Quite a few searches that end up on this site are for “Bearman’s Leytonstone” and having searched for the same information myself in the past I know that there is suprisingly little out there on internet. So, what is, or was Bearman’s? you might ask. Well, try mentioning the name to some of our older residents and they’re liable to go all misty-eyed on you, recounting tales of Leytonstone’s “glory days”. Anyone who’s walked through Leytonstone tube station’s subway may have noticed an older poster on the wall near to the Church Lane entrance as well.

Bearman’s was in fact a department store, a proper “Are You Being Served” job, sadly no longer with us and seemingly almost wiped from memory given the aforementioned lack of information out there. Frank Bearman, the proprieter, a draper by profession also went on to buy a part-share in Allders Department Stores.

So, I’ve basically started this post to try to gather any stories, pictures, in fact anything at all that people may wish to share about Bearman’s in Leytonstone.

Now, to get the ball rolling, I’ve been nosing around the 1901 census information recently and thought I’d see if I could find Mr. Bearman. Luckily, there’s an entry in there for what appears to be the department store itself – possibly the Bearmans actually lived there at that time. The census information lists the address as “3 and 4, The Parade, Leytonstone”, which presumably was the name given at the time to that section of shops on the High Road. The occupants were…

• Frank C Bearman (Draper/Shopkeeper)
• Kate Bearman (his Wife)
• Bernard Bearman (their son, aged 2 at the time)
• Mary Waller (Cook)
• Agnes Newby (Servant)
• Susan Tapp (Servant)
• Ellen Goodson (Servant)
• Arthur Harrison (Drapers Assistant)
• Bertrand Cox (Drapers Assistant)
• Richard Hilton (Drapers Assistant)
• Victor Brier (Drpaers Assistant)
• Thomas Simpkins (Drapers Assistant)
• Douglas Bunbury (Shopwalker)

So, looks like at this time the shop was still just a drapers, but it would evolve over the years into much more than that.

More to follow on this and as I mentioned, please add comments if you have any information to contribute.

The Star of India in Leytonstone has scooped the Waltham Forest Guardian People’s Choice Award for Best Indian Restaurant. Owner (and fellow LARA committee member), Shah Ahmed said…

We’re excited about winning and extremely grateful to our customers. We’re very happy to win such a local competition – it’s a seal of approval.

The Star of India, as well as being an excellent restaurant, is well known for supporting a variety of local good causes and of course for publishing free quarterly magazine “The Star”.

Garden City Restaurant on Leytonstone High Road has been close by the council due to a cockroach infestation and generally poor hygiene.

Senior Environmental Health Officer Pip Broad, who closed the premises, said:

It was one of the worst cockroach infestations I have ever seen. The cockroaches were crawling all over the work surfaces and it would have been impossible to miss them. I could hear them scurrying round my feet as I was inspecting the restaurant.

Nice

More info including video footage of said roaches on Waltham Forest Council’s website.

Couple of great pics showing the fireworks over Waltham Forest Town Hall on November 5th, 2009.

Copyright © Rupert Hitchcox.

As part of the development work for the 2012 Olympics, Waltham Forest Council has received a £5m grant to regenerate Leyton High Road and the surrounding area.

Good news indeed, but no news of any money for Leytonstone.

Leytonstone Councillors are proposing that a sports cage be built in Church Lane car park in reponse to young people telling them there’s nothing to do in the town. Good idea or bad idea? Respond to the poll in our sidebar or you can submit your comments to the council on their website.