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Shady Old Lady: Latest User Comments

The latest user contributions to The Shady Old Lady's London files:

Tulse Hill School to the stars [jeda71]
Not to mention the tragic Smiley Culture. After the building was demolished in the early 90s, a housing estate was built on the site. Tragically, this is where Jean Charles lived.

Sid James lived here! [Peter]
I Passed 35 Gunnersbury Avenue on 13th March 2013 and the house is lived in and the plaque is still there

Vanessa Feltz's Gothic House [Mitzi]
St Johns Wood is NOT suburbia, its in the middle of Westminster which is the heart of our capital

Sir Clement the Great [Anonymous]
Dear Shady, St Johns Wood postcode is NW8. W9 is a completely different area altogether, its Maida Vale.

Hanged Ruth Ellis lived here [Mitzi]
Egerton Gardens isnt in Ealing, its in Kensington

Zoologist Gosse lived here [german escort dubai]
Im just looking for place to start up a blog with a friend where we talk sports in Chicago as well as other things going on nationwide....just for fun. Any suggestions on sites would be great. Thanks..

David Bowie was born here [Sean]
Its currently available to rent, see the article here for details: http://london365.co.uk/exclusive-david-bowies-house-to-let/

The Grapes [charlie pickles]
The Grapes also used to be run by, believe it or not, former Playboy London bunny girl from 71-82 Barbara Haigh. When she was landlady they held a London bunnies reunion here every year.

The Palace Theatre [Anthony Forth]
The Doctor Who story The Talons of Weng Chiang does feature a music hall called The Palace Theatre, but the theatre scenes were filmed in Northampton. I believe the name is a coincidence. The theatre in the story is meant to be located near the river, on the course of the River Fleet and is described as old in the 1890s.

Freddie Mercury lived here [Heidi]
Is there a plaque or something to show that Freddie lived there please?

Steam Power Born In Euston [AllAbLUR]
And this is the station where Blurs Damon Albarn worked in Le Croissant to fund Blurs early rehearsals. He was also arrested in Euston Station for being drunk and disorderly and hugging a tramp...

Little Compton Street [daniel connolly]
A map of London, 1868, by Edward Weller shows little Compton Street

The Two Puddings [Anonymous]
Matt Johnson, vocalist and songwriter for the band The The is the son of the landlord of the two puddings. He was on newsnight on monday 13th august discussing the olympic legacy for the area.

Keith Moon died here [Andy]
Thats not Keith Moon in the pic! lol

Wapping Old Stairs [Anonymous]
Wapping and Whopper come from different roots, surely. Not convinced.

Walthamstow Haunted House [scott]
could someone please tell me what number house this happened in? i live in cooper avenue and have experienced some strange things in the house...shadows, creaks on the stairs,faces,frying pans coming off the oven...does anybody know what number house this happened in?

Sid James lived here! [Dan]
Its still there, went past it on the bus yesterday!

London's Smallest Pub, U Decide? [Daniel]
Cartainly is a tiny spot but sadly its no longer the fearhers, its the Swan and Edgar and has changed (not for the better in my opinion) considerably inside. The bar is made from old paperbacks and the gents has been moved upstairs!

Pitt's Immortal Last Words [Hester]
Pit did not pass away at 120 Baker Street. Pitt died on 23rd January, 1806 at Bowling Green House, Putney.

Once a great Music Venue [CW]
You guys seem a lttle confused on this one! Manor House and Green Lanes are nowhere near Hackney Road, so no idea how the connection was made. The point marked on the map IS a costcutter now though......is this the correct site, or is it in Manor House???

Marc Bolan's Rock Shrine [Futuristic Meadow]
I havent made the trip to see the tree but i want to. @ alice. When do they have a vigil there and what happens. i would love to go but live far away. this year i am coming to london to see trextasy and the bop so would like to ask if anyone can tell me?

The Beeb rocks Out! [John Hillaby]
The sculpture on the front by Eric Gill depicts Ariel and Prospero, and much to Erics annoyance had to amended AFTER unveiling because Ariels penis was too impressive.

Baker Street & Gerry Rafferty [Trevor Bounford]
Not quite right, according to Wikipedia entry. It was because Rafferty regularly stayed in flat close to Baker St in London while resolving contract issues over material.

Battersea Park [My London Walks]
Battersea riverside is such a lovely place. You get all the best views overlooking Chelsea but no noise... By the way, PEACE PAGODA makes an unusual monument in London. It was donated in 1985 by Buddhist monks from Japan to commemorate ... the 40th anniversary of the Hiroshima bomb. All the best My London Walks with Nika Garrett

Ginger Ghost of Sutton Arms [Jose]
Hey man, was just browsing thrgouh the internet looking for some information and came across your site. I am impressed by the knowlege that you have on this blogsite. It shows how well you understand this topic. Bookmarked this page, will come back for more. You, my friend, ROCK!!!

Indiana Jones' Hat Shop [John Oswin]
Many famous people went in H and J 13 Old Burlington St. I used to work there as the military rep in 1978-80. It was always busy then. Met many different people from all walks of life.

Eurythmics first met here [David Sumeray]
Used to frequent Cyranos in the 70s. I once went in with my bass guitar and my friend on lead guitar and set up an amplifier, got up on the table and played bringing loads of people in off the street. We got free cake for that! Thats the sort of place it was!

Brixton Academy & The Smiths [Gentler Ben]
The super balcony is reputedly haunted after a man fell to his death from the roof in the early 20th century.

Bob Marley's Studio Stay [mike]
but Zep IV was recorded at headley grange? Perhaps some overdubs or mixing was done here? or another album maybe?

The Pheasantry [Martin Samuel]
1969-1972, I was the drummer in the original Heatwave group and we played The Pheasantry Club, with Alex as DJ, almost every month. http://www.heatwave.n.nu

The Walthamstow Lighthouse [Naomi Lavergne]
I would be very please if you could tell me if there is copyright on this photo. My grandmother opened a church event in 1906 here and I would like to use the photo in a souvenir book for the family only.

Once Tony Visconti's Studio [Grant]
I was passing this studio a couple of months ago (2012)and saw Adam Ant standing outside smoking a cigarette - he was recording inside. So the list of legendary performers who have recorded there goes on to this day!

Blonde ghost harassing tenants [dan]
Hi I used to live at 131 leucha road it was a flat!never see anything my self,I wold like to know what number house this was at!anyone know?

Club Louise [Jhomarie]
I appreciate you tkanig to time to contribute Thats very helpful.

Studio 51 and the Stones [Betty]
Yes Fran, I remember Vi and my husband, who I met at Studio 51, and I made a pilgrimage to the club about twenty years ago and Vi was still there. I believe it was a rehearsal place for dancers at that time. I also rememer Johnny Dankworth playing there in the fifties with Cleo Laine who was about 16 and wore pigtails. Wonderful memories of fantastic music.

Greenberry Hill [BobG]
This is where the cover photo for the seminal Rolling Stones album Between the Buttons was taken by Gered Mankowitz. The shoot took place at 5:30 in the morning following an all night recording session at Olympic Studios.

McLaren and Westwood's SEX [bob G]
It was also called Let It Rock at one point - great name!

The Florence Tavern [Anonymous]
Hi, My GG Uncle was Jack Burke the owner. Was amased to find this as I had written to the pub many years ago to ask if there was any info on him. Would love to hear from you. Gloria Thienel

Gracie Fields lived here [Mummoo]
I was born there too in June 1960. I have the middle name Sally because of the connection to Gracie Fields

Berezovsky's Stanley House [Murray Rothbard]
Dont blog about what you dont know... Berezovsky doesnt own this house...

A ghostly Bricklayer [Anonymous]
I always thought it was a miller covered in flour returning home after work. Millers Court is just down the road.

Seven Sisters Market [Fiona]
It would be scandalous to demolish this lovely market - and once its gone it will never be replaced!!

Gracie Fields lived here [Jacqui Holmes]
I was also born in Gracie Fields old House in 1959-My mum remembers the house as being very grande. She remembers having a bath in a Real Onyx Pink Bath. I wish there were more photographs.

Dirk Bogarde does Chelsea [Robert Henderson]
The movie is The Servant, not The Sargent.

Prime Minister - dismount! [Chaitanya]
Awfully nice of him to put this doulbe standard in print. Any one else wondering if perhaps trust in Gillards ability and popularity would be different if the media had afforded her that kind of respect from the beginning?

Free Learning for All [Neena]
I dont even know how I ended up here, but I thhugot this post was great. I do not know who you are but definitely youre going to a famous blogger if you arent already Cheers!

Hampton Court Privy Garden [Patrizio]
Hello Natalie!!!Really, rlleay interesting all Tudor ghosts histories!!! I love all of them!!!I visited Hampton Court last summer but I havent encountered a Tudor ghost and I havent felt anything strange But I think that If there are histories about Tudor Ghosts is because there are something there What do you think??? See you!!! ^^

The Paradine Case & Hitchcock [Steve]
Hitchcocks final film? Was that not "Frenzy"?

Rudyard Kipling lived here [Hiutungdd]
It is a sad thing that this hppaens, mainly due to length or service of because they have endeared themselves to people should know better. I was very lucky after I left the clutches of Mr. Angry to have the most supportive and nurturing of bosses. I am sure with an attitude like yours that you were a good manager.

London's 9/11 Memorial [Nendi]
It was idneed a fantastic event and an eye-opener for many people including ourselves. We stayed to watch Mark sprint to the finish line, absolutely incredible! Here are some pictures of the moment you saw Rudolph Walker . We had lunch with him after the race and what a great man, the amount of charities and fundraisers he gets involved with is very inspiring.

The Apprentice's Bridge Cafe [Peter Mac Murray]
The Bridge Cafe Brothers It is 50 years since the brothers began the cafe with Mr Marcangelo, (their father) Gerry and I have been friends for 55years and once took 7/1 on Cassius Clay to beat Sonny Liston before he become Mr M Ali. We have seen the changes to the area and of course the cafe. It is very handy for the Apprentice people to get to, but as for whom the winner will be we have as much idea as the watcher, basically none. You can now look up the Bridge Cafe mug sales on the internet and buy either a White Bridge Cafe mug or a grey Bridge Cafe Travel mug keeping drinks either hot, or cold. With regard to our friends talk of decorating there is a new low-level ceiling while other changes are forth-coming. (Long-time friend to both brothers and sleeping partner, at least Im usually akip in the corner most days, or singing) Peter Mac Murray

Grandmother of rap lived here [Nika Garrett]
For your information; it is not Carlisle Square but Carlyles Square. In 1872 Oakley Square was renamed in honour of a Scottish historian and writer Thomas CARLYLE. It is also worth noticing it was named after him during his lifetime in 1872. He lived with his wife Jane in Cheyne Row and his house (National Trust property) is still there. Regards Nika Garrett

Peek Frean's Biscuit Factory [Michael Trottier]
My mother Sheila Trottier nee Dill work circa 1966-1968 at Peeks on the night line packing.She lived Guinness Trust in Pages Walk S E 1..Always smelt of biscuits when she came home found memories

Jacobs Island & Oliver Twist [Bob Pike]
Was Bill Sikes killed by a large bear from America, a Grizzly Bear, perhaps? I think youll find that "grisly" is the word that should be on the plaque (plack?).

Ripper Murder: Marie Jeanette [Dave Evans]
Regarding Paulas comments about the Eddowes and Nicholls graves being in the City of London cemetery. I found out when I went there that they are only 2 plaques on the grass and to find them you have to go to the office to find the location. You are then asked to fill out a form saying why you want the information. You are then asked for a contact phone number to check whether you are genuine from a third party. Only then do they give you a map showing directions. In my case this all took about 30 minutes. I think this security check is to find out whether or not you are a prospective grave wrecker.

Ripper Murder: Marie Jeanette [Paula]
Catherine Eddowes and Polly Nicholls graves are in the City of London cemetery

Peek Frean's Biscuit Factory [DAVID CARTER]
MY GRANDFATHER SIDNEY NOEL RACKHAM WAS CHIEF BOILERMAN/ENGINEER 1914-1954 WITH A BREAK FOR 1ST WORLD WAR CALL UP,ALSO UNCLE CHARLIE WEBSTER WAS A MANAGER 1960-1970,S DOES ANYONE REMEMBER THEM,ANY FUNNY STORIES TO TELL.

Once there were Herrings [DOUG]
roggs stood at 137 cannon street road e1 at the junction of burslem street.

Number 1 Poultry [Chris]
However one feels about the design of this building, it is surely not an appropriate edifice for the location. It looks as though it may have been designed by a child using early learning building blocks and does not blend in at all with its older neighbours, not least because it is pink.

Eaglesfield's Famous Comedy Son [Tony Henry]
You have got the facts regarding the change from Shooters Hill to Eaglesfield completely wrong. Bloomfield School was a comprehensive and the merger and name change happened in 1973, I was a pupil at both schools and left in 1975 after being at Eaglesfield (Merlin House) for two years.

Brinsworth House: Retired Actors [Jacky]
Pleased to find this. My Great Grandma, Rosetta Sellers-later Holmes so she was known at Brinsworth as Rosetta Holmes, was also a resident at Brinsworth and was one of the film extras in The Leather Boys. We have newspaper cuttings of her confirming this. She had her own dance troup around 1809 (The Trio de Clios.) Travelled with Horace Goldin for 8 years as his Disapearing Lady, and a dancer, danced at the Folies Bergere and other places and also seems to have been a dancer in various Ballets. I would love to know more about her. I knew her and we used to visit her at Brinsworth, but I was too young to understand where I was. We have her autograph book and a kind of travel diary I think she completed at Brinsworth but she talks more of th e travels than her acting/dancing/disapearing. I think she must have known Karl Edwards. A man called "Matty" also seems to figure in family memory. Insanely, the most comprehensive newspaper article we have about Rosetta is about her being bitten by Mosquitos in New York while working at the Palace Theatre, presumably as Horace Goldins Disapearing Lady in 1913. (She began her career in Lord George Sangers Circus riding an elephant.......I am also trying to write a book about her.

The Ship and Blue Ball [sue hill]
Also descended from William Lake, via his daughter, love to hear from anyone researching them.

Peter the Great trashed here [Londoner]
Not the last last misdemeanour laid upon this noble ground to warrant mention. Find out more and join the campaign to restore www.sayescourtgarden.com

The Famous 3 Kings [pete]
Does anybody know what happened to the band Salutations. They played on the London circuit back in the day in the Nashville rooms - great band.

Sex Pistols lived here [Pistolette Pete]
Graffiti found here in 2011 after wallpaper was removed was written by Sex Pistols frontman Johnny Rotten in 1975 when they lived here. After their landlord decorated Rotten thought hed add his own touches, and it is said now that they may be of greater significance than the discovery of early Beatles recordings. Rotten, born John Lydon, drew on the walls of the bands London flat in 1975 after disliking a recent redecoration. A paper in the journal Antiquity is suggesting the flat is an important historical and archaeological site.

Chelsea Register Office [Robin]
please note that this is not the original reistry office|

The Demon Barber of Fleet Street [Tim]
I am enjoying this site but Im afraid Sweeney Todd is a fictional character. A good yarn but as true to life as Batman.

Ham House [Herepitty]
What about the English invent football championship?

The Colony Room [Bill Stealer]
Soho writer Jeffrey Bernard and artist Lucian Freud were both regulars. I also spotted Clash singer Joe Strummer in here too.

Brinsworth House: Retired Actors [Nancy Edwards]
My Great Grandfather, Karl Heath Edwards worked in Panto at the turn of the century. He resided at Brinsworth House, where he passed away in 1962. It would be wonderful to know if there was any information available about Great Grandpa Karl. I have many letters that he wrote while at Brinsworth House. In the early 1920s Karl was cast in Schueberts Lilac Time. Karls grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren have carried on his love of theatre and the arts. Thank you for your care of my great grandpa! (Nancy Edwards, North Bay, Canada)

Peter the Great trashed here [Gilbert]
This building is not the Sayes Court manor house that Peter trashed. This one was built nearby, sometime in the 18th century, after the original manor house had been partially demolished.

The Viaduct Tavern [Martin]
This pub advertises itself as allowing people to see the Newgate prison cellars. My kids were doing a school project that had covered Newgate prison so we checked to see if they would allow kids in the cellars. During half-term we went to the pub and they said that we could see them with the kids after 3pm. We returned after 3pm only to be told that children werent allowed due to insurance restrictions;. Not only were the bar staff unhelpful, inconsiderate, they lied, wasted our time and disappointed our kids.

Princess Diana's Flat [Arturo]
Diana Spencer,our greatest Princess that we love for ever.

Sid James lived here! [Big Jim]
Its sad how councils have no respect for anything but the cash in their pockets. This house should have been preserved through who owned it. It would have been different if a bloody Beatle owned the house though. Overhyped chimps they are. Sid James was the king of comedy!. His memory deserves more respect than that which the council showed.

Former Annie McCall Hospital [JM]
Stockwell Studios is now a listed Grade II building! Delighted to inform you that having considered our recommendation the Minister with responsibility in this matter, the Minister for Tourism and Heritage, has decided to add Former Annie McCall Hospital to the List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest. The building is now listed at Grade II. Gosia McCabe (Designation Co-ordinator - South, English Heritage). 12th October 2011 The Annie McCall Hospital is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons: Hospital played a vital part in the network of pioneering women doctors in the late C19, and the growing acceptance of women in the medical profession well into the C20 Architectural interest: the purpose-built wing, designed by Hart and Waterhouse and dating to 1915, has a smart red-brick facade with stone dressings and a handsome doorcase. There is also an extension of 1938 by Gertrude Leverkus, an early female architect State of preservation: there has been little alteration to the building since it opened and it retains its wood floors, terrazzo-paved corridors, original window joinery and one fireplace, which enhance our understanding of how the building functioned. Please come and join the conversation on AMACs community website: http://www.amacstudios.org/profiles/blogs/stockwell-studios-is-now-a-listed-grade-ii-building Thank you Judith Martin for helping the studios!

The Speakeasy Club [himself and I]
When did the Speak close?

The Oldest Bank in London [Charles Reese]
"the firm adopted the sign of the Marygold as its trade sign a device of great significance for a business in the days of widespread illiteracy. The Marygold has remained the banks symbol ever since" The device is a mar4igold, nt a marygold. It is nonsense to say that the device was important due to widespread illiteracy. Most people, including servants and apprentices, were literate in London in those days. And if they were not additionally able to write, they would not be able to use a bank, would they? Shop signs were like pub signs are now, and were not a sign of illiteracy. For statistics on literacy see, for example "Popular culturesw in England 1550-1750" by B Reay, 1998,(pp. 40-41) and "Literacy and the Social Order: Reading and writing in Tudor and Stuart England" by David Cressy, 1980.

The Oldest Bank in London [Charles Reese]
Childs was a jeweller until the 18th century, not a bank, and it has not existed since 1923. In that year the company was taken over and became a branch of Glyn, Mills. The oldest bank in England is just a few doors down from Childs at number 37 Fleet Street. It is C. Hoare & Co., which is still wholly owned by direct descendents of Richard Hoare, who established it in 1672. It is still an unlimited liability company.

The Establishment [Clint]
Was there an answer to Richard Arnolds question above regarding if there was a gaming room at the Establishment Club? Would be interested to know.

Eaglesfield's Famous Comedy Son [Richard]
Just looked it up and apparently the change of name to Shooters Hill was in 1935. I should have mentioned too that of course it is not in Eltham- it is in SE18 - a postal district which encompasses Woolwich and Plumstead- the school falling under Woolwich (or Woolwich Common I suppose)

Eaglesfield's Famous Comedy Son [Richard]
As a former pupil of Shooters Hill, I can confirm that the name was Shooters Hill Grammar School in the 60s and had probably been this for some time. Bloomfield was a secondary modern school, with which Shooters Hill merged to form Eaglesfield. I am not sure if this was in 1977 or 1978 but the work on the new building began in 1970 just before I left. The site is now a sixth form centre which has reverted to the Shooters Hill name

The Speakeasy Club [Anonymous]
The club was NOT owned by the Krays. JD

Camden Catacombs, 21 feet under [P Brant]
Were blacksmiths employed in the catacombs around 1900? My grandfather was one and lived in Wrotham Road

Home to a Clean Comedy [JM]
Dont forget to check out the superlatively excellent curry cafe Hotstuff on your visit. Also woth mentioning is the campaign by locals to resurrect the former Wilcox rd market. More info on that at Wilcox rd market face book page.

Dr Jelley of Homerton [Brenda]
My grandmother used to tell me of Dr Jelly and how he shouted at her from across the street to cover her chest because THATS why she was so sickly! She was a girl of about 13 and was mortified!

The Sloane Square Hotel [Gilbert James]
This is where comedy legend Ronnie Barker proposed to his future wife in 1957, in the restaurant at the Royal Court Theatre.

Langan's Restaurant [The Whizz]
This is where Ronnie Barker and Ronnie Corbetts families held a party on March 18th 1979 to bid everyone farewell before they all went to Australia for a year. Their producer Harry Fielding was taking their Palladium show to Sydney for a year. Richard Beckinsale, Barkers co-star in classic sitcom Porridge, attended and when they arrived in Australia Barker received a phone call saying that Richard had not woken up the folowing day and was pronounced dead.

Charlie Chaplin lived here [Bob Richards]
This house is currently for sale for 650k through KFH http://www.kfh.co.uk/

Actor Boris Karloff born here [Anonymous]
Karloffs birthplace is now a fish and chip shop.

The Old Mercury Theatre [Paul]
My late father Reginald Letch, worked at the Mercury as a stage hand for Madame Rambert. I would love to hear from anyone who remembers him working there I think before and after WW2.

Birch's Immortal Shop [Sandra Carter]
Have just discovered Samuel Birchs father Lucas was our 4 x gt. grandfather. Samuels brother Lucas fathered George, then came Oliver then William then our father William. We still have the name Birch and have in fact gone back to Samuels grandfather John from Buckinghamshire.

Samuel Coleridge Died Here [Julia Marks]
This is where model Kate Moss lives, and is causing local upset for her plans for renovating this historic property.

Keith Moon died here [Fletch]
Isnt that John Entwhistle in the photo?

Bow Street Magistrates Court [Frank H. Lawson]
Its a little known fact that naughty boy Casanova, who lived in Soho, was bound over here to keep the peace.

BT Telecoms Tower [Photoman]
Correction: Although the restaurant closed, the revolving mechanism is still in place and can still be used.

The infamous Lipski acid murder [Anonymous]
16 Batty Street is still well and truly there.

St. Giles Cripplegate Church [Martin Fields]
This is the church where Lord Protector and general king-killing, massacreing, reforming nutcase Oliver Cromwell married Elizabeth Bourchier in 1620.

The Giant Plug [loanda]
http://www.jamesglancydesign.com/infra/plug-socket.html - this is the designer

Conran's The Cow [ANNA]
My nan and grandad use to own this pub would would be really interested to know some more history, especially about it being renamed to annoy the former lanlady, any imformation would be appreciated .thankyou Mrs Jacobs.

The Apprentice's Bridge Cafe [Trevor Drake]
Its a funny old world,I sit and watch the apprentice and when they get sent to the cafe I say to my family I think that is the cafe I used to use ..... Not so strange? .... But the last time I used it was in 1964 when I was 8 years old, dancing the twist to bits and pieces (Dave Clark 5) in front of the lorry drivers for a tanner for the jukebox and some of the pickled onions from the big jar on the counter .... I moved from London in 1965 and have never returned and now live on the coast ..... but how did I recognise that cafe after 47 years? .... weird! .... Maybe you need to re-decorate .. lol

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