A Walkabout Through Free School Street

Solatopee

Any Seniors from Calcutta 700016 area. Could you please HELP me refresh my memory on this this walkabout by filling in the blanks and adding anything you know and remember,

I'm on a nostalgic walkabout through Free School Street, the year about 1950. I start off from the Park Street end of Free School Street going towards Lindsey Street. I think it joins up with Corporation Street at the other end.

To the left, at the corner of Park Street and Free School Street is a well known furniture shop called -------. On the right is a very old (old in the sense of age) building known as ------.

Then on the left again is Mocambo’s from where followed a long stretch of Kanani Mansions. This massive building had two entrances one from Free School Street and the other from Park Street. On the ground floor of Kanani Mansion in Free School Street was a very well known Furniture Auctioneers I just can’t remember the name. I remember buying furniture from there when we just got married.

On the right again, at the top of Royd Street leading into Free School Street junction was Dunlop Rubber Co (Head Office). After this came Ripon Street joining Free School Street. At this junction corner – right hand side – was a another very well known small bakery called ------- from where we used to buy our Easter Buns.

After Kanani Mansions there was another building for Dunlop Co. Moving further we come to Armenian College.

From here we come to Kyd Lane (Urine Lane) & Kyd Street was a posh street with rich houses. Now we come to a stretch of shops then Marquis Street, cutting Free School Street.

On the right hand side was another big Building called ---------. On the left hand side were shops. Records & book shops also selling Comics. Followed by Hair Dressing Saloon and I think a chemist, followed by Sudder Street, opposite was the Calcutta Fire Brigade Head Quarters followed by St. Thomas’s School and Church.

On the left hand side was have another old building and shops – books, records, butcher and the famous Baldwins.

WOW!! That was a long and exhausting walkabout

Thanks for your Help

Solatopee

wonderwomanusa

In the early 70s, whenever I would send parcels (sea mail, in those days) from the Free School Street post office, the clerk would sing Tagore's songs to me while he weighed and stamped the package!

Calcutta -- the only city in India where I've seen people just walking down the street and whstling!

machadinha

Reminds me of being in a long-distance relationship once & always eagerly awaiting the mail (not in India).

You could hear the (amazingly punctual) postman coming because of his singing. Never failed.

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ycl1688

what a wonderful street is free school street. i was the free school street local. the bakery is atikon.

the armenian college is my next door neighbor.

as far as i know the whole street has a cosmopolitan look.

it is so screwy the way the number are set the furniture store is number 55, next to armenian college is 54. the british might have set the
number to confuse the locals.

as for your buildings name you might have to ask CIA to for info.

anyways it is a street i have been walking thru my returns, it is
so good to know someone remember that great street in Kolkata.

Solatopee

Hello wonderwomanusa, machadinha & ycl1688,

Thanks for your replies. Free School Street's diversity is well known. I'm a born and bred Calcuttawallah (Kolkatawallah)now sadly away from this enchanting City but I still love it and miss it so much. So much has changed since I'm sure. I'm try to recollect all the places I used to wonder about as a kid and teenager and as an adult. The Cinema Houses. Nizams!!! Wow!! The New Market. Those were the days my Friends. There is no place anywhere like Calcutta. Steeped in History, Colonial legacy, diverse cultures, religions and languages and yet in harmony with each other. It's what Calcutta is & was that attracts outsiders. But can't beat the Calcuttans for their friendship & hospitality.

Thanks you.

Solatopee

Gametotravel

Undoubtedly! I will be there this month mid and even though it is May I am looking forward to the melting pot that is Calcutta.

I used to take a tram going from behind Free School Street to Park Circus on my way home from School. This was back in 1980.

Solatopee

Hi mindgames,

Yes, I too used to travel by tram to & from school. I loved the trams. How we used to trick the Tram Conductors with a view to have more pocket money for school. Those were wonderful days.

Thanks

Solatopee

SSG

Solatopee,

the auctioneer is now several restaurants.

And Dunlop's is now a hole in the ground. It was sold to a builder who broke it down exactly one day before Cal High Court declared it a heritage property. Though the building has gone, it's still under dispute, so remains a hole in the ground (unless the builder has managed to go ahead since I was there last).

The Armenian College is where William Makepeace Thackeray was born. It's still a beautiful property with enormous playing fields. Wonder when they'll sell it.

The record stalls are still there. Ditto the bookshops, but some have sold out and most specialise in old copies of Lonely Planet and Windows for Dummies.

Cheers!

Solatopee

Hello ycl1688

“the bakery is atikon.” Is this on the corner of Ripon Street (second half of Ripon Street) joining Free School Street?

I think Atikon’s used to supply Flury’s Swiss Confectionary with bread years ago when it was owned by the Swiss Gentleman.

“the armenian college is my next door neighbor.” Now are you before or after the armenian college. From Park Street end before the armenian college was/is a building where Dunlop Pillow was. Dunlop Rubber Company the big office was opposite.

Thanks

Solatopee

ycl1688

the shoe store is where we are.

next to kyd street.