Genealogy Chat

Yes, it's been on a few weeks. I put a thread on I thought about it (but maybe forgot after all!!). Joy

Oh thanks Guys, I have ordered my leaflets from the website, boy that is an interesting website, if any of you want to have a look, the programmes are made with the OU. I will check that out on BBC4 because they are often repeated on there, arent they. Hi, sadly the one on tonight is not the Bermondsey one but re Asian immigrants 1950 - 1970..

Nation on Film is on BBC4 tonight 8.30 but not sure if repeat of late weeks or the next one. Keith

If you google Nation on film - it takes you to the BBC2 page and from there you can order a 16 page booklet to accompany the series. Kathy

Thank you Heasther. Dad was born in 1914. i don't know how long he lived there but it will add a bit of insight. Alice

Alice, I wrote to Southwark Archives asking if there was any thing there about my nan and they wrote back saying she was in 2 photos in this book they had just published - it spans from about 1920 -early 1970. I got it direct from the author (who works at the archives library!) and in fact I bought 4 copies in the end for rellies and then a 2nd cousin contacted me through GR and she has bought some copies! Ill just get the authors name. It is more expensive on amazon and a 6 weeks wait. He sent me these in a couple of days. Stephen Humphrey 1 Cornish House Otto Street LONDON SE17 3PE Bermondsey and Rotherhithe remembered Its £12.99 plus £1.50 p.p. Well worth it if you want to see what it was like. Hundreds of photos and easy reading. On page 22 the tall house second from the factory is where I was born! (2 rooms for me, sis, mum and dad). Page 46 and 47 is my dads road. Everyone you can see there is related to him. His house is on the right (6th doorway down). The double gates opposite are his Uncles stables! Anyway do get it and enjoy. Be grateful if you mention my name as I hope to curry a bit of favour and go through the stuff in the archives when I go down. Its all a bit official there I think. My sis says you have to ring a bell to get in!

My Dad was born in Southwark Road Bermondsey. I went and found the address a couple of years ago . Imposing 3 storey building, wish I owned it now! I think the painter who was painting the railings outside was quite impressed when I said my dad was born there. I felt so good I couldn't tell him they dodn't own it ansd were probably stuck down in the basement in the cheapest rooms! Where can I get the book?

No Alice, Im sure yours had the best houses in the area, probably even had a garden and inside loo!!! My dads house is in the Bermondsey and Rotherhithe remembered book that I was raving about recently. I cant believe it when he tells me he was brought up with mum and dad and 7 bros and sisters, not to mention grandad and the odd lodger!! in a tiny little place with no garden or inside loo. And apparently waking up with bed bugs on you! Dont realise how lucky we are do we. Have you see that book yet?

Wish I'd seen it! Lots of my family came from these areas too although I' m afraid I wouldn't recognise them if I saw them. still it would have been interesting to see the areas where they lived. Perhaps I have made a mistake in my tree if they were slum areas......... Alice

Email the BBC and ask if they have plans to repeat it. They often seem to if they get enough requests. Afterall, we pay for it!

Today (!) my sister phones to tell me there was a brilliant programme on BBC2 on Tuesday called Nation in Film? She said this one was all about the promotion of health and fitness in slum areas in the period between the wars. Apparently Bermondsey and Rotherhithe were given a fair amount of money because it was such a slum area, to use for things like swimming baths (my Nan was the instructor there!) and parks and public baths. And I missed it. Lots of contemporary film with roads my ancestors would have lived in and apparently lots of kids and adults shown. Blimey, why didnt she phone me. Apparently there is a series of these - so look out for the next one.