Old Marylebone

Maddy

Westminster City Archive

Maddy Taylor remembers

By Patricia Fallon

Old Marylebone

When sitting quiet I reminisce,

Of when I was a child

Remembering my neighbourhood

When life was not so wild

About 1949 it was

I was seven or maybe eight

When friends were friends and summers were hot

People sat talking until late

The little shops that have all gone now

Like slopers across the street

The boot shop on the corner, tassels

And the little dairy where friends were sure to meet

The little turnings such as Boyers place

Little houses all along both sides

Their doors and all the windows

Were usually opened wide

Little sweet shops were just around the corner

Where most of the sweets could be bought

For 2d or 3d a quarter

Sarsparella was my favourite drink-

That was a penny a glass – I think

Then up to the Church Streets we would go

With loads of shops with things to show

Roisins on the corner stood where hot breads and rolls were sold

I had to run them home to Gran before they got too cold

A cottage loaf my gran would like from this shop

Baby’s clothes, shawls, a lady’s top

Everything from ribbon to curtain rings

Could be bought for a few shillings plus three farthings

Sam’s the little supermarket was just along the way

With tea and sugar – their goods all on display