BermondseyBoy

Camberwell Road

Moving away from Bermondsey for a while. Can anyone remember Marble Arch Motors at Camberwell Green? Being motor bike mad in the 1950s like many others, I can recall each Saturday going to Marble Arch Motors and then on to Pride and Clarkes in Stockwell Road to view the new machines which I could not afford. Those were the days!!

Marble Arch Motors and their premises today.

Posted by Rodebdon


Hello Fosney
I remember Marble Arch Motors, I bought some bits and bobs from them, gogles and gauntlets etc.
I used to go to Pride and Clarkes with my brother sometimes on a Saturday, they were also known as Pride and Sharks, those were the days!

Hi Rod

Yes you have jogged my memory about Pride and Sharks. Do you remember when they used to sell all the ex WD motorcycle after the war a BSA M20 used to be £25 and the old USA Indian or Harley hand change used to be around £35 . Yes those really were the days when a bargain was a bargain

Joe

Posted by Graham

They were called "Pride and Clark".

However they earned the nickname "Snide and Shark".

I had a couple of bikes in my teens and visited Pride and Clarke often. They used to advertise in the Exchange & Mart. My first bike was a BSA 250cc C11 OHC. It blistered its way to its top speed of 65 over a considerable period of time. I remember the ads for WW2 surplus bikes. The BSA M20 was a 500cc with spring suspension. You could buy the surplus bike like the last image below or get one still crated as a new bike, packed in grease and needing a little assemble and cleaning.

BSA C11 250cc

The Castle pub 188 Camberwell Road is now an Islamic Centre

The Duke of Clarence pub at 181 Camberwell Road. Building is still there but pub closed and seems to be a temporary church group

Father Red Cap pub 319 Camberwell Road aka Red Cap; In recent years this pub was renamed the Red star. It is now closed and the premises appear empty. ** The address is also given as Camberwell Green in 1856 and earlier, and as 24High Street in the 1839 directory.