Happiness Found in the Post-War Reconstruction

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Happiness Found in the Post-War Reconstruction

It was for many, though, a new start that they had long sought.

An interesting series of feature articles was run in the Romford Recorder during 1956 and 1957. Called ‘Down Your Street’, two journalists picked a road in either Romford of Hornchurch and interviewed the residents to give a flavour of its inhabitants. The three streets picked in Harold Hill were [Chippenham Road], [Petersfield Avenue] and [Gooshays Drive]. They provide some interesting insights into the backgrounds of residents before they moved to the estate.

The personal memories of [John Beavis] shed light on some of aspects of early Harold Hill society.

Providing another illumination on past outlooks, but from a different angle, are these extracts taken from essays written by thirteen and fourteen year-old pupils of Quarles Girls Secondary School in 1959:

‘Our teacher… says she thinks that Harold Hill is the nicest estate she has ever seen because of the lovely scenery, modern architecture, new modern schools, new and up-to-date houses. In one word the whole estate is having more and more things added to it which are MODERN.

'The houses are respectable along with the people who live in them. They are clean and fresh and are decorated often.

‘Harold Hill Estate will soon be fit for a Queen to live in as it has every means of near transport.

'And one thing that must be stressed is the amusements that will surely come into development for the younger generation’
- Gloria Johnson.

‘I remember how thrilled I was at having my own bedroom, and how big I thought it was. Then my mother found the emersion heater, so now instead of boiling kettles of water we could just turn on the switch and within half-an-hour or so we have boiling water for a bath. Then we saw the cupboards in the kitchen all along one side of the wall.

“It was a present from heaven,” as my mother said.'
- Carol Watts.

‘Our house seemed like heaven – tiled bathroom with a wash basin, separate toilet, and hot and cold running water – only to mention a few of the luxuries.’
- Barbara Sheppard.

‘The advantages were, we had hot water in the taps and a garden to grow flowers, vegetables and to play in. Where as in London you only had a yard and no hot water.’
- Helen Murdoch.

‘I like the housing estates with their garden especially these big wonderful schools. When I was at Pitsea I went to an old school not half as nice as this one and when I used to tell the girls what it was like they couldn’t believe it and wished they could come here.’
- Marie Pottle.

Recreation, Education, Disillusionment and Joy
		Click on here to return to the home page
	Happiness Found in the Post-War Reconstruction It was for many, though, a new start that they had long sought. An interesting series of feature articles was run in the Romford Recorder during 1956 and 1957. Called ‘Down Your Street’, two journalists picked a road in either Romford of Hornchurch and interviewed the residents to give a flavour of its inhabitants. The three streets picked in Harold Hill were [Chippenham Road], [Petersfield Avenue] and [Gooshays Drive]. They provide some interesting insights into the backgrounds of residents before they moved to the estate. The personal memories of [John Beavis] shed light on some of aspects of early Harold Hill society. Providing another illumination on past outlooks, but from a different angle, are these extracts taken from essays written by thirteen and fourteen year-old pupils of Quarles Girls Secondary School in 1959: ‘Our teacher… says she thinks that Harold Hill is the nicest estate she has ever seen because of the lovely scenery, modern architecture, new modern schools, new and up-to-date houses. In one word the whole estate is having more and more things added to it which are MODERN. 'The houses are respectable along with the people who live in them. They are clean and fresh and are decorated often. ‘Harold Hill Estate will soon be fit for a Queen to live in as it has every means of near transport. 'And one thing that must be stressed is the amusements that will surely come into development for the younger generation’ - Gloria Johnson. ‘I remember how thrilled I was at having my own bedroom, and how big I thought it was. Then my mother found the emersion heater, so now instead of boiling kettles of water we could just turn on the switch and within half-an-hour or so we have boiling water for a bath. Then we saw the cupboards in the kitchen all along one side of the wall. “It was a present from heaven,” as my mother said.' - Carol Watts. ‘Our house seemed like heaven – tiled bathroom with a wash basin, separate toilet, and hot and cold running water – only to mention a few of the luxuries.’ - Barbara Sheppard. ‘The advantages were, we had hot water in the taps and a garden to grow flowers, vegetables and to play in. Where as in London you only had a yard and no hot water.’ - Helen Murdoch. ‘I like the housing estates with their garden especially these big wonderful schools. When I was at Pitsea I went to an old school not half as nice as this one and when I used to tell the girls what it was like they couldn’t believe it and wished they could come here.’ - Marie Pottle.

Recreation, Education, Disillusionment and Joy

Happiness Found in the Post-War Reconstruction