Waterloo Sunset
The quickest way to get into central London from here is to jump on a train from Earlsfield and its an eleven minute ride into Waterloo. There’s even a bus No77 which goes all the way, it can take an...
Read more →Archive
Stories
Exploring the lives and heritage of Summerstown, from the trenches of the Great War to the vibrant streets of today.
Big Guns
It was after my Aunt’s funeral in Ireland this summer and my sister and I were travelling west when we thought we’d drop off the motorway and visit the ancestral Simmons homeland in the linen country...
Read more →
The Smiths
It has to be said, Horatio Nelson Smith is one of our favourites. We can’t help it. His name just rolls off the tongue, a splendid blend of the fantastically flamboyant and the plain ordinary. And of...
Read more →
Gin and Tonic
Among the legions of labourers, storekeepers, clerks and box factory workers, not to mention the odd pawnbroker’s runner and rent collector that make up the occupations of the Summerstown182, Percy...
Read more →
Dear Jim
Marion Kidd came down from Luton during our first season of Summerstown182 Walks – it was one of the wettest days of the summer and if we hadn’t had such a special guest, we probably would have...
Read more →
Somme Commemoration
We attended the Battle of the Somme Centenary event at Thiepval in France on 1st July. Reverend Roger Ryan asked me to tell the congregation of St Mary’s Church in Summerstown something about it on...
Read more →
Saving Sidney Seager
Its painted black, and that seems appropriate enough, as the front door of the Seager house at 8 Thurso Street was the recipient of much sad news in the First World War. Three brothers were lost in...
Read more →
Laundryland
It has been described as the Queen of Laundries and there’s no doubt that the Anglo American Laundry on Burmester Road occupies a very special space in the Summerstown182 story. Just a couple of...
Read more →
Never Forgotten
The Summerstown182 Walk is always a joy, but some really do go down as very special occasions, to be savoured in the memory. Such was the Walk of 28th February 2015 which was attended by three...
Read more →
The House Where Sid Lived
On Saturday Colin Lewis came up from Dorset to visit us and see what all this fuss is about a Blue plaque for his Dad, the twelve year old who is believed to be the youngest soldier to serve in the...
Read more →
Mayor of London
Back in 2013, ‘The Sunday School Three’ were the main focus on the agenda. They were three of the 182 names on the main First World War memorial in St Mary’s church, who had also been commemorated on...
Read more →
Huntspill Hygge
The enclave of homely little streets between Garratt Lane and Garratt Green have an old-world charm and tranquility. Sure, like all the other roads around here these days, there’s plenty of banging,...
Read more →