Comments on: Jeffrey Johnson’s Forgotten Corners

By: Dave Rees

Dave Rees — Sat, 28 Mar 2026 12:47:42 +0000

I remember JJ and SW Chalk’s Timber merchants well from the late 20th. The building remains, considerably done-up, scrubbed and stripped of the wonderful painted signage, on Commercial Road near the junction with Alie Street at Goodman’s Stile. Couple of doors down from The Crown. (Not King’s Cross)

By: Bill

Bill — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 15:11:32 +0000

The very small shop called Alex Fruit & Veg is in Alderney Road (off Globe Road), E1, just past Tollet Street. Again the shop is long closed, but the building is still there.

By: Bill

Bill — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 15:05:15 +0000

The small shop with the dirty mustard bricks and Benson & Hedges and Coke Cola signs is at 167 Globe Road, E2, opposite Stafford Cripps House. The building is still there although the shop is long closed and is now living accommodation.

By: Marcia Howard

Marcia Howard — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 12:30:12 +0000

An amazing selection of photos, and not from that long ago either! So much history and stories relating to each of them.

By: Sigrid Werner

Sigrid Werner — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 09:42:11 +0000

I recognised Apostal’s immediately, even though I did not remember the name. He was at 106 Upper Street, almost exactly opposite where Gaskin Street comes into Upper Street. I bought lots of bits and pieces there in the late 1970s and 1980s. Remember especially some leather ( possibly imitation leather) piece that I used to cover a desk caddy with that I made as a birthday present. These kind of shops make me nostalgic for the London of 50 years ago.

By: parktown

parktown — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 09:08:35 +0000

The yellow shop on the corner called Jays used to be called Godbolds on Lavender Hill Battersea – i bought my jeans from there in the 1950s.
It was famous for having a “cash railway” system where containers with money and receipts were sent around the shop on cables to a cashier. It was also remembered for having an iron-gated lift with an operator, as well as escalators.

By: Kate Amis

Kate Amis — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 08:15:18 +0000

Wonderful old views .
The ‘ cars for hire:’ shot is of the north end of Cedars road where it joins Lavender Hill/ Wandsworth road . It looks unchanged today though the stables are now posh little houses.