Spending the sweet coupons
In the 1940s My Nan and Grandad used to give their grand-children their sweet coupons. The sweet shop where we could spend them was across the road from the drapers in the middle of Southover Street, near Mr Pannents on the corner of Islingwood Street which was where you got your groceries. You could also shop for groceries at Mr and Mrs Tuppins opposite Ewart Street. I remember that sugar came in blue bags.
Lovely smell from the bakers
When you went for fish and chips, whatever you bought they gave you scraps on top from out of the tray at the side of the fryer. You got a lot more if you took newspapers in for them too. I loved going to the shops. Micheal Cheeseman’s mum and dad had the Butchers on the corner of Holland Street. There was Mr and Mrs Fynn who had the chemist just a few roads down on the left, and one at the top of Southover Street. I have fond memories of the lovely smell of bread from the bakers, I think it was called Towner’s. The rolls were big and crusty, and the little cakes were a treat.
One cabbage leaf?
Of course I cannot remember Southover Street without mentioning Mr and Mrs Measer, who had the vegetable shop. Mr Measer used to cook beetroot and put it on a plate outside. If you bought it that was wrapped in newspaper too; I still can’t forget the flavour. He would sell you one cabbage leaf if that is all you could afford, bless him. Hard days for some but we young ‘uns knew no different did we?
Do you have memories of Southover Street? Which shops do you remember? What did you buy? Do you remember how much it cost? Please share your memories with us by posting a comment below.
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I spent the early part of my life living at Southover Street. Does anyone remember Bert the barber on the corner of Quebec St, one style short back and sides.
Southover Street was one of my old stamping grounds in the 60’s. We lived in Islingword Street from 67-71 and I had a paper round at ‘Harry Croydons’ newsagents on the corner of Jersey Street. I remember ‘Tuppens’ on Grove Street, that was a good old fashioned grocers. I also went to the Doctors surgery on the corner of Ewart Street. I was about 11 years old and me and my friends used to play football in the old ‘Tamplins’ loading bay opposite the end of Hanover Street.
I lived at number 66 until about 1946. I remember the O’Flynn’s chemist at top and Goldsmith’s Bakers; a loaf then was 5 old pence. I had some corduroy trousers and Ray Cousins who owned the pub called them sissy britches – this really upset me at the time!
Hi. I remember some of the shops in Southover Street, Pikes the fish & chip shop, Mr Croydon the newsagent, Mr Woods the cobbler/shoe repairer, Measers fruit & veg, Flynn’s the chemist, Tuppens Grocers, The Bricklayers’ arms, Halls the shoe repairers, Cheesemans butchers, and many more, and don’t forget Finsbury road school.
There used to be a hairdressers called “Freda’s” on the corner of Southover St and Lincoln St. I worked there in the 1960s and Mrs Tuppen was one of my clients. Happy Days
The photo at the top of the page looking down Southover Street is not from the 50’s. I remember the old pub The Hanover Arms on the corner of Newhaven street and Southover Street being demolished. In its place they extended the Brewery. I know this as fact because I lived in the house on the corner of Southover Street and Hanover Street.
I remember the shop in Southover street my Nan used CV to take me to to get a comic and sweets. She lived in Newhaven Street.
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