Caddhist meeting report –July 2024

The Elm Avenue Shops in Caddington

Our July meeting was a little different. It was more of a fact finding and memory sharing experience.

It was agreed that there was no record of the building or history or the 5 shops in Elm Avenue. Kay supplied a time line on wallpaper with some photos and post-it notes. Other were on hand to record memories. 

The shops were built by Janes, the builders of the estate covering Elm Avenue , Fairgreen Road and the adjoining streets during the late 50’s. The land was allocated for the shops but they were not built till the ‘60’s once the houses were occupied. Many of the new residents worked for London Transport at Park Royal. A special bus was provided to take them.

In those days most people shopped on a daily basis. There was Charlie and Joan who ran the butchers, Sonny Scales, the greengrocers, Edna and Jim who ran the general store and the paper shop was run by the Seabrookes. People said that often there were queues outside the shops, especially on the day that the ham hocks were cooked.

Over the years, as people’s shopping habits changed, the use of the premises has evolved. We now have Electrofit, a funeral parlour, a base for a handling trainer and Elms Food and Wine – a general store. As far as we know, Charisma, the hairdresser’s has always been a hairdressers. The little shop behind has an interesting history. It has been a barbers, video shop, a wool shop and a bicycle repair shop. Nowadays it is incorporated into Charisma and used by a chiropodist.

The evening provided an opportunity, not just for people to share memories, but for those who wished to browse some of our albums.

The research on the shops is a work in progress. If anyone has anything that would help us be it memories or photos please contact Kay Palfrey – 07528 728144 or Jane Payton 01582 419587 or drop anything into Kay at Charisma.

Many thanks, 

Jane Payton