Welcome to ‘Plumstead Stories.’

Common Folk is the first book in the series.

Now presenting the latest book:

More Common Folk is another huge book packed full with early stories and photographs that tell and depict what life was like in those bygone far off days living in the Plumstead & Woolwich and nearby districts.

Stories of childhood memories, of long summer days, of old school days, of friends and family, as told from ordinary folks early recollections.

Stories also about those terrible WWII years and its affects on the folk living in the Plumstead/Woolwich and nearby districts during those fearful days.

Stories, some funny, some sad, some about happy times and other times, stories sprinkled with lots of nostalgia and told with much fondness.

How to purchase the book:

The costs, which includes postage & packaging are:

Prices above current from 1 October 2011

Payment can only be made by:

- Personal or bank cheque (in YOUR currency) payable to P Cowley

- PayPal to pcowley@paradise.net.nz

- Cash (but it is at your risk!)

Send Cheques or Cash to:
‘Stories’
PO Box 15-324
Wellington 6243
New Zealand


I CANNOT ACCEPT POSTAL MONEY ORDERS!!

Also available, my original book ‘Common Folk’ is one book consisting of two large volumes, packed with lots of early stories and photos.

'Common Folk’ is a nostalgic look back in time through a large collection of stories and photographs, to a time when life was a lot slower but also, all too often, a lot harder. When it was harder to make ends meet, the depression, the war years, rationing, and poverty but also stories of happier times, when folk got by on much less and appreciated things a lot more.

These three large books are documenting important pieces of social history.

I have printed these books myself to keep costs down to a minimum these big books are still very reasonably priced, even though I have to post them from New Zealand.

.

How to purchase the book:

The costs, which includes postage & packaging are:

Prices above revised on 29 September 2009 due to exchange rate changes.

Payment can only be made by:

- Personal or bank cheque (in YOUR currency) payable to P Cowley

- PayPal to pcowley@paradise.net.nz

- Cash (but it is at your risk!)

Send Cheques and Cash to:
‘Stories’
PO Box 15-324
Wellington 6243
New Zealand


I CANNOT ACCEPT POSTAL MONEY ORDERS!!

Each two volumebook measures 20 cm wide x 26.5 cm high x 4 cm thick.

The book weighs 1.70 Kg and are soft cover and all images are in black and white.

These are the estimated delivery times from New Zealand

WANTED, YOUR EARLY PHOTOS!

I want your early family photos for another book that will depict life in early Plumstead & Woolwich and near districts.

Please send me any early photo(s), of your family, friends, neighbours, of your local area, shop(s), street.

Early photos of home, school, Scouts, Cubs, Girl Guides, Brownies, of Sunday school, any early events, picnics, outings, trips.

Work, factory, work outings, beanos, local events, street parties, school plays, early street scenes, early vehicles, buses, trams.

Places, weddings, parties, dances, ceremonies, celebrations, etc. etc.

Please send any photo(s) in an email.

• Photo(s) need to be scanned at about 300 dots per inch (dpi) in Grey or Colour
• Please add to each photo, the subject, approx. date, if known, any name(s) and the place/event.
• I will choose from the photos that you send and include them in this special book that depicts what life was like in those early days in and around our local areas.

You can also send any photo(s) to me at:

‘Stories’
PO Box 15-324
Wellington, 6243
New Zealand.

WE STILL NEED YOUR STORIES AND PHOTOS!

I am now collecting stories and photos for a fourth volume of remembrances of ordinary folk who lived, played, schooled and worked in and around Plumstead, the Common, woods, streets and shops in those distant days around the war years, before, during and after.

Fond memories growing up in Plumstead/Woolwich; of the wonderful environments that we practically lived in as kids. Amongst the hilly streets, the shops, schools and many other places that made this community's unique identity. 

 


I want ordinary folk’s stories, and any possible photos, to compile a book telling some of the social history of these  areas; told from their ‘grassroots’ perspective.

Also any stories from anyone who worked in the Woolwich Arsenal, the Market, the Ferry and the AJS & Matchless Factory etc.

I was born in Sladedale Road, Plumstead, June 1944, two days before ‘D Day’. Just as they began throwing over the V I and V II’s at us!

I don't remember the war, only growing up after it playing on bomb sites that dotted our areas.

It is a sad fact that as we pass on, these stories are lost. I want to record stories, to preserve our ‘grassroots’ social history for future generations.

ALSO ... your parents or relatives or friends may have a story to tell, even if it is just a short paragraph, or an event, or something they heard from their folk; perhaps a photo?.

These ‘snippets’ from folk, especially if accompanied by a photo, are good to relating how it was back in those days. We need photos of early Plumstead/Woolwich showing people, streets, shops, schools, Sunday Schools, Scouts, Cubs, Guides, club events, outings, trips, picnics, firms, family snaps, transport, places ...

Even if you haven’t a story to contribute, a photo(s) will do as “every picture tells a story and is worth a thousand words.”

We also need any early school reports, any certificates, early driver licenses, coupons etc. Please email it to:

ceedub@plumstead-stories.com

Or, mail to:

‘Stories’
PO Box 15-324
Wellington, 6243
New Zealand.

 

We can piece together your recollections and form them into your story for you. We welcome your recollections.

I made contact, after 50 years, with an old childhood playmate, Bert Hooper, via the Friends Reunited site. Their address is, www.friendsreunited.co.uk
I now live in New Zealand (for the past 31 years).

Bert and I grew up in Sladedale Rd. Bert, now retired, lives in Canada, since emigrating there in 1968. 

Since then we have made contact with other childhood neighbours, schoolmates and friends. They are contributing their stories.

We are trying to locate other childhood friends and neighbours and old schoolmates. If you know the whereabouts of any of the following folk we would dearly love to hear from any of them.

Carol & Lenny Dickens and any one that went to Conway Primary School around the years 1949-1955 such as Peter Beezer, Peter Nye, John Button, Alan Stannard, Brian Lynch and also anyone who went to Wickham Lane Sec. Mod. School. 1955 on. (Note: these are how I think their names are spelt.)
There are a lot of other names that I can't recall just now.

Useful links are:

Wikipedia entry for PLUMSTEAD

We are very much indebted to the Plumstead Common Environment Group (www.pceg.co.uk) for their very generous donation of stories from folk's reminiscences.

Another excellent web site to visit with information on past & present news about Plumstead is wyngrant.tripod.com

Hospital Histories

Greenwich Heritage Centre

Kent Online Parish Clerks (mainly for family history information in Plumstead area)

Woolwich London Footprints

Woolwich Dockyard History

Co-op Movement History Go to the publishers web site then click on “Search” then scroll down and click on “LABOUR HISTORY: Series Two: Minute Books & Papers” then select which years you want to read about.

Click here for information on the Princess Alice Disaster from the Thames Police Museum. (many thanks to Lorna Chudasama for the link)

http://www.southlondonguide.co.uk/woolwich/history.htm This starts with Saxon Woolwich “Woolwich may have meant Oport from which wool was shipped.” then goes on with historic dates from 1380 (Ferry recorded at Woolwich) to 2001 (Museum of Artillery moved from Rotunda to Firepower in Royal Arsenal). - Lorna Chudasama.

Greenwich Mellennium Embroideries

See the millions of stitches depicting 2000 years of people and events in this historic borough of ours.

Friends of Rockliffe Gardens - a group of dedicated folk restoring the once beautiful Rockliffe Gardens.

Shooters Hill - Learn more about this area of our historical and very distinct hill.

Comedy on the Common - Comedy on the Common is recommended by Time Out and local blog sites - Plumsteadshire and Planet Plumstead - and the Plumstead Common Environment Group. Top acts such as Reginald D Hunter (Have I Got News for You) and Bob Mills have performed at the club. The local area has been lacking in entertainment for some time and Comedy on the Common hopes to bridge the gap.

www.londonslostrivers.com - This website has been created to promote the book of London's Lost Rivers (contrary to my Derelict London book which was created to follow on from the website of the same name)

www.derelictlondon.com - "For fans of the capital's hidden underbelly, these abandoned and derelict buildings carry a melancholy poignancy"

www.derelicteurope.com - This really is a ramshackle selection of snaps that I have taken over the last couple of years when out and about in the UK and Europe which I thought that I would share with you. Enjoy!!

Thank you for visiting ‘Plumstead Stories’.

I am very much indebted to my friend Peter Cowley, whom, without his continued help and assistance and his computer skills and know how, this book web site could not have been developed, constantly added to, maintained and upgraded.

Many thanks also to Lorna Chudasama for her many invaluable contributions and sourcing of photos and facts etc., for the web site.

Please note;
If you spot any errors, typos, mistakes etc. anywhere amongst the many items and stories featured on my web site, however small, please contact me and let me know. It will be greatly appreciated. Colin

You are visitor number: 87888