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.

There’s been quite a bit of discussion in recent months about street clutter (signage, advertisments etc.) and its negative impact on London streets. The guys over at The Wanstead Society had a link to a nice Guardian/English Heritage interactive tool which demonstrates some of these issues extremely well.

English Heritage also started the “Save Our Streets” campaign…

The towns and villages of England are being blighted by superfluous signs, haphazard paving and obstructed footways. As a result our streets are losing their local distinctiveness and character.

Save our Streets is a campaign to return England’s streets to places where people want to be, where all street users are accommodated and where communities thrive as a result.

A series of policy documents are available on their website which detail the problems caused by insensitive street additions and maintenance.

Unfortunately it seems the long awaited and much needed refurb of Leytonstone Underground Station has been delayed. Quote from Leytonstone Labour’s October 2009 Residents’ Report…

As some of you may know Leytonstone Tube Station was due shortly to have a much needed and significant refurbishment programme totalling some £5m plus. What you may not know is that buried within the announcements by the Mayor of London – Boris Johnson – regarding his fare hikes, was an announcement postponing refurbishment works to a number of tube stations including Leytonstone.

The works were due to include the replacement of customer information systems such as the PA system, Help Points and lighting and potentially also some other work to improve the appearance and access of the station.

We intend to write to Boris Johnson, expressing our disappointment at this turn of affairs and seek assurances that this much needed investment into Leytonstone’s well used infrastructure is not lost
indefinitely.

There are plenty of things happening in E11 over the Christmas period…

Leytonstone Christmas Lights Switch On

When: Thursday 26th November, 3:30pm – 6:00pm.
Where: Leytonstone Town Centre.

Christmas Market

When: Saturday 5th December.
Where: St. John’s Church, Leytonstone.

Town Centre Christmas Decoration Window Display Competition

When: Friday 18th December.
Where: Leytonstone Town Centre.

Wanstead Christmas Lights Switch On

Residents can take part in a fun treasure hunt from by picking up a map from local retailers along Wanstead High Street.

Carol singers will also be on hand to provide plenty of Christmas cheers and the annual lights display will be switched on.

All shops, cafes and restaurants participating in the event will also exhibit art by pupils from Our Lady of Lourdes RC Primary School on Chestnut Drive.

The event is being organised by Living Streets, which represents pedestrians and aims to make roads safer for people moving around on foot.

The participating retailers are: Bike Trax, One Deko, Rio, Nice Croissant, The Orange Tree, Picture Perfect Gallery, The Larder, Blush Temples, Heads N Tails, Wanstead Domestic Appliances, Horsfall & Wright, Knock Down Ginger and Lillies of Wanstead.

When: Friday 27th November, 3:30pm – 6:00pm.
Where: Wanstead High Street.

Came across this print of Knotts Green House, Leytonstone residence of Joseph Gurney Barclay, noted astronomer and head of Barclays Bank (yes, that Barclays Bank)…

Knotts Green House - Residence of Joseph Gurney Barclay

The drawing is taken from the Illustrated London News, July 15th 1865. The caption reads “Entertainment Given by Mr Gurney Barclay, at Leytonstone, to the Agents of the London City Mission”. Unfortunately, like most of the great old houses in Leytonstone, Knotts Green (which was situated around the Matlock Road area) eventually fell into disrepair and was knocked down in the 1960s to make way for Livingstone College and subsequently the tower blocks of the Livingstone Estate, also later demolished.

Tragic