Forum Topic

Hammersmith

Got my other half to take me for a ride haven't been to Hammersmith for a long time. Was really surprised how busy it is loads of shops now. Did a bit of a ride to Feltham and Bedfont. Hammersmith worth a visit now as Putney so boring, can still get the 220 bus unless that's been cancelled.

Barbara Stevens ● 2733d10 Comments

I quite like Hammersmith, I shared a flat in Ravenscourt Park one year when I was a student. Has quite a reasonable shopping centre, it still seems to have its M&S. Occasionally meet friends their for a drink when Chelsea are playing at home and Fulham Broadway is out of bounds. One of my friends no longer likes to come to Putney now the Railway has revolted and there's no longer cheap beer 😞

Michael Ixer ● 2733d

You have the Rocket cheap. I worked in Hammersmith as a youngster loved it then all the shoe shops also the cinema down the far end of King Street. I worked in the offices at Cadby Hall and was always in Biba in Church Street, Kensington in my lunch break. Also the old Wimpy North End Road and opposite the Palais.

Barbara Stevens ● 2732d

Barbara you have brought back so many happy memories! I loved Biba clothes and when the shop expanded and moved from Church St into Kensington High Street I was in there often. It was so dark and exotic with spotlights and huge pots of peacock feathers everywhere, unlike any other shop I had ever been in and I loved it! Do you remember the wonderful covered Kensington Market opposite with all the stalls selling hippy clothes and hand-made artefacts? Not forgetting the overpowering smell of weed ...Wimpy bars were much better than the modern equivalents in my opinion.

Sue Hammond ● 2732d

I loved Biba and won a competition in The Daily Mirror when I was a teenager for £100 worth of clothes from the big Biba Ken. High Street.  It was a lot of money and they paid my train fare from Birmingham.  My boyfriend now husband, also got treated to clothes from the men’s dept, from the prize money.  It was so exciting and glamorous.I am afraid I fail to see the attraction of Hammersmith.

Martine Guy ● 2732d

Barbara. The Rocket closes at 11pm, 10:30pm on Sundays, other Weatherspoon pubs close at midnight, even 1am Fri/Sat - not that I go to the pub that often these days! Unfortunately as one of my friends spends a lot if time there price and late opening is important ☺ I remember Kensington Market, in 1970-71 I lived in student accommodation near the Albert Hall just along from there. Yes, interesting smells!

Michael Ixer ● 2732d

I also remember Kensington Market.  We used to come down from B’ham with school friends to visit Ken. High Street which was really the place to visit in the glam rock 1970s.  My father was really cross that I bought patchouli oil there, as he hated the smell.On the way back to Euston with my school friends we took the District Line instead of the Circle and found ourselves at West Brompton.  Now I think it is fate that one day I would live on the District Line that goes through that station.  Putney was always meant to be in my life!

Martine Guy ● 2732d

@Michael"Yes, interesting smells!"To be fair they did try to disguise them with incense. Didn't work though.

Sue Hammond ● 2732d

Barbara started my career at Cadby Hall WX block sales ledger 1970 to 1975 when Lyons moved factory to Yorkshire, worked up there for 6 months then came back to London.

Andy Pike ● 2732d

Yes Sue loved the fried onion in the burger much nicer. If I remember right there was also another clothes shop called Bus Stop in Church Street near Biba. I loved the clothes thought I was really it. Also King Street had Ravel and loads of shoe shops and Kensington.

Barbara Stevens ● 2732d

Andy I wasn't there long nearly all my family worked there, I started in 66 and left about 68. I was also sent to Brook Green College as they thought you were to young to work a full week, and a college off King Street Hammersmith for a few hours typing. I had an uncle Edward Keppel, and John McEnery, had been there years and years. Jack McEnery worked at Greenford Branch. I worked Blyth Rd end there was a little man operated the lift with a waxed moustache seemed really old. Those were the days.

Barbara Stevens ● 2732d