Books

The Road to Jeremy's Ferry

Latest in the series looking at Waltham Forest, this detailed local study has been five years in the making.

The Leyton Gateway area is sandwiched between Lea Bridge Road, the River Lea and Church Road. It's rich in varied and fascinating local history over 500 years - from the era of Jeremy's Ferry.

144pp; 2003; web edition

Free download (1 MB)

Coronation Gardens: the oral history of an urban park.

Since opening a century ago, Coronation Gardens has been a green oasis in the heart of Leyton. Discover why it has such a fond place in the hearts of local people.

Free download:

with pictures (5MB)

Boats, Billets and Letters Home

In September 1939, 21-year-old teacher Thelma Valentine was evacuated with a large group of children from Dagenham in east London to the north Norfolk coast. It was a time of fear and excitement, and of profound changes as city children - and their city teacher - swapped their urban lives for quite different ones in an isolated rural community.

Interviews with Thelma Valentine, some of the children who went with her, and the people of Norfolk.

Occasional paper; 32pp;
£1.60

Free download

Brandon Road leading to Stocksfield Road

The Stocksfield Road estate in Walthamstow's Wood Street was redeveloped in a unique way. They tried to keep together the established community after rebuilding their dwellings.

See how well it worked.

Free download

Pig's Head and Pease Pudding

Memories of the butchery trade and meat in London before World War Two.

Sixty years ago meat was more of a luxury than it is now. Food scares, concern about of health and vegetarianism have decimated the meat trade. Taken from interviews with 18 people, including Mr Jones whose Wood Street abattoir fed blood into the roots of a giant tree over his shop.

ISBN 0 9509419 1 3; 40pp;1985; £1

We Want Winns!

One of the unrecorded events of World War Two - a school strike in Walthamstow where parents took control. During the nine-week dispute they took over their school and taught their children themselves.

People power in action!

ISBN 0 9509419 4 8; 80pp; 1993; £3.50

Cottage Loaves and Plain Bricks

Third in the Waltham Forest Memories series, Cottage Loaves looks at bread and baking from 1913 to 1950 - the golden age of the golden loaf. Before mass production in distant factories, bread was made by master bakers serving their local community.

ISBN 0 9509419 2 1; 56pp; 1986; £1.50

Free download


		Behind the Bar: the Licensed Trade in Waltham Forest Latest edition (December 2010) of our look at Waltham Forest's pubs through the ages. Published as developing work in progress. Free download

			Jenny Hammond - the life of a Labour councillor In 1997 Labour returned to power after 18 years in the wilderness. But power didn't start here. This brand new book looks at the life of a pioneer in Labour community politics, published on the centenary of her birth. Jenny Hammond showed that politics starts on the doorstep and in the community you represent. Her work is an inspiration to us all. ISBN 0 9509419 6 4 ; 44pp plus four plates; 1997; £3.50

			Touch Yer Collar, Never Swaller The title is taken from a childhood rhyme recited as an ambulance went past - "Touch your collar, never swaller, never catch the fever." The Workshop's first publication, looking at child health in Walthamstow in the early twentieth century, before the National Health Service. ISBN 0 9509419 0 5; 40pp; 1984; 60p Free download

			Memories of cricket at the County Ground, Leyton, from the 1920s to the 1990s Free download From Lewisham to Leyton: three families who had a big influence on Essex CCC Free download

	One Door Closes, Another Opens The story of one man's struggle against disability, and his determination to rise above it. Tom Atkins contracted polio at the age of three and then spent seven years in hospital, isolated from his family. Yet despite these early years, his positive nature led him to live life to the full. A story of celebration and a life to learn from. ISBN 0 9509419 5 6; 120pp; 1994; £2.95

Bullseyes Last in the series looking at trades which were important in the area, Bullseyes remembers the times when sweets were made in small workshops and spare rooms. Loyalty was to a local name not a brand name, and sweet manufacture was an important part of the local economy. Memories from makers, sellers and eaters! ISBN 0 9509419 3 X; 60pp; 1988; £1.75

There are three ways to order paid-for hard copies:

1. Pay by credit card - call 0845 838 5121.

2. Send a cheque or postal order to:

Waltham Forest Oral History Workshop (Dept. WWW)

Vestry House Museum

Vestry Road

London

E17 9NH

for the cover price, plus £1.50 post and packing (UK) or £5.00 (overseas.)

3. Order through your local bookseller - quote the ISBN.

If there are any queries about these titles, please e-mail


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