Perry Hill Post Office

Perry Hill Post Office circa 1885

A really proud piece of advertising from the time, showing off the shops' wares, highlighting that Post Office was only part of the shops business. It also looks like a couple of policemen are in shot as well. I've noticed a few stray policemen in the pictures - which makes some sense in that the Police station is just down the road. Presumably there were more bobbies on the beat back then.

I am not too sure on the date, but know it is before 1894 from the Ordnance Survey map of that date. From a little web-search, according to the local News Shopper newspaper, it looks like there was a Post Office on Perry Hill until 2003.  

The Ordnance Survey map shows where the Post Office was, which I wouldn't have located from this picture alone. There is a wider lens shot on a Lewisham borough website which I did initially use to find the position. It was much easier to just check the map! The map also highlights the Smithy next door, which would have been reached by the alleyway 'guarded' by the bobbies.

Today stands a Social Housing scheme, named Dowson House. It is difficult to imagine a reenactment of the original by the inhabitants, but you never know - maybe a picture for the future.

Dowson House, Perry Hill, Feb 2020

Blythe Vale after a storm

Blythe Vale, June 14th 1914

This is from a postcard, which has, 'Blythe Vale after the storm, June 14th 1914' inscribed on the back. This would make it about 6 weeks before WW1. Clearly summer from the look of the trees as well as the shirtsleeves worn by the chap on the right. The picture itself must have been quite an event given the number of people in the picture - including quite a crowd at the end of the flooding towards Stanstead Road.

Today, the drains look to be working better. As I write this, we are awaiting Storm Dennis, due to bring a month's rain in 1 day. Following already water-logged ground, lets hope the drainage does work better than it did then.

Sapporo Ichiban

There can be a no more unlikely spot for an evening meal than tucked away behind the council offices, amidst the shuttered nail salons and amusement arcades that make up Catford Broadway. But that is where you find our local Japanese restaurant.

As a huge fan of Japanese food, I was keen to find somewhere when I moved to Forest Hill.

Sapporo Ichiban is a solid local London Japanese restaurant. A step up from most local Japanese, the sushi we ate was fresh and satisfying with enough variety to keep us interested. It is also nice to see a local family run style place, as opposed to the omnipresent Hi Sushi, Yo Sushi etc of town.

On the Tuesday night we visited, the place was busy with groups of friends, I think attracted by the weekday buffet option. A good sign was that the clientele was Asian and looked happy with their food. We certainly were and we shall be back.