The past is a different country. They do things differently there.

[ridban]

Just acquired this fascinating book - Hampstead Directory 1962-63.

Only 45 years ago, but another world!

Telephone numbers were still evocative sounding exchange names like HAMpstead 1234 or PRImrose Hill 3456
Baths and wash houses were widely available. Adults - 1s 3d, children under 15 -  9d. Bachelor washing facilities every Monday and Thursday from 6pm to 9pm.
Shops still closed early on Thursday afternoons.
There were four cinemas in Kilburn (now only one) and four in Hampstead (now only one) with names like The Classic, Essoldo, Playhouse, Gaumont.
Advertising was restrained and dignified.
Dispensing chemists offered a night emergency service, were often open til 8pm daily, including Sundays
There were "High Class" Fishmongers, poulterers, greengrocers and butchers everywhere. Now there's only the ubiquitous supermarket.
There were still Furriers in Hampstead and West Hampstead.
The Avoca House Hotel  (Licensed) in Belsize Park offered 120 rooms (30 with private bath), GPO phone, and could be contacted by telegram at Avocatel, NW3. The Clive Hall Hotel in Fellows Road offered bed and breakfast from 21/-. The Manor Court in Fitzjohns Avenue was more expensive at 25/- with Hot and Cold in all bedrooms, and a tv lounge.
The Hampstead Secretarial College offered "A thorough Training in very pleasant surroundings".The Hampstead School of Speech and Drama offered private tuition in Public speaking, chairmanship and radio & tv technique.
There was Forsters (founded 1790) coffee and tea merchants, groceries and wines at 73 Hampstead High Street, as well as The Coffee & Tea Warehouse at 2 Flask Walk, "who are the only solely Coffee & Tea specialists in Hampstead. Who, therefore, in addition to the normal exotic blends sold by enthusiastic general grocers, have perfected  many reasonably priced family teas and coffees that you can live with the whole year round" according to their advertisement.
Even in 1962 there were far too many estate agents - 10 pages of them - some of them names I recognise today, but many gone to the wall or swallowed by bigger fish.
Howards of Hampstead at 173 West End Lane offered free deliveries daily of fresh horsemeat, liver and fish (human consumption quality) Gorta Radiovision Service, agents for Philips, Pye, Pilot etc offered record players and tape recorders. Another advert  stated categorically  that "In Hampstead one buys records  at  The Music Shop" at 2 Swiss Terrace. Seymour Vision at 98 Mill Lane offered tv rentals from 8/6 weekly and attractive HP terms on all radio, television and radiograms.

Absolutely fascinating!

Linda

http://thevirtualtourofhampstead.co.uk/

[Pels.]

I think it's a shame this is tucked away on the Middlesex board Linda .. couldn't we have it up on the Common Room board too? 

More people will then get the chance to read it! 

[sarah]

How Interesting to read how things have changed.

Your message can always go on tour to another board if you like

Sarah

[ridban]

I don't mind where it goes.   

How shall it be done, though??

Linda

[Siamese Girl]

It's not that far in the past - I was alive then even if I was only little and it doesn't sound that alien to me  I think that world went for good, some time in the first half of the 1970s.

Carole

[kerryb]

Fantastic Linda

Brings to my mind one of my enduring memories of my favourite grandmother.  I can hear her now picking up the old black bakelite telephone in the cold dark hall of their house and speaking into it "Rushlake Green 387"

The funny thing is my brother bought the house after grandad died about 6 years ago and the hall is no long cold or dark, the telephone is now a modern wireless thing.  But the telephone number still ends in 387. 

dispensing chemists - anyone remember the big coloured glass bottles that used to be Boots??

Kerry

[Ecneps]

Steady on, it wasn't the dark ages 

I was in my teens then, things changed very quickly though after that, modern technology etc.....  if people had phones and cars they were our rich relations   
 

Barbara

[Siamese Girl]

Steady on, it wasn't the dark ages 

I was in my teens then, things changed very quickly though after that, modern technology etc.....  if people had phones and cars they were our rich relations   
 

Barbara

For some reason my family had cars from the 1920s but didn't get around to having a phone until 1976. ..... more nostalgia, my mother always had shoes and a matching handbag and wore white cotton gloves in the summer (1960s) ....

Carole

[cms]

Hiya. I was 10 them and the bread was still delivered by horse and cart and so was the milk. That makes me feel really old.
We had  car, a Morris Minor,  that 5 of us went on holiday in and we children were always travel sick.