I was born in Romford in 1961, when it was in Essex but populated largely by East Enders who had survived the war and the Blitz, like my Dad. It had a vibrancy to it and a special character. There is no doubt in my mind it was better then than it is now. Yes I am nostalgic, but I also don’t think I’m wrong.
There are times when I feel nostalgic about this place. I was born there in 1937 and left in 1972 to live in Cornwall, where I have been ever since! I have never been back, and on the rare occasion I think about doing so, I am restrained in the knowledge that with so much change I would probably not recognise it! Don't get me wrong, things have to change, but whereas some change is good not all of it is! Trouble is that as you get older you tend to look back with rose coloured glasses, and whilst nostalgia isn't bad, you sometimes need to take those glasses off and face reality, no matter what you think about it! So do I go back for a visit? On balance probably not, but if I happened to find myself in Essex I might take a peek, before scurrying back to the land of pasties and cream!
Sad to see so many old houses and buildings destroyed. Drove a bus around Romford for 14 years, the place was buzzing. I don't go there anymore as the market has been ruined and too much crime at night.
I grew up in Romford as a child before moving to Rainham. I was born 14th April 1977 it seems such a shame that all of the old nostalgia has been ripped out of Romford town center now. It looks such a nicer place back then in the 60s. Mind you wasn't everything nicer back then. This Earthly Worlds a horrendously depressing place now to live because of what other people are doing to this Earthly World. People with no respect dignity or humanity for us Good Human Beings living on this Earthly World
A beautiful market town destroyed by greed in 1965 when it became a London borough , I grew up on Harold Hill it was a cockney paradise, open fields , lovely shopping centres, now look at it, looks more like a New York ghetto and they call it progress . No Romford has been destroyed and I am so glad I moved away from I was once proud to call my home town, not no more , just breaks my heart to see what the greedy Councillors and planners have done.
I remember where the market stalls were there was a hall and some saturdays they had rummage sales, we played there many times and normally had to help get all the unsold stuff out so that we could set up our equipment, around '66 time l think, most of my life was a blur then....................
2018 and such a dreary depressing place, next was Ilford then Brentwood followed by Billericay High Streets all dying staved of direct traffic, not the latter, Ilford had a High Road, Romford Town Centre should have been demolished in 1969 when they shut Market Place to throu traffic, now there crime, murders and people sleeping rough.
Basildon to is a cesspit now.. most towns are shitholes.. infact the whole if Britain is a Shithole. Governments made it that way and local councils. getting back handers to import the worlds into its towns and cities. Say No More...what a mess it all is.
I thought Romford had been through some major development over the past ten years, but it's nothing compared to this. The whole historic town centre was basically demolished and rebuilt in the 60s. Amazing.
Much of what went was not worth keeping. Mercury Gardens and the old YMCA plus my primary school which was dilapidated . Romford people at the time didn’t want to be left behind and whatever else the work brought lots of jobs. Places cannot remain stuck in aspic. We do all hAve the power to help shape where we live if enough people bother to respond to planning consultation. If we don’t say anything then those in power have control.
Very true - we all have democratic rights, it is just that most never exercise them enough! There was lots of in migration into Romford after WW2 and so much of the new development was very much needed and in fairness served the town very well for a generation.@@alisonraynsford437
My mum worked in Stones just after it opened, my dad worked on the market. When my turn came, I started work at the new McDonald's in South Street at 15. Born & Bred in Romford.
@@ArtJourneyUK Perch seats and root beer! I remember the novelty! Was it always where it is now? Some part of my brain wants to think it was on the opposite side of the road? Probably just my memory playing tricks...
In just a few decades the councillors and town planners managed to turn a characterful and vibrant old town into a vast shopping mall by day, drinking den by night. A place surely nobody can feel proud to be from. And it all started with those arrogant, progressives of the 50s and 60s who had no clue about sympathetic architecture or aesthetics. The social engineers have done the rest and now it's not a place I recognise or feel safe in anymore.
I worked in an office in Western Road in the late 1970s. Horrible place then and still is. I only go there for pie and mash. A touch of old London in a 1960s nightmare.
I was born in Romford in 1961, when it was in Essex but populated largely by East Enders who had survived the war and the Blitz, like my Dad. It had a vibrancy to it and a special character. There is no doubt in my mind it was better then than it is now. Yes I am nostalgic, but I also don’t think I’m wrong.
There are times when I feel nostalgic about this place. I was born there in 1937 and left in 1972 to live in Cornwall, where I have been ever since! I have never been back, and on the rare occasion I think about doing so, I am restrained in the knowledge that with so much change I would probably not recognise it! Don't get me wrong, things have to change, but whereas some change is good not all of it is! Trouble is that as you get older you tend to look back with rose coloured glasses, and whilst nostalgia isn't bad, you sometimes need to take those glasses off and face reality, no matter what you think about it! So do I go back for a visit? On balance probably not, but if I happened to find myself in Essex I might take a peek, before scurrying back to the land of pasties and cream!
@ListenUp-py1qm yes it is.
Sad to see so many old houses and buildings destroyed. Drove a bus around Romford for 14 years, the place was buzzing. I don't go there anymore as the market has been ruined and too much crime at night.
I grew up in Romford as a child before moving to Rainham. I was born 14th April 1977 it seems such a shame that all of the old nostalgia has been ripped out of Romford town center now. It looks such a nicer place back then in the 60s. Mind you wasn't everything nicer back then. This Earthly Worlds a horrendously depressing place now to live because of what other people are doing to this Earthly World. People with no respect dignity or humanity for us Good Human Beings living on this Earthly World
I love these old films :)
time flies when you are on youtube watching a town be slowly destroyed
A beautiful market town destroyed by greed in 1965 when it became a London borough , I grew up on Harold Hill it was a cockney paradise, open fields , lovely shopping centres, now look at it, looks more like a New York ghetto and they call it progress . No Romford has been destroyed and I am so glad I moved away from I was once proud to call my home town, not no more , just breaks my heart to see what the greedy Councillors and planners have done.
WANDERING AUSSIE AL i lived in Harold Hill in the 90s and it weren't no paradise then!
So True You've said it All.
Sorry your a liar. Harold hill has been a shit hole and dumping grown for ex eastenders who were already from shit holes
@@ALCATS-hp9yk people like me move in? What do you mean people like me? I dont live in harold hill. I live emerson park please dont insult me.
@@vaimende You live in Elm Park and you got the nerve to call Harold Hill a shit hole. Elm Park is built next to a Sewer.
I remember where the market stalls were there was a hall and some saturdays they had rummage sales, we played there many times and normally had to help get all the unsold stuff out so that we could set up our equipment, around '66 time l think, most of my life was a blur then....................
Great video by the way, thanks for sharing.
That’s the Romford I remember and loved. Not the pit it has become.
Wow good old days
Romford is the Capital of east London.
It doesn't deserve such a dubious honor; It is the capital of nothing.
2018 and such a dreary depressing place, next was Ilford then Brentwood followed by Billericay High Streets all dying staved of direct traffic, not the latter, Ilford had a High Road, Romford Town Centre should have been demolished in 1969 when they shut Market Place to throu traffic, now there crime, murders and people sleeping rough.
Basildon to is a cesspit now.. most towns are shitholes.. infact the whole if Britain is a Shithole. Governments made it that way and local councils. getting back handers to import the worlds into its towns and cities. Say No More...what a mess it all is.
I thought Romford had been through some major development over the past ten years, but it's nothing compared to this. The whole historic town centre was basically demolished and rebuilt in the 60s. Amazing.
Much of what went was not worth keeping. Mercury Gardens and the old YMCA plus my primary school which was dilapidated . Romford people at the time didn’t want to be left behind and whatever else the work brought lots of jobs. Places cannot remain stuck in aspic. We do all hAve the power to help shape where we live if enough people bother to respond to planning consultation. If we don’t say anything then those in power have control.
Very true - we all have democratic rights, it is just that most never exercise them enough! There was lots of in migration into Romford after WW2 and so much of the new development was very much needed and in fairness served the town very well for a generation.@@alisonraynsford437
love the lack of health and safety,only spotted one person with a hard hat !
I just remember Stones before it was Debenhams... What next?
It's called Aklu Plaza now and has a mosque on the second floor. And no, i'm not joking.
@@krayon_eater This is called progress
My Mother used to get me my School uniform from Stones in the 1950"s. Clockhouse Lane and Chase Cross secondary scool . Good times .
My mum worked in Stones just after it opened, my dad worked on the market. When my turn came, I started work at the new McDonald's in South Street at 15. Born & Bred in Romford.
@@ArtJourneyUK Perch seats and root beer! I remember the novelty! Was it always where it is now? Some part of my brain wants to think it was on the opposite side of the road? Probably just my memory playing tricks...
There was no graffiti, no sketchy looking people, no drunks or no loitering that spoilt Romford in the 1960s.
South Street wasn’t as bad back in 1965, as it is today. There are so many arrests in Romford.
In just a few decades the councillors and town planners managed to turn a characterful and vibrant old town into a vast shopping mall by day, drinking den by night. A place surely nobody can feel proud to be from. And it all started with those arrogant, progressives of the 50s and 60s who had no clue about sympathetic architecture or aesthetics. The social engineers have done the rest and now it's not a place I recognise or feel safe in anymore.
A shithole yes, but it was our shithole and i'm still proud of my roots
We used to have Anderson bomb shelters in Carter Drive, Collier Row , 1952.
I worked in an office in Western Road in the late 1970s. Horrible place then and still is. I only go there for pie and mash. A touch of old London in a 1960s nightmare.
I started my working life in Southend Arterial Road.
So nice to see, now look at it next green street. Bring back the 70s absolute shit now
So, that's how they destroyed the town..