East Lane

I remember the Sarsparilla stall. Dad always used to buy me one there (1960's).

i remember it well, been down east lane many time's, i can picture  the stall in my mind  ,long time ago now , but hot sas in the winter was great,       can you still buy sas

I know only too well how the memory can play tricks, but I thought Georgie Barnes was more noted for his hot blackcurrant in the winter and various other cold cordials in summer. The sarsaparilla man was at the other end of the lane, next to Blendon Row, with his horse and cart.  ??

I don't recall a horse and cart but I do recall the Sarsparilla stall it was a trailer type stall if I remember correctly it also sold hot blackcurrant - 1950's, 60's and early 70's. Mum told me it was good for me because it put iron in your blood! This time of year it was impossible to fall over in the Lane, wall to wall people and your drink had to be drunk at the stall or you would be wearing it.

My Great Aunt had a fish and chip shop in Walworth Road before the 50's, I had an Aunt who ran I think it was called "The Robin Hood" pub just off the lane in the early 60's. Also remember the Furriers and Leather shop at the Walworth Road end, lovely smell inside I had my first leather coat from them. The Lane was the place for all your Christmas, wedding and birthday presents is it still the same I haven't been there since 1971-2.

I wonder why we all call it "East Lane" when it's East Street. East Lane is parallel to George Row.

Blimey Muppet, you wouldn't recognise it now. Definately NOT the same. Yes, drinks were drunk at the stall in REAL glasses too. (I remember washing them up!!!!). Have a look on the video section and you can see George Barnes, his sister-in-law Bet and his wife Flo all on the stall.

we called it East Street Walworth

We've always referred to it as East Lane!

I always knew it as  East 'Lane.' And whenever my mum was off on a shopping trip she always used to say she was going, "Down the Lane."

Always East Lane although we knew the sign said street, there must be a reason in the local history somewhere. Seen the video thanks Maddie I could smell, hear and taste the Lane of yester year especially the eels :)

HI EVERYONE

Welcome to the New Year re: East Lane, East Street Market, In the late 1800 hundreds the Old Kent Road end was called East Lane, so for myself and those living Thames side of the Old Kent Road we would have probably called it East Lane as the older people in our families would have known it as that. Walworth Road end at that time was called East Street, coming from the Old Kent Road end it was known as Sion Place, Prior Place, Apollo Builds, Richmond Place then East Street so any one living at the Walworth Road end would have probable called it East Street Market, as that is were the Market started from in the 1880s. Not sure when it all became  East Street, but maybe someone can tell us?    

             KIWI

I seem to remember a sarsparella stall back in 82. Thinking back to the years gone by, my mother took me to east street market because I had some pocket money and I bought an annual with a pic of a shark on the front, next thing I turn around and she had gone, so I went along walking through the market looking for her, but could not find her so I decided to walk home, ten mins later a police car turning into harold estate and two kind police officers took me to the police station walworth road to be greeted by a rollockin from my mother.  I went back to the market not that long ago, the times have seriously degraded the market to zero. I remember the market being one of the most populated and well known markets in south east london. Such a shame :(