Memories of the Shops in Letchworth

By Linda Mycroft

I am born and raised in Letchworth, and remember many of the shops in  the town..My memories go back to around 1953 approx. I remember going with my mum to old Mr. Beddoes shop in Station Road, to get my dad’s baccy! Old Mr. Beddoe used to glare at me over the counter, and from what I have heard, he glared at all kids! It had a smell I remember to this day. Sweets, tobacco and polish!  There was also Thackers in Leys Avenue who sold tobacco and cigarettes and sweets. Finlays in Leys avenue was a sweet shop too as I recall. I think my fondest memories are of Woolworth, with its floorboards, and tins of broken biscuits. They had a little ice cream kiosk near the door. Christmas time was especially magic in Woolworth when I was little. I used to love to look at all the decorations hanging up on the ceilings. I remember these balls on elastic, filled with sawdust. I think they were decorations. We used to get our fireworks from Underwoods, and that was so exciting! Nowadays the town is nothing like it was…but I will always have my memories of the old days!!!

This page was added on 03/05/2013.

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  • Hi, I was born in Campers Avenue, Letchworth in 1947 & have some very special memories to share
    I went to Westbury Primary, Mr Andrews was the Headmaster & in my last year there all the pupils were given an Italic pen & taught how to write with it. I then went to Norton Road High School even though I lived out of that catchment area My best friend Jennifer Hipgrave & I we’re friends with Margaret Johns whose father was the Headmaster at Norton Road, we stated our case to him & luckily we were accepted
    We had a great time at school, walking through the Common to the Swimming Pool passing ‘Pansy Potter’ pushing her pram full of dogs, she lived in a caravan somewhere nearby
    Saturday mornings a crowd of us used to meet in the town & then go into the Co op for a treat of a cheese roll, we were easy pleased!!!!
    I left school & did day release at Luton College for window display & worked at Spinks for a while
    Saturday nights were spent at the Hermitage, the Herm, in Hitchin, fingers crossed ‘the pea souper ‘ fog didn’t come down & the buses stopped running
    I can remember all the shops that people have mentioned in Letchworth, what was called ‘The Rose Gardens’ then was the most beautiful spot with rose bushes of all colours
    I left Letchworth in 1968 & emigrated to South Africa but bought my two sons back on holiday several times to visit my parents who had by then moved to Ordelmere on the Grange Estate
    The one shop I can’t remember is the name of the Butchers Shop just by Spinks
    My Dad had told my 3 year old son that the meat from the Sunday Roast was tough as old boots so the next visit to the Butchers he promptly passed on the message to the Butcher & a shop full of people!!!!!
    We moved back to the UK in 2001 moving to St Neots, my first job in the town was at The Nationwide & I was interviewed by Jackie Byatt nee Elliott, who was born in Letchworth & went to Norton Road School, small world, I got the job!!!
    We now live in Somerset but still visit friends & family in the Letchworth area but like others it saddens me to see Letchworth as it is today no more is it a Garden City
    The artifacts from the now closed Letchworth Museum are now in the wonderful North Herts Museum in Hitchin, well worth a visit

    By Angela Lawrence nee Spencer (08/02/2024)
  • I think the chemist at the bottom of Leys Avenue with the giant colored jugs of liquid was Hoopers.

    By john manjiro (23/09/2023)
  • Does anyone know if there was a dry cleaners or laundry shop called Marshall’s in Letchworth? I think we might be going back some time but it’s something that might answer a family question.

    By Graham Bethel (11/08/2023)
  • Just found this site..I too grew up in Letchworth moving from St Albans in 1967 aged 9…my Father being at BAE in Stevenage.
    Great memories of how the town was..the shops..Munts toys…the Coop .Squires Dairy and Spinks ..also Foster And Scott menswear in the Arcade a quality place in the old style with courteous staff and wooden display drawers…I remember exploring on my bike the derelict area since turned into the shopping centre where Sains urys is now…found a screwed up fiver near a disused garage..fortune for a ten year old.
    Unfortunately places always change .inevitable and most of those shops gone now but Davids bookshop..once a hole in the wall corner of station place is thriving in Eastcheap but Sudburys cycles (still have the bike) and many Wynd shops lost
    Too many pavement cafes and wine bar places now…still love to visit once a year though from Somerset…where I now live..The Garden City design knocks spots of other nearby towns now considered Gentrified/ trendy…Letchworth any day…and at least the Broadway cinema survives…and Letchworth Art Society where the late great Peter Gilman was tutor in the early seventies….Good Old Letchworth… don’t change too much …Howard Goode.

    By Howard Goode (26/06/2023)
  • I lived in Letchworth with my parents and sisters for about 5-6 years before I was married and moved to Lincolnshire. They were very happy years. I joined Norton Rd School in the 4th year and stayed for my 5th year. My best friend was Edna Horn who sadly died in her early 40’s.
    I then worked in the Personnel Dept as a junior Secretary for a couple of years before moving to Elder and Squires dental surgery as Secretary/Receptionist.
    I was a member of St Paul’s church choir and a member of SPADS. They were very happy teenage early 20’s years.

    By Chris Bates (29/08/2022)
  • Yes, I remember Woolworths In Leys Avenue, The old fashioned wooden counters with an assistant behind each one, We would get our fireworks from Munts in Eastcheap. Further up the road was a petrol station on the left, then the Palace Cinema (Fleepit) and Broadway Cinema at the top. The bottom end of Station Road had a great model shop but can not remember the name. Commerce Lane had Whitehead garages and the first Discotheque UV Sounds. Mrs White head had the “Esspresso Bar” at he top of Station Road (later The Three Emblems. I lived opposite the paddling pool, 40 Rushby Mead. The path across the park to Howard Hall, the home of “Cell 69” youth club (aka The Leys), Before I was born my Dad rented a small shop in The Wynd, selling dry provisions. My Dad went to war and Mum could not make it work with rations and 3 daughters.

    By richard odell (30/06/2022)
  • Here’s a Hello to Roger Cooper from a slightly more youthful John Garrad (aka ‘George’) – ex-HBGS and fellow traveller on United Counties. I came across this site when trying to identify Munts of Eastcheap when somebody asked me to send something by post to No. 15 – was I right, anybody? I think that Notts was along there as well. I lived for a while in my gran’s flat in Gernon Road after she had to move out (dementia, sadly), but in an earlier life she (and family including my mum when a mere slip of a girl) had lived in Norton Way North. I had other family in Willian Way, Broadwater Avenue, and Field Lane, too. Now some of them are in Icknield Way, near the top! David’s Bookshop was a favourite when at Station Chambers and being able to thumb through the browsers outside before catching the bus onward to Steeple Morden. Somebody here has mentioned Beddoes, which I recall had a selection of slight salacious mags of keen interest to schoolboys. I was at Borg-Warner from around 1969-1973-ish and later on in my thirties we had an office for our little record label in the Spirella Building. The general manager there was Bob Christopher, who in a previous life had been at Garrard, and was one of the engineers on the 401 and SP25 Mk III decks (for those of you old enough…). He gave me his old 301, which I sold ‘not working, as seen’ about three years ago for £200! that’s it for now; I’ll look in again.

    By John Garrad (15/03/2022)
  • These post bring back so many memories I lived in letchworth for 43 years and remember all the shops mentioned, roger Cooper I remember your mum who taught me at Norton road school ,sadly no longer there ,anyone rember the name of the chemist next to spinks ,it had big coloured glass jugs in the window

    By David Sherbourne (03/02/2022)
  • Having just read Linda Mycroft’s account of some of Letchworth’s shops, I had to smile when I read her remarks about Percy Beddoe. In the early ’60s I was stationed in Germany with the RAF and one of my room mates was Brian Beddoe who when I told him I was from Letchworth asked me if knew his uncle who had a shop. I said of course, we all knew him but he was a bit if an odd character. He agreed with that as he paid him a visit once when he was based at Henlow. He introduced himself as has nephew Brian and basically got the same grunt in return that we all got. He didn’t even spend a few minutes talking family as you would expect, but just kept peering over his counter as he always did and just kept on serving other people ignoring Brian who eventually left. I’d loved to have heard the report he gave his father. He was always known as Letchworth’s first shopkeeper and apparently had always been like that.

    By Dave Thompson (16/10/2021)
  • I remember the Woolworth’s ice cream counter next to the door and it served lovely cylindrical ice cream Ona a round cornet. There was a florist’s next door which had lots of cacti which I always had to touch when my mum took me in. Munts and Brookers were magical at Christmas. I remember the art shop in the little square by Cakebread and Robey (?) and next to it was a very fancy hat shop. I remember the Wimpy Bar by the station and a stationer’s at the top of Leys Avenue that housed the Countryside Library near The Scotch Wool Shop and do you remember the first Fine Fare that used to be on the opposite side of Eastcheap to when it became a supermarket? I loved the Post Office with its creaky wooden floors and it’s smell.
    I could go on and on and probably have done!

    By Jacqui Smith (Baker) (09/09/2021)
  • Just happened on this site and have re-lived many happy memories. I came to Letchworth, aged 9 years old, in 1955 and I am still here 😁
    I went to Hillshott, then the Grammar School. Whilst at school had a job in Spinks, then after attending North Herts College worked for Amsdon, Glennerster and Wells the accountants at the top of Leys Avenue, then Munts the cycle shop, then the Council Offices. Remember all the shops mentioned in other posts. Agree with all the comments about the destruction of the lovely town centre over the years Does anyone remember the horse stables in The Wynd, where you could hire out a horse for a few hours ? I think The Wynd is the one area in the town that has retained the atmosphere of past days.

    By Rosemary Richards (nee Gurney) (31/07/2021)
  • Just found this page and can’t stop myself from commenting. Born at the end of 1947 and grew up in Letchworth until I left to live in South Africa in 1970. My parents lived and died in Letchworth. I remember John Brown with great fondness as we were in the St Paul’s scout troop together and agree with his earlier comments. I lived most of the time in Ridge Avenue and Pixmore Way and went to Hillshot Primary school and Letchworth Grammar. Worked at K & L Steel Founders and at the Co-op Creamery for a short while before I emigrated. Loved reading all the reviews below and always felt we grew up in a great place back then. Love to hear from anyone who knew me. Geoff Harris was one other.

    By Terry Peters (19/06/2021)
  • Adding to my comment about Fred Teese the barber on Station Road, his story is on Wikipedia. He was a rear gunner on the Dam Buster raid, but got shot down, and he was the only surviving airman. ( interesting read ) i know he took his own life, and if i remember correctly it happened in the shop.

    By Pete Williams (16/06/2021)
  • Bob Foster, i think Busbys was near Beddows news agents, and Franklins coal and corn merchants. I think the barber’s was taken over by the frightening Fred Teese.

    By Pete Williams (10/06/2021)
  • And then there was a small cycle shop, called Sudbury Cycles, on Eastcheap. It was on the corner of the footpath between Nott’s Bakery and Whitehead’s Garage, leading to Commerce Avenue.
    Anyone remember Busby’s hairdressers on station road, just past the Cabin?

    By Bob Forster (02/05/2021)
  • I can recall shopping for clothes with my parents and brothers in the Co-Op store on Eastcheap, in the fifties. They had a pneumatic cash transfer system, where the money was placed in a cylindrical container and put in a tube which sucked it away with a whooosh. After a couple of minutes (seemed like hours to us) the cylinder came back with a thud. At least part of the change was in Co-Op tokens, which could be redeemed at any of their stores.

    By Bob Forster (02/05/2021)
  • Who remembers Christmas time at Brookers, the furniture shop in Leys Avenue, on the corner of the Arcade? There was a wide wooden staircase leading to the upper floor, where lots of toys were on display, with almost always a model railway running.
    In the Arcade, on the right, next to Brookers was a small toy shop, perhaps it also belonged to Brookers? Most of our Dinky cars were bought there, or from Munts in Eastcheap.

    By Bob Forster (26/04/2021)
  • I was born in 1952 to Salvation Army officers. They were stationed in Letchworth from 1965 to 1968.
    I had the pleasure of going to Willian School. I had such fond memories of those years.

    I had two friends at school Kay Johnson and Julia Cockayne and I participated in School plays. I particularly remember being in a production of Pirates of Penzance.

    I had a paper route each morning and worked at Woolworths after school. I remember very fondly going to the town pool in the summer.

    In 1974 I moved to New Jersey, USA and was there until 2018 when I moved to Sarasota Florida to retire.

    I am so glad I came across this site.

    I remember being friends with two boys, one was named Phil and the other, whose name fails me, played the piano and introduced me to Rachmaninoff, ah those were the days!

    By Barbara Okin (nee Thomas) (11/04/2021)
  • I lived in Letchworth from 1950 until 1969; initially in Pix Road, then on Westholm Green and finally in Waysbrook. I attended Hillshot infant school for a year, and then the Grange infant, and then junior schools prior to going down the hill to Hitchin Boys Grammar.
    It was a great place to grow up, and well placed for transport to London when I became an older teenager.
    My Dad worked at K&L Steelfounders and my Mum taught at Norton Road school.

    By Roger Cooper (24/01/2021)
  • Well what a find this has been, i have so enjoyed reading all the posts, I was also a Letchworth lad through and through, grew up in Broughton Hill and started my school life at St Francis Collage it was a private girls schools but allowed boys until the age of seven , I then went to St Thomas more school which had just been built, My passion was Football and dogs i was never without either, i would go to the reck in baldock road opposite Letchworth town FC, we would cut through an ally way from Jackmans Place which was only accross the road from where i lived.
    Mrs Collins had the fruit and veg shop she also run a dog training class at the brotherhood hall on a Sunday night and as a 13 year old lad I would take my little black dog Rex dog training.that was the start of my passion for dogs , I went on to become a dog judge at the country shows around the country , I’ve also carried as a dog trainer throughout my whole adult life. I did my apprenticeship at Norton Way Motors and eventually moved away from Letchworth to run my own garages in the Royston and Cambridge areas,for over thirty years until 2008 when I sold up.. I’m now enjoying a slower pace of life in Norfolk where I and my dog Lilibet take full advantage of Sandringham estate for our daily walks.
    I love the memories of growing up in Letchworth but thats where it ends for me. I’m affraid I have no wish to ever live there again.
    Leo

    By Leo Antonaci (24/01/2021)
  • i was brought up in Briar Patch children’s home. I went to school at Westbury and Pixmore. I remember running cross country through Jackman’s wood to the creamery at Letchworth Gate. I also remember using my pocket money to buy Kiel Craft balsa wood model aircraft from a shop at the bottom of the high street.
    When I walked to Pixmore School I used to pass the corner Post Office, I wonder if it is still there. I remember the Spirella factory near the station. I remember the common and the swimming pool, also the black squirrels. I’m 73 now so my memory is a bit fuzzy.

    By michael sawdy (02/01/2021)
  • I too used to live in Letchworth, in Saffron Hill, I was there from 1947 to 1959 when I moved to Hampshire with my parents. I went to St Francis College and then worked at Letchworth Public Library. I still have a copy of ‘Letchworth in Pictures’ which I think was published about 1947, full of old photos of Letchworth as it used to be. I love to have nostalgic visits back there, sadly not often. I was sad to see the poplar trees in Broadway removed, also the two fir trees at the entrance to that area. Ebenezer Howard’s idea and plan of Letchworth was magnificent. What a pity that it was not continued. Norton Common, however, is still lmuch as I remember it. I still ride my bike that I bought in 1954 from the Cycle shop in Eastcheap next to the passage to Commerce Avenue. I had a summer job for 7 weeks at The Country Gentlemans’ Association in Icknield Way and earned £2 a week!

    By Pauline Bullen (nee Eveleigh) (10/11/2020)
  • Geoff Harris. The barber down commerce lane was Harry Metcalf, always asked if you wanted Bay rum when he finished cutting

    By Pete Williams (21/10/2020)
  • Sitting in my garden having a coffee a vehicle went by with a few canoes on it. It brought my mind back to Commerce Lane, who remembers PGL, they ran a type of adventure holiday. With Letchworth miles away from the sea, and having only the Pix Brook, I always found it amusing to see several canoes lying outside their building. I also used to get my hair cut in Commerce Lane, tiny barbers shop.

    By Geoff Harris (22/09/2020)
  • Adding to my previous article, Rands was in Station Road, the shop I was thinking of in Leys Avenue was Stevens, radios and records. Thinking about Station Road, I remember the shop on the corner with The Arcade, CCS, County Cycle Stores, another name to conjure with. Just down from this was The Cabin, on entering, all in front of the counter were glass topped biscuit tins so you could see the content, what a tempter. Another hardware shop was Llellyns (not sure of the spelling) just down from The Cabin. Opposite was Gates Garage, they also had a premisises on Commerce Avenue for their coaches. Looking back I feel sad that today we have endless chains, all the shops look the same, glass and aluminium frontage, so boring.
    I retired to Norfolk 16 years ago, the one town that still has individual shops is Holt, many readers might have been there, a delightful town. If any good is to come out of Covid19 it will be no further development of out of town Malls.

    By Geoff Harris (22/09/2020)
  • Born in 1944 I lived in Ridge Avenue, the Pixmore Way end. I remember many of the shops and it is interesting to note that up until the 1960s most shops were family businesses, until the chains started to appear. Some of the shopkeepers were also characters, sadly missed today. Andersons sweet shop at the bottom of Leys Avenue, Mr Anderson always had a matchstick in the corner of his mouth, and I recall how high the counter was! Reeds furniture shops, first one, then two, all linked until there was four or five. Pymans, jewellers, Thackers the tobacconist, Sid Thacker was a great character, Bustins shoe shop, Rands the electrical shop, Spinks haberdashery and ladies clothes, Boots the chemist, Gavin Jones a lovely green grocers, Freeman Hardy and Willis (they were a chain of shoe shops), Woolworths, Burtons menswear with the Snooker Hall above, Brookers, ironmongery, furniture and a lovely toy shop in The Arcade ( where all my dinkey toys came from), The Maypole general grocers, Underwoods seed merchants and hardware, Findlays tobacconist and men’s hairdressers, Marshall green grocer and flowers, John H Green furniture store, Knotts the bakers (Eastcheap) who also had The Williw Cafe in Leys Avenue, Hoopers Chemist, John Noble sweet shop, Gunners the Butchers, Rowlinsons men’s outfitters, Nicholls haberdashery and ladies clothes.
    Spinks men’s clothes, The Bacon Factory, Bakers the newsagents and sweets. I have fond memories of many of these shops and the people who served in them. Then there was the large Co-op in Eastcheap, furniture, bedding, clothes and records. I loved going into the booths to listen to the latest records, try before you buy! Woolcotts was a sweet shop in Eastcheap, opposite the Co-op, then at the top you had The Palace and Broadway cinemas. Happy memories.

    By Geoff Harris (25/08/2020)
  • My name judith steward my sister is barbara stallman got 2 brothers vic and Alan they were born in maygroft I was born stoney I left Letchworth 1980 I miss it alot I lived in pimoreavenue went 2 pimore school with Eileen Lowe where is she now then went willamschool til 1974 also my grand parents were blacksmiths at sandy I live at 68pixmoreave. Dont forget if ones no eileenlowe say hi bring tears to my reading all these lovely times stay safe everybody

    By Judith Taylor (22/06/2020)
  • I absolutely loved reading about my old Letchworth, i lived for a while with my grandmother in Rushby Mead, then moved to The Crescent, i attended Hillshott and remember i was always running up the hill trying not to be late, Terry Burdett was on gate duty and never marked me late, thank you Terry, i then attended Pixmore where my best friend Janet Matthews was house captain of her house and i was house captain of Wells and also school captain, Steve Pearce was boys’ captain i remember misses Lake, Carlisle and Register. Mr Boorer was headmaster, I also remember a lot of my fellow students like the super fast runner Jillian Bardell, a great mate Pat Cairns and Olive Wooton who moved to Australia as did i, we played netball together for many years, so many memories am sorry there is no more Pixmore, i would have loved to see some of the boards that hung on the walls. i worked at Spinks for a while and was a member of the Settlement Players with the wonderful Spinks family who were so very kind to me in many ways Barbara and i became good friends, there is so much to talk about i could fill many pages, i did return to Letchworth quite a few years ago and have to sat i was disappointed with how many of the lovely old places had been demolished, i think it’s called progress!!

    By ANN WATLER ( HOLT) (12/05/2020)
  • I absolutely loved reading about my old Letchworth, i lived for a while with my grandmother in Rushby Mead, then moved to The Crescent, i attended Hillshott and remember i was always running up the hill trying not to be late, Terry Burdett was on gate duty and never marked me late, thank you Terry, i then attended Pixmore where my best friend Janet Matthews was house captain of her house and i was house captain of Wells and also school captain, Steve Pearce was boys’ captain i remember misses Lake, Carlisle and Register. Mr Boorer was headmaster, I also remember a lot of my fellow students like the super fast runner Jillian Bardell, a great mate Pat Cairns and Olive Wooton who moved to Australia as did i, we played netball together for many years, so many memories am sorry there is no more Pixmore, i would have loved to see some of the boards that hung on the walls.

    By ANN WATLER ( HOLT) (12/05/2020)
  • My father, a printer, got a job at Garden City Press, so we moved to Letchworth in about 1955. He was given a company house, the first to do so I believe, in Caslon Way on the Grange estate.
    I went to the Grange County Primary, and have very fond memories of that school. Being read to by Mr. Unstead, the headmaster, on Friday afternoons, “Treasure Island, Moonfleet, Kidnapped” etc was wonderful. In class sat next to a girl called Kyra! Passed the 11+ there (given a Phillips Manhattan bike for doing so) and went on to the Grammar, Howard House, form/French master Mr Bradley, where I spent 3 utterly miserable years before leaving to go to Andover, again necessitated by my father’s work.
    Memories—
    Loved the open air pool and the common, both of which I frequented with schoolmates, names I won’t write down, but happy to correspond privately with anyone who remembers that time.
    Munts toy shop at Christmas-need I say more, Triang, Hornby Dublo, Bayko, Meccano, Mamod, Jetex– boy’s heaven!
    The Spirella factory near the station, passed every day to and from the Grammar School.
    The station, with the occasional cop of a Streak or a Peppercorn.
    Gates(?) garage, where, with my father, always an Austin man, we looked at the first Mini. May have that name wrong.
    A shop in the Arcade where I bought a small metal rocket into which you could put caps, throw it in the air and it would come down on its nose with a loud bang, especially satisfying in the echoey Arcade!
    Very mixed memories of Letchworth, but very nostalgic to revive them. Thanks for reading, always happy to correspond further.

    By M. J. Wilkinson (11/03/2020)
  • I was born in 1954 and lived in Pixmore Way with my parents and elder sister. I went to Hillshott and Pixmore schools before we moved away in 1964. I remember the chemist at the bottom of Leys Avenue and in particular the huge glass bottles filled with coloured liquids, going to Candy Corner on Sunday lunch times to buy ice cream which was wrapped in newspaper so it didn’t melt, the open tread stairs in Spinks which used to terrify me, buying a small wooden chair from The Wynd, buying furniture from the Arcade for my doll’s house and going with my father to WH Smith’s on Christmas Eve.

    By Carole Bendelow (30/11/2019)
  • Never thought I’d agree with John Brown but he’s correct … developers ruined Letchworth because planners let them. After tickling the tummies of weak officials the developers pursued cheap and cheerful construction methods to leave us with the carbuncle we have now. I actually laboured on the town centre development site. I no longer live in Letchworth, and each trip back is accompanied by even more disappointment. I can recall similar memories as I’ve read on this page … I’m embittered that so much has been stripped from that uniqueness which was once Letchworth.

    By Ian Kitchiner (09/11/2019)
  • A joy to come across this page, brought back so many memories. I, too was born in Letchworth in 1952. I was born in Pixmore Avenue and lived there with my parents, older brother and sister for some 20 years before moving to the new Jackmans Estate. I attended Hillshott Infants, Pixmore Junior and Willian Schools. Can remember so many of the local shops and stores already mentioned by many of the contributors. Candy Corner, Munts, Wegmullers the Bakers, Cheethams Greengrocers are others. I also recall going to the Countryside Library with my Mum which was right at the top of Leys Avenue next to the Scotch Wool Shop. Now retired and living in Norfolk

    (And yes, P Shinkins, I do remember Medlocks ice cream!)

    Sue McKervey (nee Williams)

    By Sue McKervey (09/09/2019)
  • I lived on Kings Road in Hitchin, I worked at Herts Polymer Products on Works Road as a 17-year old in 1972, for a few months. I worked in the warehouse, I remember Frank, Supervisor as well as Villa who used to borrow money from me on Mondays, as he spent his salary over the weekend. My mum also worked at Herts Polymer products.
    Once turned 18, I worked at Borg Warner for a few months. Then I could afford to go back to study. North Herts college.
    I would like to know more about what happend to Herts Polymer Products and people who worked there.

    By Amrik Parmar (11/08/2019)
  • Born in Dorset and grew up in Letchworth. Went to Grange Estate School and Norton Road.
    Lived on Common View for 8 years and moved to Hallmead until I left, and moved to Pennsylvania United States. I have been here since 1967.
    I still have fond memories of Letchworth. The Commons, the paddling pool, Norton School.

    By Lorraine Banister (17/07/2019)
  • I was born in Hitchin in1945 and grew up in Letcworth.I went to Westbury School and then onto Pixmore Secondary School which no longer exists. I remember growing up at my Grandmothers house at 191 Ickneild Way.It was right opposite the Common.I remember going to the public swimming pool which was four pence to get in,a season ticket was ten bob.After leaving School I worked at Bennetts Garage for a year and then Camco Machinery.I think they are both closed now.After a stint in the Navy I lived in Luton and then in 74 emigrated to the US.I’m now retired and would love to hear from anyone from Letchworth that went to Pixmore in the late fifties.

    By Gary Mazzei (12/06/2019)
  • I enjoyed hearing comments from Wayne Norris who was in the same class with me at Norton Road School. Also the comments from Martin Welsh who I worked with at Ellards (1977-79). My mother used to work at Tillys back in the 1940s. I was wondering if anyone might remember or know anything about the store. I used to live in Toronto CA. and now Pennsylvania

    By Richard Cook (14/05/2019)
  • I was also born in letchworth lived on jack mans place does anybody remember medlocks ice cream or jacks wood we used to walk up letchworth gate to the rocks next to the creamery then we would walk to Willian and walk home across the fields I also remember plenty of orchards and plenty of conker trees on baldock rd by the reck I have so many memories it was a great place to be brought up in

    By P shinkins (07/04/2019)
  • I have very fond memories of Letchworth! I was born in 1949 (in Hitchin actually) and a first 2-3 years were in a flat in Monks Close and then when I was around 4 we moved to a new council house on the Grange Estate (7 Whitehicks). I went to the Grange school, so close that after the first day I could and did walk there alone. I remember getting an impromptu personal lesson from the Headmaster (the later (and now late) famous history scholar RJ Unstead). I vividly remember Mr Gurney who never knew how he impacted my life with his Science Club – I remember the exact day and occasion where his enthusiasm inspired me to become a scientist at age 9. Moved to 12 Lammas Way when my brother Barry came along and my beloved Mum and Dad lived there until Dad passed away 2 years ago

    Luckily made it to grammar school, then the University of Bristol BSc PhD, Post Doc in Chicago and then a 40+ year career with 100 patents and all sorts of experiences, 2 marriages, 3 kids, 1 granddaughter so far. Spent my career mostly in the US but a decade or so with Shell in Amsterdam. Moved back to the U.K. a year ago. Live in the Midlands – would love to connect with any old schoolmates!

    By Brian Goodall (02/03/2019)
  • I was born in letchworth in 1948 I was brought up on jack mans place I went to hill shot infant school then pixmore then Willian I left school when I was 15 got a job as a painter and Dec then I got into butchering I worked at dew hurst for a while after a few years I had several jobs until 1968 I left to move up north I still live there in Whitby on the east coast letchworth was a great place to be brought up in I could Wright a book about it and all the old places

    By Pete shinkins (22/12/2018)
  • I was at Norton Secondary School with John Brown in the early 1960’s although he is older than me.
    Me and my friends Malcolm Dunham, Paul Crossley and John Lafferty lived up on the Grange estate and were also hooligans and always in trouble.
    We used to hang around the town Saturdays and when we were 16 raced around on our Lambretta scooters as “Mods” while John Brown and his buddies created havoc in the town driving around in old Jeeps or Austin Champs throwing eggs at bus queues.
    Earlier at 15, I worked at a Haddows in the Wynd, first as a pedal bike mechanic and then in the motorcycle shop preparing new Vespa and Lambretta scooters for customers and selling spare parts in the shop…I really loved that job.
    Summers were spent at the swimming pool and kissing girls in the Common.
    We moved to the US in 1980 and now live in Rhode Island.
    Great and poignant memories of Letchworth.

    By Hans Deamer (21/08/2018)
  • My dads a butcher shop was in the WYND many years. The Wynd was a fascinating place. His first shop was opposite The Wood Production, which was a junk shop. Then there was Fishy Fur as we called him, selling fresh fish, next shop was Palmers fish and chips. The best chips I’ve ever tasted and very friendly. Just up the road from my dads shop was the Kosha abattoir where each Monday the Rabbi would visit donned in his robes and Wellington to kill the chickens etc. I remember as a kid jumping over the blood which would run down the road after the slaught! Next door to the abattoir Mr Abrahams upholstery business but behind the shop was a stable where a horse was kept. Can’t remember who it belonged to. Other shops were a Wool shop, a Jewellers, Mason the green grocers. It was a community on its own.

    By Jenny Todd (Thompson) (20/08/2018)
  • I was born and bred in Stotfold in 1944, but I spent the majority of my working life working for various Letchworth Firms, J.T.Stanton Works Road, John Sutcliffe Timber Birds Hill, R.A.Brand and Co which later became Brand Coatings.

    Yes and all of the shops mentioned by others I remember well, I later formed Castle’s Taxi’s based in firstly Stotfold and the Hitchin, I moved away from the area and now live in Southport on the North West Coast

    By Les Castle (26/07/2018)
  • Well said John Brown !

    By Paul Ross (15/06/2018)
  • As l remember there were several really nice shoe shops n the two main Streets. A friend asked me if l could recall a flower shop at the bottom of Leys Avenue called The Bower. I don’t but maybe one of you does. The shop that sold wool l don’t remember it’s name but my Mums friend Doreen Marshall worked there. Candy Corner of course was always busy. Hartleys at the top of Leys Ave, in the Arcade and in Station Road too. Lots of us had a club card and saved to buy our first dinner sets etc. I still have a Denby coffee pot l bought in 1968.

    By Sue summerfield (10/05/2018)
  • My dad used to work at Jones cranes and my grandad and mum used to work eastern electricity

    By Jean (21/01/2018)
  • Moved with my family from London to our “piece of heaven” in Letchworth in 1965(?). Now living in the USA for 44 years, Letchworth still holds a huge place in my heart! Thank you for the memories.

    By Carol Turner (nee Summers) (25/12/2017)
  • I was born in Letchworth in 1947. I went first to Westbury Junior School and then to Norton Road Secondary School. I loved all of it even though i was a little bit of a mischeif. My sadness comes when the Letchworth Heritage Foundation and it’s predecessors destroyed our lovely town by knocking down the first and rather grand and first purpose built cinema in the country, The Palace Cinema. Further destruction followed with the demolition of our Cottage Fire Station, the art deco Dickinson and Adams car showroom, the demolition of the whole of Commerce Avenue, the whole of Commerce Lane, all the cottages on the north side of Gernon Road. This destruction continued with the demolition of The Garden City Hotel the two shops which are now the new Premier Inn. We must not forget the other buildings and also the rather grand factory facades of Krin and Ley, Jones Cranes the Water Works, The Electrity building etc. etc. When I want to extend my house The Heritage Foundation won’t let me!!!! Ebenezer Howard would be turning in his grave right now at the way the awful Letchworth Heritage Foundation treats it’s residents with a fist of iron. I and many of my social and old school friends are not happy in the town but this where we were born so we stay.

    By John Brown (11/11/2017)
  • I was born in Letchworth in 1951 in Balmoral House opposite the paddling pool. My family had the front ground floor flat. At the time the building was owned or perhaps leased by Cooper Stewarts where Dad worked.

    Someone commented that only one record shop but there was another one in the Arcade. Also remember the Hobby Shop.

    We are having debate as to who occupied the shop where Nationwide Building Society is. I know the Bedfordshire Building Society were there but recall a ladies clothes shop or drapers. My sister says Co op and she worked for them in early 60s but an elderly friend says no, it was another owner of a drapers.

    By Roger Bradshaw (26/10/2017)
  • Loved reading these memories and I too have a memory, since My name is Wayne Norris, my Dad owed Norris Tyre and Battery Service(later to be called Central tyres with Orange vans). Plus Grand dad owned Auto Supplies in Commerce Avenue- now the a shopping parade .
    I use to go down to the swimming pool every year, since we lived in Hawthorn hill and our back gate opened into the common and the pool was only minutes away. I used to have and take the BIG Tractor inner tube there and always being told by Bill the poll warden to ‘Take it out Norris!!’ when it got busy. lol!!!
    Oh also always used to take our two Red setter dogs up the town – to pose really , as they did not really like being on the lead. Loved going to Saint Thomas church ( in Bedford Road) Disco on a Friday and UV sounds on Saturdays, then there was the Leys youth club on Mondays- got to see Mongo Jerry with his now truly one hit wonder there.
    So thank you for letting me have a good read.

    By Wayne Norris (14/10/2017)
  • Who remembers the hot summer of ’76 ? Thursday nights down at the Startlight club which was in the precinct close to Sainsbury’s where I had a part time job. I live in the States now, but I love to go back to Letchworth every now and then for a trip down memory lane, to see the outdoor swimming pool, walk around and have lots of flashbacks. I also worked at Ellard Sliding Doors on Works Road later in 70’s. Shops – I also remember Munts, and Spinks. Haddows motor cycle shop in the Wynde. Fine Fare on Leys Avenue. There as a tobacco shop as well opposied the record shop (Lawrences) in the arcade. I bought so many of my records there, still have them and sill listen to them.

    By Martin Welch (13/03/2017)
  • Should think this through further but currently I feel like Methuselah!  Does anyone remember – being a Sunbeam at Elim church, going to the old St Geoerge’s church and being in the Christmas plays, going to the fair at the top of Eastcheap (now the car park), Nicholls “department store”, Moss’s (my Gt Gt Uncle was manager), and especially when Commerce Lane/Avenue was a right of way, ie why do they now shut it at night and was legislation ever legitimacy passed?  Many many more memories, just need my brain to be jolted…!!

    By Pearl Townsend (08/08/2015)
  • I think a lot of us born in the 50s will remember the same shops in Letchworth. Also the cinemas and coffee bars. I remember going to the Saturday morning pictures at the Palace…great fun for all!..The café in Notts in Eastcheap did a lovely milk shake! As some others have mentioned, Letchworth had a character in those days,you could get anything in the town. I remember vividly Palmers chip shop down the Wynd…4 pennyworth of chips and some scrumps! MAGIC!

    By linda mycroft (23/07/2015)
  • In my teens (I’m 59 now) I worked in the Coop in Eastcheap after school one day a week, this was for what was then called ‘late night opening’ as some shops had begun opening later one evening a week until 6.30pm / 7pm. When I left Letchworth Grammar School in 1971 I started work in Midland Bank (now HSBC of course) and I remember the introduction of a large machine called a ‘computer’ which revolutionised the banking world. For some reason I remember it was a Burroughs TC500 machine and from that day on customers became account numbers rather than the people they were known as previously. The bank manager knew my father (and most of his brothers) by name. I recall a fabulous toy shop called ‘Munts’ which was in Eastcheap. Notts bakery across the road. There was another record shop called Lawrence’s which was in the Arcade. When I left the bank after 2 years, I actually went to work in Spinks mentioned in an earlier post. Around that time there was comedy programme on TV called ‘Grace Brothers’ and Spinks was so much like this. As all the brothers were Mr Spinks, they were known as Mr Kenneth, Mr Brian and I can’t remember the other one. I remember it as a thriving vibrant place. Also in my teens I  remember going to a regular disco in the Church Rooms in Commerce Avenue. Pressure Drop disco and UV sounds. I seem to think I liked Pressure Drop as it was more reggae orientated which I loved. Loads of memories from Westbury School and Letchworth Grammar. I now live in Upper Caldecote near Biggleswade, but one sister lives in Letchworth and other one in Shefford so none of us far away. 

    By Georgina Howson (nee Gifford) (26/12/2014)
  • I worked in the Downsway Supermarket in Eastcheap which burned down in 1970 or 71, not really sure of the exact date. Also the coffee shop across the road just up from Fine Fare Supermarket and of course David’s Bookshop has been around since the 70s as well and still going strong.

    By Margaret Goodwin (06/05/2014)
  • Carol Minnis, now there’s a name I remember, another from Archers Way I think as I was. There are so many things that could be said about the shops from the good old days from little shops long since gone to the start of the chains starting to move in. However, I don’t remember any empty shops in the ’50s or ’60s, unlike these days. I think the only record shop was ER Stevens in Leys Avenue where you could buy 78s and the tins of needles required to play them, but you could also buy mouth organs and spare strings for the violin which I played in those days, a good all round music shop. And what about Woolcotts confectionery shop in Eastcheap, always a good selection there? Probably the only shop that sold Easter Eggs in those days. I could go on but maybe others might come up with other memories from that era.

    By Dave Thompson (03/07/2013)
  • I was also born and brought up in Letchworth and my memories of the shops are Spinks where my Mum purchased the better quality ‘Ladybird’ clothes for me, and Mosses where you could purchase dry foods loose that were packaged in sugar paper made up into bags whilst you were there. Mosses was eventually taken over by the International Stores and everything started to come already packaged.

    By Carol Gill (nee Minnis) (04/06/2013)