eltham%20Bus

Pictures from an Eltham bus ........ no.19 ....... Friday morning

The top deck of a London bus has to be a pretty neat way of seeing the world below.

And when it is the same bus at about the same time every day then you have got yourself a project.

All you need is a camera and the patience each week to record the same spot and the rest as they say is Larissa Hamment’s “Pictures from an Eltham bus.”*

And on this very warmish day it's good to see that work continues to turn the old Co-op site into the cinema.

I know there are some who bemoan the loss of our old picture houses, but they closed at a time when people had given up on going out to the "flicks".

But there remains something magical about sitting in the dark and seeing giant images of your screen heroes.

So I await the next progress report from Larissa who I thank for her continuing task of recording Eltham as it changes.

Location, Eltham, London


Pictures;  the site of the new cinema, 2018, from the collection of Larissa Hamment

*Pictures from an Eltham bus, https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Pictures%20from%20an%20Eltham%20Bus

Pictures from an Eltham bus ........ no.18 .......

The top deck of a London bus has to be a pretty neat way of seeing the world below.

And when it is the same bus at about the same time every day then you have got yourself a project.

All you need is a camera and the patience each week to record the same spot and the rest as they say is Larissa Hamment’s “Pictures from an Eltham bus.”*

And on this very warmish day it's good to see that work continues to turn the old Co-op site into the cinema.

I know there are some who bemoan the loss of our old picture houses, but they closed at a time when people had given up on going out to the "flicks".

But there remains something magical about sitting in the dark and seeing giant images of your screen heroes.

So I await the next progress report from Larissa who I thank for her continuing task of recording Eltham as it changes.

Location, Eltham, London

















Pictures;  the site of the new cinema, 2018, from the collection of Larissa Hamment

*Pictures from an Eltham bus, https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Pictures%20from%20an%20Eltham%20Bus

What we lost ...... what we have gained ....... from a Crown to a Bucket

This isn’t a nostalgic rant, nor a lament for another lost traditional Eltham pub.

The Crown, 1977

It could be but what is the point in that?  Pubs are closing at an ever faster rate across the country and I suppose that old phrase “use them or lose them” is as true as ever.

I don’t know exactly why the Crown closed.  I went in there a few times over the years before I left Well Hall and it struck me as a well run place, and then it closed.

And now as Larissa’s picture shows it is back in business.

I wish it well as I do any enterprise which seeks to maintain a tradition of selling beer from a site which was offering happiness and cheer from the mid 19^th century and probably much earlier.

The present building stands on the site of the older one which has a rich past and so having written about the place I rather would have liked to have a drink there.

In 1840 it was being run by John Blundell who was still there the following year, but seems to have retired by 1843 when the place was in the hands of John Martin who seems very much a young man with a determination to go places.

At the age of 19 he is there in the 1837 land tax records,renting a stable from a James Wright and land from a Mrs Dobson, and by 1843 is in the Crown renting the building and the yard.

The Rusty Bucket, 2018

And as he began his long partnership with the Crown I wonder what its former landlord did with his retirement, which sadly was not long for John Martin died at the age of 51 in 1844.

Not so John Martin who was to serve pints for another three decades.

Leaving me only to reflect on the new name which is the Rusty Bucket which breaks that long link with the Crown. 

But which does offer a range of beers and ciders, which are streets away from the stuff offered up by the big breweries in the late 1960s and 70s.

The Rusty Bucket can be found on twitter where its describes itself offering 

"craft beer, cask ale, gin, cider and wine" is "kid friendly till 6pm", and "doggo friendly all the time".

Location; Eltham

Pictures; the Crown in 1977, from the collection of Jean Gammons and the Rusty Bucket, 2018 courtesy of Larissa Hamment

*The Rusty Bucket, https://twitter.com/rustybucketpub?lang=en

Pictures from an Eltham bus ........ no.17 .......

The top deck of a London bus has to be a pretty neat way of seeing the world below.

And when it is the same bus at about the same time every day then you have got yourself a project.

All you need is a camera and the patience each week to record the same spot and the rest as they say is Larissa Hamment’s “Pictures from an Eltham bus.”*

And on this very cold day it's good to see that work continues to turn the old Co-op site into the cinema.

I know there are some who bemoan the loss of our old picture houses, but they closed at a time when people had given up on going out to the "flicks".

But there remains something magical about sitting in the dark and seeing giant images of your screen heroes.

So I await the next progress report from Larissa who I thank for her continuing task of recording Eltham as it changes.

Location, Eltham, London

Pictures;  the site of the new cinema, 2017, from the collection of Larissa Hamment

*Pictures from an Eltham bus, https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Pictures%20from%20an%20Eltham%20Bus

Pictures from an Eltham bus ........ nu 16 .......

The top deck of a London bus has to be a pretty neat way of seeing the world below.
And when it is the same bus at about the same time every day then you have got yourself a project.

All you need is a camera and the patience each week to record the same spot and the rest as they say is Larissa Hamment’s “Pictures from an Eltham bus.”*

Yesterday she did us proud with two pictures of that pub on Court Yard and the comment,

“Morning Andrew, waiting to go to Woolwich & thought I'd get a nice shot of the old Crown pub, it's being developed but not sure what for.......”

Now nor do I, and while we could go to the planning portal of the Council to find out I won’t, given that I like surprises.

Added to which someone will know and tell us, along with lots of people who have fond memories of a night in the Crown, from those who called in after getting off the bus, to those celebrating Aunty Enid's going away party.

We shall see.

Location, Court Yard, Eltham, London

Pictures;  The Crown, 2017, from the collection of Larissa Hamment

*Pictures from an Eltham bus, https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Pictures%20from%20an%20Eltham%20Bus

Pictures from an Eltham bus ........ nu 15 ....... looking up

The top deck of a London bus has to be a pretty neat way of seeing the world below.

And when it is the same bus at about the same time every day then you have got yourself a project.

All you need is a camera and the patience each week to record the same spot.

It helps if there is a major new development underway like the one in the High Street and the rest as they say is Larissa Hamment’s “Pictures from an Eltham bus.”*

And today Larissa sent me this one.

Now what I particularly like about Larissa's project is the way it captures month by month the changes to our High Street.

"This is the Grove Market development opposite, they've got hoarding up so can't get a better one, (unless I'm quick when the bus comes..!) where Fads & the Midland Bank used to be."

So the beauty of the series is that you can look back and capture that past.

Location, Eltham High Street, Eltham, London

Pictures;  2017, from the collection of Larissa Hamment

*Pictures from an Eltham bus, https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Pictures%20from%20an%20Eltham%20Bus

Pictures from an Eltham bus ........ nu 14 ....... Grove Market almost open for business

The top deck of a London bus has to be a pretty neat way of seeing the world below.

Grove Market, 2017

And when it is the same bus at about the same time every day then you have got yourself a project.

All you need is a camera and the patience each week to record the same spot.

It helps if there is a major new development underway like the one in the High Street and the rest as they say is Larissa Hamment’s “Pictures from an Eltham bus.”*

Grove Market, 2013

And yesterday Larissa sent me this one with the comment, "This is the Grove Market development from Court Road, opposite the old Crown pub"

Now if like me you are longer in Eltham it’s good to get Larissa's updates.  I will always have a fond spot for the old Grove Market.

It wasn’t anything special, and pales into insignificance when set against modern shopping developments but for me back in the mid 1960s it stood for all that was modern, cool and stylish.

I opened my first bank account in the Midland Bank, ate burgers in the cafe round the corner, and later still picked up the odd pot of paint and roll of wall paper for Dad.

Court Road, circa 1900

So with that in mind I thought I would look back into the collection for earlier pictures of Grove Market.

Alas I don’t have any of it heyday and so have fallen back on one from Chrissie when the end had come and one from before there was even a market.

Location,  Eltham, London

Pictures;  The Grove Market Development,2017, from the collection of Larissa Hammen, Grove Market, December 5th, 2013 courtesy of Chrissie Rose and in the early 20th century from Eltham Through Time, courtesy of Kristina Bedford, 2013,

*Pictures from an Eltham bus, https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Pictures%20from%20an%20Eltham%20Bus

Pictures from an Eltham bus ........ nu 13 ....... "quick snap of the Grove Market development..."

The top deck of a London bus has to be a pretty neat way of seeing the world below.

And when it is the same bus at about the same time every day then you have got yourself a project.

All you need is a camera and the patience each week to record the same spot.

It helps if there is a major new development underway like the one in the High Street and the rest as they say is Larissa Hamment’s “Pictures from an Eltham bus.”*

And today Larissa sent me this one with the comment, "Quick snap of the Grove Market development...."

Now if like me you are longer in Eltham its good to get Larissa's updates.

I have to say I am not over keen on the new development which seems to dominate the area.
But then I guess there will be those who were unhappy when the old houses came down to make way for the shopping centre.

And it is one of those things that I just don't remember those houses, although we were in Well Hall just before the market was built.

All of which just leaves me to say I do like the half timbered property even though it probably not much older than me.

Location, Eltham High Street, Eltham, London








Pictures;  2017, from the collection of Larissa Hammen

*Pictures from an Eltham bus, https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Pictures%20from%20an%20Eltham%20Bus

Pictures from an Eltham bus ........ nu 12 ....... "fresh off the iPhone ...the old co-op building"

The top deck of a London bus has to be a pretty neat way of seeing the world below.

And when it is the same bus at about the same time every day then you have got yourself a project.

All you need is a camera and the patience each week to record the same spot.

It helps if there is a major new development underway like the one in the High Street and the rest as they say is Larissa Hamment’s “Pictures from an Eltham bus.”*

And today Larissa sent me this one with the comment "fresh off the iPhone ...the old co-op building."

So with the demise of the old Co-op we still have Larissa's pictures and that  has got to be good for all of us who like Eltham and its history.

Location, Eltham High Street, Eltham, London


Pictures;  2017, from the collection of Larissa Hammen

*Pictures from an Eltham bus, https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Pictures%20from%20an%20Eltham%20Bus

Pictures from an Eltham bus ........ nu 11 ....... three for one

The top deck of a London bus has to be a pretty neat way of seeing the world below.

"The new flats on the old Grove Market site in the distance"

And when it is the same bus at about the same time every day then you have got yourself a project.

All you need is a camera and the patience each week to record the same spot.

It helps if there is a major new development underway like the one in the High Street and the rest as they say is Larissa Hamment’s “Pictures from an Eltham bus.”*

And today Larissa sent me three ........ “the new flats on the old Grove Market site which you can see from the distance, a nice shot of the church in the window and the old Co-op site completely levelled” 

Now what I particularly like about Larissa's project is the way it captures month by month the changes to our High Street.

"A nice shot of the church in the window"

All too often we take those changes for granted, and within a few years only vaguely remember what had once been there.

So the beauty of the series is that you can look back and capture that past.

I can not remember the old Grove Market being built or for that matter what was there before and while there are some images of the properties that were demolished, I have yet to come across any of the precinct being built.

And I would love to see more photographs of the construction of the Progress Estate, the Well Hall Odeon and the former Burton's.

"the old Co-op site completely levelled"

But with the demise of the old Co-op we do have Larissa's pictures and that  has got to be good for all of us who like Eltham and its history.

Location, Eltham High Street, Eltham, London





Pictures;  2017, from the collection of Larissa Hamment

*Pictures from an Eltham bus, https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Pictures%20from%20an%20Eltham%20Bus

Pictures from an Eltham bus ........ nu 10....... a bit of progress

The top deck of a London bus has to be a pretty neat way of seeing the world below.

And when it is the same bus at about the same time every day then you have got yourself a project.

All you need is a camera and the patience each week to record the same spot.

It helps if there is a major new development underway like the one in the High Street and the rest as they say is Larissa Hamment’s “Pictures from an Eltham bus.”*

There will be many who remember the RACS building in the High Street, which is now just a hole in the ground. Larissa was passing today and took these images commenting "this is the old coop building which will be a cinema....and Greggs."

Location, Eltham High Street, Eltham, London









Picture; March 2017 the old Co-op/Pound Shop site, from the collection of Larissa Hamment

*Pictures from an Eltham bus, https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Pictures%20from%20an%20Eltham%20Bus

Pictures from an Eltham bus ........ nu 9....... looking at that hole in the ground

The top deck of a London bus has to be a pretty neat way of seeing the world below.


And when it is the same bus at about the same time every day then you have got yourself a project.

All you need is a camera and the patience each week to record the same spot.

It helps if there is a major new development underway like the one in the High Street and the rest as they say is Larissa Hamment’s “Pictures from an Eltham bus.”*

There will be many who remember the RACS building in the High Street, which is now just a hole in the ground. Larissa was passing today and took these images commenting "this is the old coop building which will be a cinema....and Greggs."

Location, Eltham High Street, Eltham, London



Picture; February 2017 the old Co-op/Pound Shop site, from the collection of Larissa Hamment

*Pictures from an Eltham bus, https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Pictures%20from%20an%20Eltham%20Bus