All our yesterdays

Winter in Bexley

As that special time of year gets ever closer, people start to celebrate their favourite traditional festivities. The Bexley Local Studies team have been looking back over some of the wonderful Christmas and Winter photos from their photographic collection.

It’s Panto time! Oh, no it isn’t. Oh, yes it is! An amateur dramatics group gets into the spirit of panto, including the obligatory pantomime horse. They are performing Babes in Wood at Bexley Hospital in 1960.

People are captured shopping for last minute gifts at the beloved Hide’s Store on Bexleyheath Broadway. The popular department store sold everything from clothes to toys, carpets, chinaware and cosmetics - it even had a delicatessen. But it was probably more well known for its very popular haberdashery section and lovely café on the first floor. During the winter of 1895, The

Great Freeze swept through the country. Rivers and lakes froze, including the River

Thames. Danson Park Lake was no exception and was completely frozen over to the delight of local people, especially children. The Bexley Temperance Band gave a performance on the sixinch-thick ice wearing skates. A marquee was erected and hot coffee served. Proceeds went to Bexley Cottage Hospital in Upton Road, Bexleyheath.

Their dedication knows no bounds. These brave members of the Bexleyheath and Welling Football Club cleared the snow-covered football pitch with just shovels, wheelbarrows and a lot of hard work.

Stuck for a present idea?

Don’t forget that if you are running out of ideas of what to buy someone for that extra Christmas present, then our fantastic range of local history books make the perfect stocking fillers.

The books cover all parts of the Borough, from Hall Place to Danson, Lesnes Abbey to the Hollies, Blendon to Lost Pubs, Bexleyheath to the Second World War and beyond. You can purchase these books online or from the six main Council-run libraries in the borough.

We also provide a print on demand service which you can use to purchase images from our historic photograph and print collection. Contact Bexley Local Studies and Archive Centre for details.

Bexley Local Studies and Archive Centre

For more information, email the Local Studies Centre at archives@bexley.gov.uk or follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, where you’ll find lots more features and photographs from bygone Bexley and the war years. Call 020 8303 7777 facebook.com/BexleyArchives twitter.com/BexleyArchives Instagram- bexleyarchives