Old Photographs of Laindon

Collection of all the old Photographs that are not yet used in articles

Collection of old photographs to stir your memories. If they stir yours please let us know so we can share them with the community.

I have put them in the order that you would have encountered them form the Fortune, I hope! There are four photographs after the railway cottages that I have yet to identify where they should slot in and the final three are not associated with the High Road

Click on the first picture to see larger image, then scroll through them.

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  • Tracing the George Cooper family of Homeland, Laindon, Norfolk Road, Durham Road. Would anyone have old photographs or know any information? It would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. Asking from Canada.

    By Mary Lewis (03/02/2024)
  • Hi Donald, Barry Fordham lives in Wash Road. My Nan and grandad Mary and John Taylor owned the ‘Primrose Café’, I think this was in the early 1900s.

    By Alan Taylor (20/01/2023)
  • Does anybody know of a Johnsons Farm near the Five Bells public house off the A13 in Basildon please. I believe it went up to Horndon on the Hill
    George Johnson
    Sister Alice
    More brothers and sisters but no names any information really would be amazing

    By Joan Johnson (01/10/2021)
  • Henbests was the first shop in the New Town it sold school uniform.

    Editor: Yes, Henbests was the first shop to open in Basildon Town Centre, 16th August 1958, 65 – 67 Market Square, quickly followed by Charsleys’ shoe shop in Sepetember 1958. Both shops had transferred from Laindon High Road.

    By Dorothy Dinmore (13/02/2020)
  • I remember hanging around with a Harry Rossiter who joined the RAF is this the same person?

    By manxsue (06/10/2017)
  • Before Parkinsons took over Greens Stores and the adjacent site (yard) in the High Road, Frank Harris ran a Motor Spares and Repairs business from the yard.

    By George Le-Surf (13/06/2017)
  • Is it possible this could be the 1914-1918 shop which is the latest subject of discussion. When it was first published I thought of this paricular row of shops without the phone box.

    All very interesting though.

    Editor:  This was the first considered, but although there are some similarities, it is not the shop in question.

    By Eric Pasco (31/01/2017)
  • Hi Nina,  I think a lot of us have had the same thought on the shop.

    On the photo that Eric has suggested the furthest shop does have similarity as it has a bay window on the right had side and the large shop window also looks similar

    By Ellen English Nee Burr (31/01/2017)
  • Ellen.  Yes I agree it’s similar, but the Off License was detached whereas the shop we are looking for was in a terrace.  Also the shop in question has a door on the left of the big window.   The Off License had one large window with the door on the right..  

    By Nina Humphrey(née Burton) (31/01/2017)
  • Ellen, Eric these shops didn’t exist in the 1914-18 war. Outside of the station area going north along the High Road there were very few buildings at all. Beyond the Laindon Hotel going towards the Old Fortune of War it was very rural indeed.

    By Richard Haines (31/01/2017)
  • My great grandmother lived above the Primrose Cafe in the mid to late 1920s. Martha Hilda Ellett. My great aunty and uncle – twins – were born above it.

    By Mandy (04/12/2016)
  • I went to school with a Barry Fordham who lived in the High Road near the Old Fortune. Would he have been related I wonder ?

    Also my aunt married a Bernard Fordham who I believe hailed from Laindon, another relation maybe? Bernard is unfortunately no longer with us but used to live in Holland on Sea where his widow still lives. 

    By Donald Joy (17/11/2016)
  • If there is anyone wishing to make contact, please use the Archives’ e-mail address shown on the front page of the website.

    By Henry(akaHarry)Rossiter (16/11/2016)
  • My memory says that greengrocers, Gibson’s and Cole’s come to mind specifically, were the only type of store to routinely overflow on to the street every day. Presumably they did not own anything in front of their store so this was technically an encroachment on to public property. No one seemed to mind and it enabled more customers to inspect the merchandise and, indeed, for more merchandise to be displayed. I cannot remember this happening with stores other than greengrocers.

    By Alan Davies (29/08/2016)
  • Morris’s greengrocer’s shop was sold to J.W. Gibson in 1926 although the name ‘Morris’s stayed above to shop for several years.

    There also appears to be a giant marrow hanging among the bananas!

    By Nina Humphrey(née Burton) (28/08/2016)
  • I worked at Parkinson’s at the weekends in the early sixties serving in the shop (not that I knew much about the gear) and in the back filling up parrafin cans for customers to collect. Cliff worked with his sister but I cannot remember her name a very stern woman. I enjoyed my time there even though i smelt strongly of parrafin when i got home.

    By Peter J Martin (21/08/2016)
  • Memory says that next door to Greens Stores, along Durham Road, was the store which purchased rag and bone from the general public. Next to that (or maybe it was the same store) rabbits and hamsters could be purchased. This was probably gone by the 1960’s but was certainly around during WW2.

    By Alan Davies (03/04/2016)
  • I used to work at Greens Stores which went on to become Parkinson’s Garage at the corner of Durham Road.  I am 71 years old but can’t remember when I worked there.  I can remember a female worker called Win.

    By Ray Birnie (02/04/2016)
  • I used to work at Grant Best in Durham Road and feel sure that Greens Stores was still there around 1966. As the young apprentice, one of my jobs was to go to the shops in the morning. Getting things like a penny stale cake from Cottis Bakery, 5 Woodbines, a meat pie and small tin of beans from Greens Stores to be warmed on the radiators for lunch and ordering Eric Grant’s dinner from the cafe on the opposite side of the road further down the high street. The Grants sold out a couple of years later when the father retired to Thetford in Norfolk and the son Eric went into car sales in Grays. I left soon after and ended up working in London.

    By Paul Sargeant (02/04/2016)
  • I also worked for Blackwells and had a paper round all over Langdon Hills from the Crown Hotel top of the hill, all round Westley Road and also delivered papers to Sonny Firman the milkman. Does anyone remember him?

    I got paid 17/6d a week.

    By Martin Baker (12/11/2015)
  • Whoever this shop belonged to, either Morris’s or Gibson’s, they certainly had an impressive display of their wares. Seeing the hands of bananas hanging on hooks is definitely a sign of the good old days, when a pound was a proper English measurement of weight.

    By Donald Joy (01/10/2015)
  • This photograph, The Little Shop, I don’t remember seeing this. Whereabouts was this little shop?

    By Donald Joy (01/10/2015)
  • This bungalow called ‘Millport’ is on the east side of the High Road, between Nicholl Road and St Nicholas Lane and stands directly opposite Roberts Road.  I remember when it was a shop selling wool and knitting patterns.  Today it is a private residence.      

    By Nina Humphrey(née Burton) (01/10/2015)
  • Once again, thanks Nina (becoming a habit). Now that you have pointed out just where The Little Shop was, I find that I do, in fact recall having seen it. So I did know where it was, it just required someone, whose grey matter works somewhat better than mine, to gently kick mine into gear. 

    By Donald Joy (01/10/2015)
  • As mentioned by my brother Jess 24/7/11, I went to this school as a nipper. One day I “found” a box of matches on the teachers desk so put them in my pocket for “safe keeping”. At the end of the school day, on the way home, myself and a friend decided to make a little fire. This we did in the field between the school and the Arterial Road, which was overgrown with long grass and weeds. As it was summertime all this vegetation was very dry, need I go on? Anyway it took off very quickly and became a huge inferno.

    A resident in a property in Church Road whose garden backed on to this field of fire must have called the fire brigade. They arrived and immediately set to work to extinguish the blaze, I helped them to run out their hose and thoroughly enjoyed this adventure of my own making. My friend, however had become rather scared when the fire got out of control so ran home. When questioned about the event at school the next day Mr Wilson came to the obvious conclusion that I must have been innocent and my friend was the arsonist as, “the guilty always run”. I didn’t have the courage to tell him he was wrong as I knew to respect my elders. 

    By Donald Joy (01/10/2015)
  • According to the Electoral Registers, ‘Kudos’ was in Tattenham Road and in 1929, Mary and William Williams were living there.

    By Nina Humphrey(née Burton) (30/09/2015)
  • When you advertised the forthcoming attractions for the cinema you got a free pass for so doing.  This was for two admissions, either one person twice or two people once.  I was a Saturday morning cinema monitor;  the chief job was to make sure no “little Herbert” let in his mate through the fire exit!!  I also vaguely remember there being a talent show but am not sure whether this was Laindon or the ABC cinema I went to when I stayed with my grandmother.

    By Georgina Nottage (née Ellingford) (29/08/2015)
  • Hi Alan, thanks for the comments. Dennis was a couple of years older than Pat and obviously had different friends. I well remember where they lived, for I stayed there every weekend for years.  Mrs Hay told me once that when the V2 dropped, their house literally moved on its foundations!

    p.s. Hope you enjoyed the projection room–it was very warm!

    By Mary Saunderson née Luton (20/08/2015)
  • I have no memory of a Pat Hay but there was a son, Denis Hay who was about my age. The Hay’s lived on the north corner of Berry Lane and Vowler Road about seventy yards as the crow flies from my family and next door but one to where the V2 rocket fell.

    Mr Hay spurred the first sign in me of a career ambition. Coming from a family who typically worked outdoors in all weather either “in the docks” or “on the buildings” what could be more attractive to a young lad than a warm indoor job watching films all day long? And getting paid for it no less!

    By Alan Davies (19/08/2015)
  • I well remember the cinema, and the chief progectionist, Albert Hay, and his wife. Their daughter Pat was my friend, and we spent a lot of time at the Radion when we were kiddies. I have tried for years to track her down, but with no success. Does anybody know her wherabouts?

    By Mary Saunderson née Luton (18/08/2015)
  • Lets be thankful we had a telephone box at all, least of all one that was not vandalised on a regular basis. Maybe it was right in between just to save any more differences. “That’s all folks”.

    By Eric Pasco (18/08/2015)
  • Thank you Nina.  I think you are right.  I have a photo of the brownies outside Dr Long’s garage.  I think Ken Porter’s uncle, Derek Pope, took it. His daughter Janet was a member of the pack.  I will try to get to a “Memory” meeting and bring it with me.

    By Georgina Nottage (nee Ellingford) (18/08/2015)
  • Regarding the precise location of the phone box. My memory coincides with that of Nina. The phone box was most definitely NOT directly in front of Boons. It was a little to the north, outside the shop that was adjacent to Boons and a little south of the alley that ran between the properties and The Challenger off Licence a little further north.

    By Alan Davies (17/08/2015)
  • A great deal has been written in these archives about the many shops in the High Road. What I have NOT seen is who owned the actual physical buildings themselves.

    It seems that many shopkeepers lived above the store itself. But did they own the property or was it rented? Who was it rented from? One example that comes to mind is our butcher Eric Godden.

    Some properties were presumably leased by corporations who installed their own manager to run the store and to live over it. This seems to have been the case with my classmate Clifford Thompson whose father ran the Bata store opposite Durham Road. I imagine the same was true for Greens Stores and possibly others.

    I imagine there were other stores which did not boast living quarters. Cottis bakers just north of Bata comes to mind.

    Hatheralls seems, at various times, to have occupied several different locations along the High Road. One can only assume a succession of short term leases.

    So who actually owned these buildings along the High Road. Was it a mixed bag. Some owner occupied. Some built on speculation by developers. What rationale would prompt a developer into investing money into building in Laindon High Road? Surely there were better investments offering greater returns. Obviously in such a relatively poverty stricken village the rents could not have been very remunerative.

    By Alan Davies (17/08/2015)
  • Georgina, thanks for this confirmation of where the phone box was located, it can be seen anyway in the photograph, directly outside Boons. We used it for phoning my Aunt who lived in Putney, usually when we were planning a visit to her huge house in Upper Richmond Road.

    Note: The Editors still consider that the phone box was slightly to the side of Boons, as can clearly been seen in the photograph – the pavement in front of Boons is clear. The box appears to be more in front of Violet Butler’s shop (which became Moorcrofts).  So, it seems the split in opinion will continue.

    By Richard Haines (17/08/2015)
  • My recollection of the position of the telephone box is that it stood outside Boons the News Agents and Confectioners.  If we did not go to see my grandmother on a Wednesday (half-day closing) I would be sent to phone her from this ‘phone box.  We had had a phone at our premises positioned in our hall  BUT  it was a public phone and there was a notice outside our shop saying “You may telephone from here.”  Needless to say my parents soon had it taken out because it was causing them so much inconvenience the crunch being when my parents had gone to bed and a customer’s daughter phoned to say would my dad mind going round to her parents to tell them she had missed the last train from Barking and was going to stay with a friend!!  

    By Georgina Nottage (nee Ellingford) (16/08/2015)
  • The Brown Owl of the St Peter’s Brownies Pack lived in one of the Police Houses.  Her husband was a policeman but I don’t know his rank.  They had two sons.  She was a lovely lady but regretfully I cannot recall her name.  Does anyone know?

    By Georgina Nottage (nee Ellingford) (16/08/2015)
  • Could it have been Joan Reid.  I sat next to a boy at school called Alistair Reid.  He had a brother called Malcolm and their father George was a policeman.  They lived in the police houses on the corner of High Road and Victoria Road.   They left Laindon in August 1957 because George had been posted to a police station in Dudley in the Midlands.

    By Nina Humphrey(née Burton) (16/08/2015)
  • Hi, I worked for Tommy Card, if this is the same Tommy I knew. He had a fish van down the Basildon market and a poultry farm at Ramsden Heath. He had a daughter Maureen about the same age as me.

    By Jeff Footer (15/08/2015)
  • Hoping to clear up confusion re Card’s fish shop : Patricia Cash 9.7.12. mentions her uncle’s fish and chip shop being on the other side of the road to the cinema. Firstly it was not a fish and chip shop but a wet fish shop, secondly it was on the other side of the road but was situated almost opposite the Laindon Hotel, maybe a few yards further toward the station. 

    By Donald Joy (14/08/2015)
  • Nina Humphrey you sound like my kind of girl ! Ice cream is vanilla, anything else is fake, a poor imitation. Remember Tonibell ? Mmmm yummy!

    By Donald Joy (14/08/2015)
  • Thanks go to Gloria Sewell 14.5.11. for the mention of Steers’ shop, one that had escaped my power of recall, just the mention has brought back many memories. Donald & Achinson should read Dolland & Aitchison, please don’t be offended by me correcting you. 

    By Donald Joy (14/08/2015)
  • Miss Jollyman’s (Biology) classroom always smelled of furniture polish, this was to hide the smell of tobacco smoke where she very frequently would pop out of class to get her fix of nicotine by puffing on a Woodbine! 

    By Donald Joy (14/08/2015)
  • My mum worked in Greens Stores and their other shop further north along the High Road on the opposite side from around 1959 until about 1967. (I can even remember the names of the Greens Stores Managers. Mr Chance was at the Durham Road store and Mr Thomas at the other one).  Parkinson’s transferred from their garage near Somerset Road, to the old Greens Stores shop on the corner of Durham Road in 1962.

    By Nina Humphrey(née Burton) (14/08/2015)
  • When the Laindon Link was constructed and opened to traffic as a lad, it thrilled me to stand on the corner and watch as the double decker buses turned left from the High Road into the Link as the open platform of the bus would always scrape on the road surface making quite a noise and the occasional spark shower. Easily pleased at that age!

    By Donald Joy (14/08/2015)
  • I can remember visiting the post office on a LHR school trip.  We were shown how the letters were sorted etc.

    By Georgina Nottage (nee Ellingford) (20/06/2015)
  • Does anyone remember taking part in the St Nicholas Guides’ Gang Show in 1956/7 held in the hall?  The Penson family helped organise it.  The Guide Captain was Mrs Freeman.  I sang a solo, Pat Boon’s Love Letters in the Sand which must have been hard on the ears of the listeners as I’m no singer!!

    By Georgina Nottage (nee Ellingford) (20/06/2015)
  • Going through an old photograph album at the weekend, I found a photo taken of a removal van I believe in Vowler Road, Langdon Hills, with a group of children in what I recall carnival wear from the 1950’s. My sister is one of them and one face I do recognise, is that of Eric Cowell. It has copyright stamped on the back.

    By Brian Baylis (09/03/2015)
  • I remember Laindon Hall it was occupied by Mr Kellogh a surgeon who worked at Orsett hospital.

    By Doree Griffiths (01/02/2015)
  • I also remember the hall as the ladies’ choir used to practice there. My gran Mabel Hyatt was a member and Mabel White, my mother played the piano. Also it was used to put on the Operatic Society shows.

    By Doree Griffiths (01/02/2015)
  • Does everyone remember their first ice cream? It would seem so. My first ice cream? I do not know the year but it was during the war when there was no ice cream! Or at least none that made it to Laindon.

    On a hot summer day the enterprising proprietors of the Primrose Cafe decided to make their own home made ice cream. It was sold out of a side window at the rear of the building. I imagine the proprietors did not wish a procession of grimy faced kids with muddy boots disturbing the seated customers who were there for tea and a bun.

    Did it rival a later sampled Walls or Rossi? No in fact it was very disapointing. Rather like frozen semolina pudding. I never cared for semolina pudding at the best of times!

    By Alan Davies (03/09/2014)
  • I remember my first experience of ice-cream circa 1946 when taken by my parents to Southend-on-Sea to see Pinocchio (I was 7 years old).  The ice-cream had bits of ice in it but I thought it magic.  I also remember my first  taste of a banana (yummy) and a fresh peach, the latter bought by my Nan Jessica Devine from Sid Clifford’s greengrocery shop.  The taste was so foreign to me I handed it back to my Nan.  (I like them now sure enough!)

    By Anne Burton (02/09/2014)
  • Talking of ice creams the first ones I tasted as a child were Dicky Bird’s who had a factory in Barking. They would come round in the evening when the kids were out on the streets in the summer in the ice cream van, the names of that evening’s lollies would be chalked on a small blackboard. My favourites were chocolate, spearmint and lime. We used to hang around playing outside until late in the evening until getting called in by our parents.

    When we moved to Laindon my first ice creams were also in Southend, like Anne’s. This was in 1958 and the cones were from Tomassi’s shop. Also I can recall standing in a queue for an ice cream on the Pound Lane estate when the van came round. In the same queue were Vanessa Crew and her brother Keith. This was in the height of summer 1959 after our first year in Mr Rosen’s class and I can clearly remember Vanessa’s extremely short shorts, such happy and innocent days.

    By Richard Haines (02/09/2014)
  • On days out in Southend no other ice cream would do but Rossi.  My sister, brother and I would have a ‘cornet’ (now known as a ‘cone’), our mother preferred to have a ‘wafer’.  We would like to bite the bottom off the cone and lick away at the top until it started to melt and run down through the cone, then we would hold it up and suck the ice cream out of the hole we had made.

    One time, I decided to have a ‘wafer’ for a change, like mum’s.  This was a block of ice cream sandwiched between two thin wafer biscuits.  Mum handled hers expertly, licking the ice cream evenly around the edges, not wasting any.  I couldn’t match her expertise and soon mine began to melt and ouse out from all sides.   I kept licking but couldn’t keep up and I got in a proper mess as the lovely Rossi ice cream ran down my wrists and the two wafers that I held between fingers and thumbs got closer together and eventually met.  Never again!  From then on I always chose a cone – less waste.

    In the fifties, we rarely had ice cream or lollies from the Ice Cream van, because they didn’t come down our unmade road.  However, a few shops in Laindon High Road had a Walls sign outside.  Walls Ice Cream had a different taste, it was okay but not as nice as our favourite Rossi.  Walls cones were oblong in shape and the ice cream came in small blocks.  This would have to be unwrapped and pushing inside, not too hard, but firm enough so that it couldn’t be knocked out.  I would always lick the paper before I threw it in the bin.    Many times I’ve seen a child’s ice cream knocked out of its cone and land on the sand/pavement resulting in a tearful child and a fortunate dog or seagull.

    Occasionally we would buy a family brick which was big enough for 5 or 6 helpings.  This would have to be brought home as quickly as possible wrapped in several layers of newspaper.  The cardboard packaging folded back and the block of ice cream cut carefully into slices.   The amount left on the wrapping would depend on how warm the weather was and how quickly we’d be able to get home.  In mid-summer this was used to top a bowl of strawberries – highly recommended.  That was in the days when strawberries were only available for a short time during the year, unlike now when they are available all the time.

    I can remember when Neapolitan and tutti-frutti family bricks became available.  We’re spoilt for choice now with all kinds of flavours, but I really don’t think the original vanilla can be beaten.  It’s certainly still my favourite.  

    By Nina Humphrey(née Burton) (02/09/2014)
  • War was declared six weeks before my second birthday, so it’s no wonder I have no recollection of pre-war ice-cream.

    My earliest memory is of my Dad taking me for a walk down the garden. This usually meant that there was one ripe strawberry and he would give it to me to prevent an argument among my sisters. This time there was no strawberry, just Dad fiddling with a box. I was cross, but in those days strawberries only grew in June or July and this was September. I still have the photo Dad took as he used up the last film in the camera. He took no more photos till peace time.

    And there were no more strawberries, the patch was turned into a potato patch instead.

    By Mary Cole (01/09/2014)
  • Study of this photograph is interesting as it clearly shows the notorious phone box outside Boons and not the shops Moorcroft or The Challenger Off Licence mentioned by others on this site this week. Judging by the Ford Consul and Bedford Dormobile in the photo I would date the shot as 1955-59.

    By Richard Haines (14/04/2014)
  • Sorry Richard, but I am unable to agree with you about the position of the telephone box. Taking into consideration the angle at which the photograph was taken and then studying the pavement in front of the shops, the telephone box does appear to be in front of Moorcrofts.  My own memory tells me the same.

    I will be adding two photographs of North Parade Shops in the next day or two which may be of some help.

    By Nina Humphrey(née Burton) (14/04/2014)
  • The Lady in Doris’s named “Connie” was My Aunt, Connie Lane (née Clarke) and as a young lad I used to stand agog and watch as she performed what I considered her magic!

    By Colin Clarke (31/01/2014)
  • Further to the subjects of Ladies Hairdressers, pre war, there was a shop in that vicinity called Eve’s Little Beauty Shoppe,  (next to Carey’s).  I also remember a ladies hairdressers near to the Memorial Hall,  which possibly may have been that of the Turner sisters who lived in Pipps Hill Rd, one of whom married Reg. Buckenhan of Mundles Farm and whose son Geoff later featured quite prominently in the political history of Basildon. The suggested name of “Doris” is obviously of a later era. 

    By W.H.Diment (29/01/2014)
  • I remember a Doris’ hairdressers but it was on the opposite side of the road from Denbigh Road, along a bit on left.  The hairdresser was Doris – a lady with blonde hair and who wore glasses; another was Connie, a dark-haired lady.

    By Andrea (29/01/2014)
  • I only knew the one daughter, Joyce Carey. They did live in Berry Lane on the north side of the street (after it did an abrupt turn eastward at the corner shop) between Ferndale Road and Shakespeare Avenue. We went to Langdon Hills school together.

    By Alan Davies (28/01/2014)
  • Doris was the name of the ladies hairdresser. At least it was in my time. Doris was the last shop in the parade. Their neighbour to the south, the Memorial Hall, was detached and sat back from the road. This gave Doris a large wall on which to advertise, which they did, painting over the entire wall.

    By Alan Davies (28/01/2014)
  • The photograph would appear to have been taken on an atypically bright and sunny day in March 1953 or thereabouts. The film Untamed Frontier, shown on the marquee, was made in 1952 and was released for general distribution on January 1st 1953. It starred Joseph Cotten and Shelley Winters. Judging from the lack of leaves on the trees it all seems to points to early spring 1953.

    By Alan Davies (27/01/2014)
  • Yes, I concur with Bill Diment’s comments. A.G. Butler’s always had several grave monuments and crosses etc displayed on the grass verge which was in  front of the house. I always thought the display constituted a little black humour (unwittingly of course) since it was situated next door to Dr. Chowdhary’s office!

    One of Mr. Clegg’s numerous offspring, Kathleen, sat in front of me at Langdon Hills school. Mr Clegg not only managed the funeral business, had a full time job as a postman but was also one of probably a handful or more  bookies. This was in the days when off track betting was illegal. Being a postman he was in an excellent position to take bets or pay out winnings along his route. Today we might refer to him as an entrepreneur. My grandmother patronized Eric Cole the greengrocer as her bookie. I wonder how many bookies operated in total in the Laindon area in defiance of an unpopular and widely ignored law? 

    By Alan Davies (27/01/2014)
  • Gloria’s memory of the pond at Laindon Hall is correct. The pond was huge and readily accessible from the open areas at the back of the Laindon Park School playing field. As I recall the timber clad Laindon Hall was painted a creamy-yellow colour and had a red roof as someone has shaded on the old photo above. The pond would have been to the photographers right.

    As the photo shows, the Hall was overgrown with ivy and I can’t ever remember anyone coming out to tell us off if we were looking for newts or grass snakes both of which swam in the pond. Certainly it was a regular visiting place for us Laindon Park School children on the way home on summer afternoons in 1958.

    I also remember the Laindon Hall being a quiet place when we passed by as a class in 1957-58 on our way to country dancing lessons in the church hall. Innocent and happy times.

    By Richard Haines (26/01/2014)
  • Irish club sadly gone ….. Mrs Whitley was my teacher at Janet Duke lovely lady.

    By Gary Oliver (24/01/2014)
  • The cinema programs were also advertised in local shops in exchange for a free pass which could be used by one person twice or two people once. 

    I was a Saturday morning cinema monitor the main job was seeing none of the kids let their mates in through the fire escape!

    By Georgina Nottage (nee Ellingford) (06/09/2013)
  • A bit more detail about North Parade: 

    1 North Parade (next to “Hiawatha”) 1920s – c.1932: Bassett’s Builders merchants (James Edward Bassett’s) c.1932 – 1940s: Polden’s Grocers (Oliver J. Polden) 1940s onwards: North Parade Stores (Arthur W Shotter) 

    2 North Parade c.1923 – c.1932: Tate & Sons House furnishers. c.1932 – early 40’s? Hatherall’s Hardware (Phillis and Simon Wells). The Hatherall name came from Phillis’s first marriage to William Hatherall, who died in 1930 (aged only 38). She later married policeman Simon Wells. Phillis and William had produced two children Doris (my mum, who married Fred Collison, and became “Mrs Collison” teacher at Laindon High Road), and Laurence (in the cycle Polo Team). The family lived at 2 North Parade for some time, but later moved to “Southways” in Dunton Road (nearly opposite “the Colemans house” mentioned below. continuing with 2 North Parade…. early 40’s? – onwards: Ling’s toys. 

    3 North Parade c.1923 – 1930s: “The Geisha” cafe. 1930s Onwards: North Parade Post Office “Boon’s” (J E S Boon) – Newsagent, tobacconists, confectionary, post office. The Post Office later moved further towards the A127, on he other side of the High Road (still called “North Parade Post Office” which is a bit confusing, because it was no longer in North Parade!) 

    4 North Parade 1931? – ???? Drapery and Wool (Violet Butler) ???? – onwards: Drapery and Wool?? (Ethel Moorcroft) 

    5 North Parade 1940’s onward: Off-licence – has changed hands a few times -no details. This is also a later building than the original North Parade.

    By Trevor Collison (25/08/2013)
  • I remember going with my Aunty May (Lillian May Hatherall) dropping off her “accumulator” for charging in the Paramount radio Store, then across to Greens to get the shopping.

    By Trevor Collison (25/08/2013)
  • That name Reed has reminded me I went to Palmer’s Boys School with Lou Reed, the postmaster’s son. We also used to sail, (at Burnham-on-crouch) the “school boat” that we all built (in Grays).

    By Trevor Collison (25/08/2013)
  • All I know about Yardley was that my mum Vera Boatwright’s granddad Joseph Clifford built 3 bungalows all very similar in style. Belgrave in which Joseph’s family lived, Yardley as above and the third was named Kudos (I have only guessed at the spelling of this bungalow) I have never really known where it was sited. They were all built around the 1930s. But apart from Belgrave I never knew who lived in the others.

    By Valerie Kingsley (03/05/2013)
  • I remember Underdowns fish shop. I recall another fish shop roughly opposite Durham Road and run by a Mr and Mrs Ringshaw. That would be about 1935.

    By Harry Rossiter (25/04/2013)
  • Pic No 50. Hi Andrea, lady crossing road by Green Stores looks very much like Peter Robertson’s mum Peter thinks so as well, I lived next door to them on Primrose Hill

    By Brian Cordell (30/03/2013)
  • My Nan used to take me in there when I was eleven. There was a long bar with the pumps where I wasn’t allowed to go, and a room with a jukebox where we’d sit. I remember my favourite song was Del Shannon’s Runaway. Nan used to drink Mackesons and talk to the locals including Fred, a retired postman if I remember correctly – I recall being nicely horrified when he opened a parcel of newspaper on his lap which contained his dinner which he’d just bought from the butchers – half a pig’s head. 

    I remember being sent to the chippie along the road and coming back with cod and chips costing 1s 2d. Nan thought that was a disgrace; saying she used get the same years ago for 1d. We used to walk back to her house in Topsham Road (now gone) singing every song we knew, watching bats flying and the stars and when we got back just before midnight we had digestives, cheese and pickled onions. Magic memories!

    By Ray Stroud (28/02/2013)
  • Hello Patsy. My name is Alan (Rich) wood, I am Derek and Geoff’s older brother by 10 yrs. Derek lives in Norfolk and has two daughters but Geoff sadly died at a fairly young age, he had one daughter. 

    I used to play with Ken your brother when your family lived on Suffolk Rd, must have been in the 1940s and 50s. I have a couple of pictures of him if you would like them? 

    In 1957 your brother Ken and his then girlfriend Pat Cannon introduced me to Iris Allen who became my wife and we have enjoyed 54 yrs together and are still going strong. I have often thought it would be nice to be able to thank him and Pat. 

    We have lived in Canada since 1968, we have 4 children and 10 grandchildren. I hope to hear from you, it would be great to share some photos and also some information about your brother Ken.

    By Alan Wood (16/02/2013)
  • Hi Ann. I’m so glad you were able to show this fantastic new photograph. It clearly shows that the fruit and veg were not in Buckenham’s front window, but stood to the right of the butchers. It just shows how the angle of a photograph can easily trick the eye. The illusion in the original photo certainly tricked me for a while but once it was pointed out to me, I could see how it had happened. I’d thought it strange at the time as I knew that Buckenham’s had only ever been a butcher shop and nothing else. Now we have the answer. 

    I seem to remember that fruit/veg stalls also sold young wallflower and marigold plants in the early spring. My nan would bring some home wrapped in newspaper to plant in her front garden. 

    I also love the picture of the pram. We had one very similar in 1952 for my younger brother. Old pram wheels were perfect for home-made soap box go-carts. My grandchildren would like to make one, but prams wheels of that kind are no longer available because most people use buggies with unsuitable wheels.

    By Nina Humphrey(née Burton) (13/02/2013)
  • Having made a comment last evening about this photograph I then found this later copy of Buckenham’s butchers shop with a fruit and vegetable stall alongside which shows more clearly the position of the stall. These little gems keep turning up and are what will eventually make our High Road plan more accurate.

    Editor: This is the next image

    By Ann Rugg ( nee Bullimore) (12/02/2013)
  • Hi there Steve, We also studied this photo a while ago and realised it gave the illusion of the stall being in the shop front. However from memory of using these shops and closer study of the original photograph we can see that the lift up front of the left stall (with Outspan advert) is obscuring some of Buckenham’s sun blind. Buckenhams always stood alone with a small gap before Worths and the Rice stalls were on the land to the right of Buckenhams and used to be shut down over night with the stalls etc being stored in the tarpoline covered middle one. I also had great fun with a hammer and a few nails (probably bought in Worths) when toys were at a premium when we were young and used to join the Huggett boys in their camp making many a weekend!!!

    By Ann Rugg nee Bullimore (11/02/2013)
  • What year was this photo taken please?

    Editor: There was no dating information with the photograph but by looking at the vehicles and the state of the road it looks like the early 1920s. Any more positive information would be appreciated?

    By Andrea (09/02/2013)
  • My cousin Joan Fordham was born at the Primrose cafe, her dad was a builder who lived in Laindon High Road near the Old Fortune of War.

    By alan taylor (07/02/2013)
  • This picture 26 Buckenhams butchers I think is the same building that has the outspan orange advert in the previous photo, the Windowlene advert in this one is where the roller blind is in the previous picture, Worths is to the left of Windowlene ad. The centre business must have closed. Steve

    By Steve White (06/02/2013)
  • It’s a shame Fred is not interested in Laindon, I know he remembers more about it than most of this site, as I have been in touch with him over the years, I sat next to him in 4x and 5x Mr Gay was slightly in charge most of the time. Steve

    By Steve White (06/02/2013)
  • I was a part time delivery man for Collins shop in the 60s, when I was a London fireman with spare time. I also played football with Tony, see Laindon YC photo we are both in it Steve

    By Steve White (06/02/2013)
  • Was this estate agent Rawley anything to do with Rawley the builders I knew their daughter I think Janet was her name. Steve

    By Steve White (06/02/2013)
  • My nan & grandad owned the cafe. I do not know what year, but I can remember there were three big steps leading up to it and they were pink. What was the year this photo was taken.

    By Alan Taylor (05/02/2013)
  • Hi I still think it’s fruit and veg in the shop front??? Hi Mary good to hear from you, no I did not end up a builder, but an antique restorer for the last 30 years. We retired in 2001 and live in Leigh. 

    The back step at Madras Villa had so many nails in, it ended up looking like a steel beam, I went on scrounging nails from Worths shop to finish the job.

    By Steveawhite (05/02/2013)
  • Hi All You can see the Outspan orange ad below the hoarding. The Art Deco front of butchers shop can be seen above the canvas blind

    Editor: I have tried to enhance the image to improve the clarity. I have also set images so that if you click on it you will get a larger image. (Note to return to the site you will need to use the back arrow on your browser.)

    You can see the sweeping roller awning from Buckinghams, which was the next shop, goes behind the awning of W J Rice.

    By Steve White (05/02/2013)
  • No look at the next photo, butchers is the building with the Art Deco tile top, there was a a bit of no mans land between Buckenham’s butchers and Worths hardware shop.

    By Steve White (05/02/2013)
  • The comment of Patricia Cash in respect of her uncle’s fish shop puzzles me. I cannot remember any fish shop opposite the cinema. The ones in the vicinity I can recall was one next to the cinema’s bicycle shed and run at one time by the Underdowns and the other at the Nicholas Lane corner by the water fountain.

    By WH.Diment (15/12/2012)
  • Mary Cole suggests that one of these two houses was a funeral directors, possibly named Green. I suggest that the funeral directors premises was two doors to the south with Dr.Chowdhary’s surgery in between. This was A.G.Butller’s and managed by Mr.Clegg who was also a Laindon postman as was his brother Harold.

    By WH.Diment (15/12/2012)
  • Further to the comments of Jeff and Roy Footer, this house was occupied for a number of years by a local parcel delivery man named Brockwell who had a contract with the railway company.

    By WH.Diment (15/12/2012)
  • 6th Laindon Scout Group used St Nicholas Church Hall until the early 1980s. 6th Laindon Scouts had been formed some years earlier, by the amalgamation of 2nd and 4th Laindon Scout Groups.

    By Nina Humphrey(née Burton) (11/12/2012)
  • A slight correction here. Dr Chowdhary was never at Avondale. He lived and worked at ‘Daisybank’ after moving from his first home/surgery at ‘York Villa’. See his daughter’s article “Dr. D.S.Chowdhary 1902-1959 by his Daughter”.

    By Nina Humphrey(née Burton) (27/11/2012)
  • “Avondale” third form the right, operated as a lodging house by George Heydenreich and my grandmother Amelia Louise Heydenreich (nee Dowling), from about 1923 ??? 

    Then with her daughter and Mr Charles Constable & Violet Constable with son John Constable b. 1926 it was in operation from 1925 up to about 1930. 

    It was then used as a surgery by Dr. Chowdhary at least up to 1960??? 

    I eventually went to live in Cambridge Road off St Nicholas Lane 1929 then moving to Kings Road about 1935, eventually joining the Royal Navy 1943. 

    In 2010 when visiting the Laindon Library of old photographs I happened to ask an elderly gentleman if he was born in Laindon and he said yes!! I was was born just over there pointing outside and it transpired that he was born 1923 in “Avondale” probably when my grandmother was in charge?? what a coincidence

    By John Constable (26/11/2012)
  • The Laindon Hall burnt down in April 1964. I passed by the hall with a friend each day as we walked to work and back. It happened around the 17th and it was there when we went home from work, but the next morning, we were shocked to see it had burnt down overnight and was just a charred mess.

    By Nina Humphrey(née Burton) (15/11/2012)
  • This photograph causes an optical illusion. The fruit stall had been set up in front of Buckenham’s shop which was never used for anything other than a butcher’s shop. Buckenham’s was set back slightly and was accessed by walking behind the fruit stall. Many thanks to Patsy Mott who first spotted this and then pointed it out to me.

    By Nina Humphrey(née Burton) (15/11/2012)
  • Funny I remember those steps being really big going up to the shop. My mum and dad were friends of Mr & Mrs Andrews and their son Roger was in my class at school. My dad, Bill White, and Roger’s dad used to belong to the RAA and my dad used to run the Whist Drives in Langdon Hills at the church Hall

    By Joan Merchant (02/11/2012)
  • I was at school LH & LHR with Andrew Henbest (born 1948-49 ish) and we partnered each other at the Laindon Community Centre when they did Old Time Dance lessons. I have a photo somewhere which was taken by a newspaper.

    Editor: Would love to put the photograph on site when you find it, if acceptable to you

    By Joan Merchant nee White (02/11/2012)
  • My Mum, Joan Elcock (nee Vince) worked there too! I’m not sure about the year but I’ll work it out asap. I’m sure I’ve got photos of her and some of the workforce amongst her things somewhere.

    By Ian Elcock (02/10/2012)
  • Yes, the house next door was called YARDLEY. We lived there between 1960 and 1964 after moving from Langdon Hills. I remember the post master as a very polite man who always tipped his hat to my mum and others as he passed them. He must have been a very tolerant man to have lived/worked next door to our family of 12. There was an air raid shelter to the rear of the post office and he allowed us to use this as a cubby, he also let my Dad remove the boundary fence to increase the size of our playing area.

    By Roy Footer (22/09/2012)
  • No sorry Patsy, we lived at Worthing Road. My mum was Sheila, dad Don, brothers Keith, Paul, Terry and sister Jackie.

    By Derick wood (16/09/2012)
  • Re Mr Diment’s comment on the “stop me and buy one” tricycle – I have a photo, not too sharp an image, of one stopped opposite The Laindon Hotel garden, with a young man walking away. Probably taken in the 1950s

    Editor: Can it be put on the site

    By Denise Rowling (21/08/2012)
  • Hi Pat, still remember running about delivering fish for Tommy and we go away often with Reg and Sylv Card. 

    I have fond memories of the Saturday matinees of Superman and Roy Rogers and the sweet shop.

    Cliff Parkinson’s garage and house was past the cinema on the right in the photo, I pumped by hand many a gallon of petrol for him into his big Buick taxi. Cliff’s brother owned the garage at the Fortune of War roundabout. Good memories.

    By Len Boret (05/08/2012)
  • This was opposite the Laindon Hotel and Mr Reed was postmaster I believe.

    By Len Boret (05/08/2012)
  • I also remember playing parts in the Revellers productions with Pearl Penson and her dad Fred who produced the shows. My last show was a musical with cowboys.

    I also remember a tall girl who danced in ballet shoes on the toes, very strong ankles.

    I think the male singer was named Williams.

    Fred and family were neighbours in Victoria Rd next to the Underdowns and Radleys.

    Just remembered that this hall was also used by the Berry Boys Boxing Club, run by Fred Nunn.

    The club moved from a hut down by the level crossing by the railway. Had a few humdinger bouts with a school mate George Crosby.

    By Len Boret (05/08/2012)
  • Hi; I knew the Griffin family well!!! All be it Mr and Mrs Griffin are no longer here, they had a son Patrick, known as Tom by some of his mates, and yes sisters Christine and Jeanette. 

    My later husband (Stephen Cash) and Patrick where friends for over 50 yrs. I am still friends with Patrick and his wife, and still see Christine at our quiz nights.

    I have such wonderful memories of Laindon as it used to be and still live here in Devonshire Rd, but its not the same as when I was a child growing up here.

    My uncle Tom Card used to own the fish and chip shop, on the other side of the road from (the flea pit) as it was called. It’s great reading everyone’s stories of old Laindon.

    By Patricia Cash (née Card) (09/07/2012)
  • I never saw a “stop me and buy one” tricycle during the war although they may have been around in the early 30s before I was born! I have a feeling that as milk was rationed, it might have been illegal to sell ice-cream. I definitely remember my first ice-cream was at the Worthing Road V.E. day party!

    By Mary Cole (nee Norman) (20/06/2012)
  • I think one of these houses was the undertakers, possibly Mr Green

    By Mary Cole (nee Norman) (20/06/2012)
  • I was somewhat surprised by the comment of Mary Cole that on VE Day she tasted ice cream for the first time as from the early thirties ice cream was available in Laindon from the Walls “stop me and by one” tricycles which toured Laindon although their “snowfruits” which were frozen flavoured water were at 1p, only half the price of ice cream. Ice cream was also sold in the cinema. 

    Also in my school days there was always in the summer a Bastiano ice cream van outside the school gates but pupils were forbidden to go outside the gates at lunchtime and had to rely on those pupils who went home to dinner to purchase one for them.

    By W.H.Diment (11/06/2012)
  • On VE Day in 1945, all schools were given a day’s holiday. This left the Markhams with gallons of milk to spare. Sensibly the word went round that any child could have as much milk as they could drink. It was the only time that I enjoyed school milk. Some was also given to Mr Foyle, who got out his old ice cream machine. Now that was something we had never tasted before.

    By Mary Cole (nee Norman) (09/06/2012)
  • Hi, Steve, It’s good to hear from you. I’m Mary, from next door (no 7) I well remember, when you were little, and toys were scarce someone gave you a hammer and a pound of nails for Christmas. We did wonder if you would be a builder when you grew up!

    By Mary Cole (nee Norman) (09/06/2012)
  • When I applied to join the Essex County Constabulary in July 1952, I sat the entry exam in Sgt Hoopers office one evening after my return from working at Fords Dagenham. I was then living in an unmade road called Gloucester Road. 

    Another sergeant was later added to Laindon police strength. His name was Bernard Camp and his collar number was 38. Later on in police service I was promoted sergeant and took the number 38 as Bernard had then retired. 

    My wife Edna (née Reynolds) and I were quite friendly with Constable Wilf Reed collar number 577. After Wilf retired, his son Martin joined up and took his father’s number. He was later on under my command when I was sergeant at Melbourne Park Police station in Chelmsford. He went on to become an Inspector. 

    I also lived for a time in a prefab in Victoria Road (1949 to 1950). Victoria Road has now changed completely and unrecognisable from those days.

    By Henry Rossiter (23/05/2012)
  • This must be a picture of Buckenhams the butchers prior to it being a butchers, as it is selling fruit & veg next door on the left is Worths the “Oil Shop” these properties backed on to my as then garden in 5 Worthing Road. 

    I guess the date may be around 1930s? It can be seen by the shape of the top of the buildings.

    By Steve White (21/05/2012)
  • According to the 1949 Trade Directory and Electoral Register, No 4 North Parade (between the Off Licence and Boons was Miss Violet Butler (Drapers). I believe Mr Moorcroft took over the shop at a later date. Mr Moorcroft’s wife Ethel had a shop further along in St Nicholas Parade. Mr Moorcroft also had a small wool shop on the other side of the High Road between Denbigh Road and Durham Road.

    By Nina Humphrey(née Burton) (20/05/2012)
  • This cinema stood on the corner of New Century Road where I lived. We were near enough to an easily accessible place of entertainment visited regularly. I remember Mr Silverman and the name Radion becoming inscribed on the building. 

    I too believe it was around 1936 when this change came about.

    By Henry Rossiter (19/05/2012)
  • Opposite was the temporary HQ of Laindon ARP based in Toomeys Garage office. I stood in the doorway of Primrose Cafe with others and from the cafe radio heard Mr Chamberlain make his famous speech ending with “consequently we are now at war with Germany”. It was 11am on the 3rd September 1939

    By Henry Rossiter (19/05/2012)
  • I worked at CJ’s in the yard gang loading the lorries with orders of timber, slates, tiles, cement and asbestos not considered a health hazard in those days. This was in 1939 and at outbreak of war several youths including me, were made redundant. 

    One of the lorry drivers was George Reynolds who later became my father-in-law. I did hear about the fire in the timber yard which caused its manager some illness from the worry of it I was told. I was paid sixteen shillings a week and I damn well earned it!!

    By Henry Rossiter (19/05/2012)
  • I started work here in 1936 at age 14 for twelve shillings a week painting red and blue squares on the double and treble rectangles. Thinking to better myself I went to work at Churchill Johnsons a builders merchants where the pay was better but hard earned. On being made redundant on outbreak of war I returned to the dartboard factory where I became an electro-plater with a handsome wage of £3 a week until I volunteered for the RAF in January 1941.

    By Henry Rossiter (19/05/2012)
  • Apropos remarks from Bill Diment concerning Ernie Moss and Findlays hairdressers I had several haircuts by Mr Findlay. He was getting on in years and sometimes was very short of breath and stopped wielding his scissors for a short time whilst he recovered his breath. 

    In 1946 having just been discharged from the RAF with rank of warrant officer I got a job at Rotary Hoes plant in East (now West) Horndon and was soon cut down to size as plain Harry Rossiter once again. Who should be working there and cutting hair in his spare time was Ernie Moss.

    By Henry Rossiter (19/05/2012)
  • I remember having a POSB savings account No.1019 there from 1933 and still have the bank book to this day with several signatures by Mr Andrews, It appeared to be very efficient despite its small premises.

    By Henry Rossiter (19/05/2012)
  • I have many memories of this building. When I was approaching 18 in 1940 I used to play trumpet in the only surviving dance band in Laindon called the ‘Rio Seven’. I remember former rival band Embassy Five with Fred Bull. With call up for military service they folded. 

    When I went into the RAF in January 1941, my pal Dougie Swan took over my trumpet playing until he enlisted in the Life Guards. There were many functions held there. Sunday afternoons Brotherhood and Sisterhood Religious services with a small but very efficient orchestra conducted by Mr HSV Curtis who ran a shoe shop almost opposite. 

    Later on during the war there was a British Restaurant there. I well remember the pun based on a Vera Lynn song `Whale meat again’ which was alleged to figure sometimes in the menu.

    Various societies put on shows there too. I remember one by the Civil Defence unit with one character inventing a song ‘Lets all dig for victory’. People were very united in their defiance against possible Nazi invasion with numbers like ‘We’re gonna hang out our washing on the Seigfried Line’ among others. 

    I am still trying to contact any one who remembers those days as I’m approaching 90 and would like to make contact before my tape runs out.

    By Henry Rossiter (19/05/2012)
  • I worked in the dartboard factory in 1969

    By Sam Staszewski (15/05/2012)
  • I remember Greens Store very well as my father had the paramount radio store directly opposite, and many times I have been into Greens Store with mum, and remember loose biscuits, cheese and bacon cut as you waited. It seemed so big in those days, but seeing the place now it seems so small. Wonderful memories from a wonderful time.

    By Brian Slaughter (05/05/2012)
  • I would like to enlarge upon some of the history shown on this page. Parkinsons did not actually move to the site diagonally opposite to the New Fortune of War as it was in existence there when the Arterial Rd. was still a single carriageway, but as stated, Cliff did move further down the High Rd. to Greens Stores. The Charles Markhams shop did take over the premises of the next door shown as Howards Dairies on the wall. With the coming of the new town he opened a premises called South East Essex Dairies and the manager was Lionell Hyatt who later became well known as is the licencee of the New Prince of Wales. Charles after his retirement was still commited to working and for some time had a premises in Basildon Market on the corner opposite which is now a bicycle shop from which he sold meat. Another memory is that he was once the president of the Laindon CC.

    By W.H.Diment (02/05/2012)
  • I suggest that this photo might have greater historical credence if transferred to the Andrea Ash page “not through rose coloured glasses”, as it does depict scenes we try not to remember, but which are still a part ouf Laindon History.

    Editor: I will be making some changes soon and will take your comment on board.

    By W.H.Diment (02/05/2012)
  • The photograph shows a shop “Lings”, but prewar this was another of Laindons old traders who seem to have not been remembered. The shop was originally owned by Hatheralls and sold hardware. I knew the son Laurtie as a cycling enthusiast and he had an older sister whose name escapes me for the moment but was a well known member of The Laindon Players, she married a local policeman, again whom I cannot recall the name for sure, but I believe may have been Wells. The family home was in Dunton Rd. opposite the lone house on the northern side, “Barefields” which still stands and was at that time occupied by the Coleman family.

    By W.H.Diment (26/04/2012)
  • Further to the comment of Andrea, the husband of Gwen was Ernie Moss who was also quite well known as a local hairdresser and worked for Findlays who also seemed to have no-one who remembers them. The Findlays had three children, Joe, Vicky and Claire, although I cannot remember if the hairdressers survived for very long after the war.

    While Vicky served in the Royal Artillery our paths crossed a couple of times, once at a crossroads in Heliopolis near Cairo and again at Folkestone while we were both returning from 1945 Christmas leave. This resulted in an unforgettable journey to return to our respective units which took several months, as individual soldiers were left very much to the own resources, as travel arrangements seemed to give priority to units which were being sent to relieve other units for repatriation.

    Another Laindon lad who joined us on this strange journey was Walter Riches who was in the Pioneer Corps who like me was trying to get back to Greece and there were many amusing incidents, but also some very good ones as around February 1946 while we were stuck in Milan, I was able to see the great Beniamino Gigli and his daughter Rina in opera at the La Scala. I had during the war heard Gigli in concert at the Alexander Club in Rome, but there was no comparison between the performances.

    By W.H.Diment (23/04/2012)
  • Another name appears in this photo, that of Coleman. They were quite a well known family an one of the sons, Donnie, had an unfortunate accident in the High Rd., Langdon Hills which resulted in losing his licence and he would then travel by horse. It was not uncommon on a Saturday night to see a horse tethered outside the Basildon Country Club where Donnie would attend a dance.

    By W.H.Diment (23/04/2012)
  • Further to the comment of Andrea in respect of the porter unfortunately killed, I believe his surname was Reeves. However it was not at Laindon where the accident occurred, but Pitsea. He had been sent there on an errand and alighting from the train walked to the rear and crossed the line and was killed by a fast train on the up road. The reason for his error was probably due to the fact that this was common practice at Laindon as the middle road was not a normal running road and in any case when it was used on rare occasions for up road movement, trains were reduced to walking pace as the signal, even if ‘pulled off’ would remain at red until the train was within ten yards as there was a sharp S bend to the up main which could only be used at very low speeds. A tragic accident caused by an unthinking moment.

    By W.H.Diment (20/04/2012)
  • Hallo Bruce, Henbest’s were never a ladies and gents outfitters, but two separate shops on opposite sides of the road.

    By W.H.Diment (22/03/2012)
  • I am sure Peter Long and Richard Haines are both wrong and the editor is right in his location of Weedon’s. I knew David Weedon quite well and the shop to the south of Weedon’s was a greengrocers the name of which I cannot recall at the moment but the owners had a very buxom daughter named Iris who served in the shop and every year would go to the Munich Beer Festival. once again I cannot quite recall the name of the shop just north of Weedon’s.

    Editor: Weedon’s was between the A127 and Archer Road, roughly where the Carpet warehouse is now located opposite the Holst Avenue, High Road junction. 

    Two names that been provide is Wiseman’s for the Greengrocers and Howard’s dairy for the other shop.

    By W.H.Diment (22/03/2012)
  • The bungalow in shot is Griffin’s sweet shop the right hand half of it still had the cafe fittings in it but not used, I think the only reason I saw it was that I was friendly with Patrick Griffin as he was about my age, and I got the chance to see inside!

    By Steve White (27/02/2012)
  • Brian – that shop was owned by Mr and Mrs Barrett. Mr Barrett was also a gents hairdresser and my father, whose hair was always cut very short, would visit once a week for what could only have been a very tiny trim. I think it most likely that they were chums and that it was a way for my father to have a short relaxing break between home visits! 

    The last shop in that parade used to be a ladies hairdresser but I can’t remember the name of the salon – perhaps someone else will know.

    By shakun Banfield (22/02/2012)
  • I have looked many years for photographs of “Avondale” as I was born there on 27 February 1926. At the time my grandmother Amelia Elizabeth (née Dowling) was married to George Heydenreich and Charles Constable was married to my mother 1925 to Violet Frances (née Greenham). 

    The family lived in “Avondale” which was set up as a lodging house having moved from Stratford. 

    Amelia E. Heydenreich’s second husband was sunk in his ship by U66 submarine in 1917 off the Hebridies after 3 months of being married

    Amelia Elizabeth’s niece was Joan Dowling a noted film starlet in the 1950’s who spent her young years in Laindon

    By John Constable (14/02/2012)
  • The trees behind Buckenhams butchers shop are the Willow trees in my as then garden 5 Worthing Road, Worths hardware shop is on the left out of shot. The building visible under the blind is Manor Mission Sunday school we used to attend, access via Manor Road.

    By Steve White (12/02/2012)
  • Looking at the picture of Andrews Post Office in Laindon reminds me as a young lad starting work there as a Telegraph boy. This was quite an experience, riding a bike all around Langdon Hills, Laindon and district, delivering messages. It seems far away from the current way of communicating. The sorting room was a little dingy sort of place at the back with heaps of bags. It was just one of the jobs that I had as a lad. 

    Having been born in Laindon I worked at most shops in Laindon, including Gibson the fruiterers, Coles and also Harts the butchers which was just on the right hand side passed the Laindon Hotel. To finish off my career, before joining the forces in 1940, I worked as a hairdresser for Joe Findlay at his hairdressing shop in Langdon Hills, which was in the parade of shops, just before you get to Vowler Road.

    By Don Sheppard (26/01/2012)
  • While there is no doubt that John is correct in his remarks about Daisybank. One thing I noticed was the name of Elinor given to one of the houses as in later years there was a chalet with the same name built opposite King Edward Rd. and still stands there. The latter was occupied by Len Bartlett but who died some years ago, Although he had moved out prior to his death.

    By WH.Diment (20/01/2012)
  • The flat roofed building on the left with the Michelin sign is part of Hatters Garage which was the tea room and the stores when I worked there in 1962/3. Next to them further left was Mr Hatters office which we dared not enter except on pay day. The stores was run by a young man named Ron and his assistant was Ian Soul. In the forecourt island was Kathy Hymas or Susan King (who was at LHR with me) depending on the time of day. Some building work was going on at the garage while I was there, mainly being carried out by Georgie Wager and his brother Claud, anyone remember those hard little guys? Claud had one of the first mini pick-up trucks.

    By Richard Haines (13/01/2012)
  • The bon-bon factory I sure remember, as Mum had an old pram when in Tyler Avenue, and we walked to the factory and loaded it with paper hats that we had rolled, then coming back with more to do. I’m surprised the wheels took the weight.

    By Brian Baylis (05/01/2012)
  • I can remember my brother, the lad next door and me going round the back of the shop, taking some Corona bottles out of the crates, walked across to the Radion, then cross back as if we had walked down the High Road in order to return the bottles, and buying sweets.

    That was until I got caught trying to do the same on my own and the lady opened the back door just as I took hold of a bottle. I never did go back in that shop.

    By Brian Baylis (05/01/2012)
  • I believe this was a corn merchant in the 1950s, like Cramphorn, or were they the one opposite?

    By Brian Baylis (05/01/2012)
  • Yet it was Blackwells Eric and Josie Tyler, a neighbour of ours in Tyler Avenue worked in there. I will bring my postcards when I next get a date and available for me, as now live in Norfolk.

    By Brian Baylis (05/01/2012)
  • Pearl Penson was with Rolf Harris and Young Generation, not Forsyth. I used to watch it. As for the police station though, I went in there a few times, once because I was naughty.

    By Brian Baylis (05/01/2012)
  • I can remember when the shop next to DANE’S Cleaners first got Matchbox Toys and displayed them in the window.

    By Brian Baylis (05/01/2012)
  • I can remember Dad sending my brother in to Pooley’s sweet shop just along from Kentex, telling him to ask the ladies: “How much are your penny liquories please?” The reply he got was: “If your dad wants to know, tell him to come in himself and ask.” One good thing with that shop was that the sweets were in one part of the shop, while the tobacco and cigarettes were kept in another part.

    By Brian Baylis (05/01/2012)
  • This is the first photo I have seen of the Post & Sorting Office, with the house used by Berry Boys & Boxing Club just the other side of it. Thank you Ken.

    By Brian Baylis (05/01/2012)
  • I can recall being in the Memorial Hall on the night of the Dagenham Rail Crash. Mum and dad had taken us to see another of the Brilliant ‘Revellers’ productions, and during the interval, a lady rushed in to tell everybody.

    By Brian Baylis (05/01/2012)
  • I will find my postcards asap, check for copyright and scan them if okay, before I E-mail them across.

    By Brian Baylis (01/01/2012)
  • I remember going to this cinema when I was about 6, this would have been about 1941, they had a childrens showing on a Saturday mornings, which my Grandad took me to, left me there and went to the Laindon Pub for a quick drink and talk with his mates, and then picked me up and took me for a lemonade in the pub gardens before the long trek home to Dunton Drive. 

    In later years my now husband was a projectionist at the Radion under Mr. Harvey. Happy days.

    By Mary Hawkins (née Pratte) (20/12/2011)
  • The brief note by Denise Rowling has caused me to revise my earlier suggestion and that the photo would seem to have been taken looking westward from what was known as the Brackenmount estate and the row of bungalows in the background were A.E.Palmer semis built in the southern half of School Lane.

    By W.H.Diment (15/12/2011)
  • Regarding the photo of Cliff Parkinson’s garage and the cars outside. My bother Dave Sarfas who worked for Cliff for years has just told me that the Devon parked outside was a 1949 and belonged to my Uncle Reg Payne who had put it up for sale and who lived in Somerset Road. We don’t know how much he was asking for it unfortunately. The car next to the pump is an FX3 taxi, Cliff had 2 of these the reg numbers were KGU 926 and KGU 928 The other car in the photo was a 1936/37 Chrysler Kew, reg no. DXE 624 all these cars were used as cabs. Cliff also had a Morris 18 1936 reg no. DVX 418 which was also used as a cab. My brother drove the cabs for him and has a good few tales to tell regarding these “good old days”. I can’t believe he remembers the registration numbers. Good old Dave !!!

    Editor: Doris and Dave came to see us last week to give us the information you gave them. If I had known he was hiding that amount of information he would not have escaped so easily.

    By Joan Baterip (09/12/2011)
  • Regretfully I cannot remember the year the fire occurred, but I believe may have been circa 1933/4. If Evening Echo have any records from the old Laindon & Pitsea Recorder have any details of past issues, perhaps they can provide the answer as it was headline news. Alternatively, the Echo reporter Tom King does seem to have an extensive knowledge of past history and may know the answer.

    By WHDiment (07/12/2011)
  • My most significant memory of Churchill & Johnson’s was that of the shop which preceded that of the picture shown, when there was a very large timber yard in rear which burned down and was probably the biggest fire ever to have happened in Laindon.

    Editor: William do you remember in which year the fire occurred.

    By WHDiment (06/12/2011)
  • The name of Sandringham Rd., lives on but is now situated at a different location just opposite the old Essex Country Club in Basildon Rd.

    By W.H.Diment (06/12/2011)
  • Hi Derek did you have a brother Geoffrey and was your mum’s name Ivy? If so I have loads of old pics of you all. I was born in Suffolk Road, which was in between Durham Road and Somerset Road and if so your mum was very friendly with my mum, we used to visit each other all the time. Small world if you are the same person 🙂

    By Patsy Spendlove née Roper (27/11/2011)
  • Pearl Penson was a friend of mine at school, she danced with the Young Generation and changed her name to Sandy Penson.

    As for Fred he married a girl called Maureen Cole, her family were good friends of ours. God I haven’t seen them all for years, would love to get back in touch 🙂

    Editor: Fred and Maureen split up and Fred has been married several times and lives in Chelmsford. The last time Patsy bumped into Fred he said he did not want to know anything about Laindon.

    By Patsy Spendlove née Roper (27/11/2011)
  • It’s Central Park Drive

    By Denise Rowling (24/11/2011)
  • Does anyone remember this being a cafe before Rawley had it?

    By Daphne Rowbotham (21/11/2011)
  • Photo number 50 – lady walking along outside Greens Stores – I recognise her but can’t recall her name. Anyone know her? Incidentally my husband Chris worked in Greens Stores in 1955. My mum worked in there as a cleaner and she came home telling me about the nice young man who had started working in there – four years later we started dating.

    By Andrea Ash (née Pinnell) (16/11/2011)
  • Hi Vanessa, It was actually Mr Pritchard, a science teacher that went crazy one day, he thought he was a lion tamer and poked a chair at a student. Where are you in Oz, give my regards to Keith.

    By Eric Pasco (27/10/2011)
  • Hallo Vanessa Crew, was your father by any chance “Ginger” Crew who married Dolly Richardson. If so I knew him before the war when he lived in Royston Ave and later after the war when he played for Laindon CC. and was a member of the Essex Country Club. If he is still with us, give him my regards. I remember his motor cycle to which he fitted rear shock absorbers long before manufacturers did, but these were slightly weak and when riding pillion and going over a bump the mudguard would contact the rear tyre. Strange how trivial memories remain.

    By W.H.Diment (23/10/2011)
  • Yes it is. I lived at No.13 and slept in the bedroom above the rain canopy next to the arch from 1944 until 1965 Churchill Johnsons was there then.

    By Jim Quinton (22/10/2011)
  • Somewhere in the archive I remember Bert Merrison seeking the Christian name of the headmistress Mrs. Donaldson but it was not on this page and I cannot locate it. However, on reading some of the research by one of the archives more prolific researchers I find her name was Margaret.

    By W.H.Diment (12/10/2011)
  • I loved Mr. Miniken. He was a great art and pottery teacher. Many years later I took up pottery and did for a living. 

    I can also remember flicking ink pellets at Mr. Gay and can vaguely remember him going crazy at school one day. My mother worked at the local telephone exchange and got the emergency call.

    I was also in Mr. Rees’s class. He was strict but a good teacher. Thank you for these wonderful memories.

    I left England in 1964 for Australia so have been out of touch. My Aunts (Una and Eira Richardson) went to the Dunton reunion recently and told me of your website.

    By Vanessa Crew (11/10/2011)
  • To me this photo is a classic. The picture appears to date from the late 50s but I can’t recall the street lighting strung on cables from those days. Certainly the absence of motor traffic is remarkable although there appears to be a bus stop on the right hand side of the picture for those heading towards the A127. I recall in Autumn 1957 the Russians had just launched Sputnik. My 5 year old cousin Steve from Barking was staying with us at No 1 Nichol Road the time and during one dark Saturday evening we were looking from my bedroom window at the Radion globe shining red in the sky. I told him Sputnik was landing and I never saw a kid move away from a window so quickly. Later on I saw some good movies in the Radion, including Seventh Voyage of Sinbad with some friends from LHR and also Night of the Blood Beast (total rubbish for an X-Film). Later still I can recall going to the Radion with my girlfriend and others from school in the winter of 1962-3, just the place to avoid the snow and freezing weather outside! Pretty warm and cosy inside though. Very happy times.

    By Richard Haines (08/10/2011)
  • Thanks – all I can think of is that it was Carey Bros., so maybe it was the other brother? I will have to see if I can get my brother to search back in the deep recesses of his mind!

    By Andrea (07/10/2011)
  • I remember Henbest’s tailors with Mr. Henbest who sat cross legged on a table while he produced his bespoke garments. I only ever bought two suits from him as in those days clothes had to last and the only reason I ever had a second one was that of growing out of the first. He charged £2.10s which was not exceptionally cheap but they were made of very good material. I was however often chided by my friends that they were of very conservative style (meaning old fashioned) and that very up to date smart suits could be obtained from the Fifty Shilling Tailors. I would defend my choice by saying that they were not bespoke but factory made, not that I really considered there to be be any major difference, but used my stitched lapels as snob value. 

    As previously said Alan Henbest did open a shop in the new town and I believe he was the first trader to do this. It was in the large corner shop near the market which now sells bicycles. It was a quality shop which did not do too well because there was not a large number of people in those days who could afford his prices. The overheads must have been enormous as compared to the little shop in the High Rd.

    By W.H.Diment (05/10/2011)
  • I remember Greens Stores from prewar days as the manager was George Wellington who played for Laindon Polo Club also there was an assistant named Kitty White. I wonder if the Kitty Beasley named by John B. was the maried name of Kitty White as an address is given for Church Rd., and Kitty did have a sister Connie Bolton living there.

    By William Diment (05/10/2011)
  • With reference to this page, one of the more dramatic events in respect of this school was destruction by fire of the annexe at St.Nicholas Church and is not mentioned. However I am sure a detailed account of this is somewhere in the archive but I have not yet located it.

    By W.H.Diment (05/10/2011)
  • I can remember the Laindon Picture Theatre opening with Mr. Silverman as proprietor and I believe the first film shown was called The Red Mark. In those days the films were silent except for the dramatic piano music at one time played by Kit Beattie (her married name) and who lived in Basildon Rd.

    John B. believes it did not become the Radion until 1938, I believe it was nearer 1936 at the same time the Ritz in Billericay was opened, but I cannot confirm this. However, one thing was certain that there was no need to use deodorant before entering, as everybody was liberally sprayed in the interval. Also if attending the second house never wear open sandals as it was necessary to wade through a sea of peanut shells to get to one’s seat.

    By William Diment (04/10/2011)
  • Yes, I think Peter Long is answering my question 3 paragraphs above, quite correctly. It was Weedons I’m thinking of, just up beyond the school. I bought my first copy of Esquire from their top shelf age 15, purely for educational purposes you understand.

    By Richard Haines (04/10/2011)
  • After the Basildon Corporation’s compulsary purchase order was put on our bungalow, I can remember mum and dad being really worried about the move. We finally moved to Collier Row in Romford and after a few months came back to Laindon probably to visit my brother and his wife. My mum asked dad to drive up to see Fornham, expecting it to have been demolished. What a shock when we got there, as it was obviously occupied by someone. It was bad enough having to move and mum losing her beautiful roses, but after all the rush to get us out, it seemed it had been let out to someone else. It didn’t seem to make sense at the time. Years later I did go back, but by then it had gone and I am not sure if any of Sandringham Road is left any more.

    By Joan Baterip (03/10/2011)
  • I remember the man in the sweetshop had a big black beard.

    By Peter Long (02/10/2011)
  • The shop was called Weedon’s. I think the owner was called Dave Weedon. My Dad would buy his paper there every morning and on the odd occasion he would buy me a box of Rowntrees Fruit Gums. I remember Mr Weedon moving off to Devon or Cornwall and my Dad going in there to say goodbye.

    Editor: The newsagent in this photograph is Boon’s. Weedon’s shop was at 2 School Parade, on the other side of the road nearer the Fortune as shown in this link

    By Peter Long (02/10/2011)
  • Pearl Penson was a dancer on The Generation Game with Bruce Forsyth I think.

    By Peter Long (02/10/2011)
  • I remember the Carey girls. I think the older girl was Alma but am sure the younger girl was Joyce. She went to Palmers Girls School in Grays, a year or two above me and we would sometimes walk home together.

    By Pat Smith née Franklin (30/09/2011)
  • Yes, the Jeakins were kings of the removals and taxis. I went to school with young Clive (Nobby) Jeakins who was in our year at the High Road. Another branch was GW Jeakins taxis who I used to fill up most days at Hatters Garage, they would always come in for a chat if not too busy. When we moved away in 1963 a brand new dark blue removal lorry from DC Jeakins took us all the way to Tiptree to my parents new house. Jeakins was a nice hard working family business, typical of those days.

    By Richard Haines (28/09/2011)
  • While I do not recognise these sheds, the bungalows in the background have all the hallmarks of those built by A.E.Palmer and I suggest this could have been the area behind Royston Ave., now known as Noak Mead.

    By W.H.Diment (27/09/2011)
  • Yes, you are right Andrea we bought our first 3 piece from Derek Jenkins in the early 60s, he had a furniture shop next to Laindon Hotel. He also had a big removal firm in Laindon and a taxi company.

    I was friends with Micky Jenkins he worked from a taxi office near the station he had a lovely wife, I think her name was Barbara

    By Gloria Sewell (22/09/2011)
  • The sweet shop was Griffin’s, their daughter Christine was in my class at school.

    By Eric Pasco (21/09/2011)
  • Without a doubt Joan, I recall your house in Sandringham Rd when I saw the photo you put up. I lived in Essex Rd which ran from the High Rd up to Sandringham. The Salvos band also played at that T junction some Sundays. On corner there was also an old rundown house which was like that all my years in Essex Rd. Some said it was the result of a stray bomb in the war, can anyone confirm?

    By Eric Pasco (19/09/2011)
  • After the Radion (near the post box) I think there was a sweet shop owned and run by a Mr Griffiths?

    By Andrea Ash (nee Pinnell) (18/09/2011)
  • This photo brought back memories for me. I was brought up to know Alf Carey as my Uncle Alf and his wife Aunt Blanche and they lived in Berry Lane. I understood they had two daughters Dorothy and Daphne I believe. I was amazed to read on this site that Alf had a daughter Alma. My parents were elderly and, in later years, we did not have too much contact with the Careys, although I now understand that Blanche was not my Aunt but was a relation on my Dad’s side. I am confused and it would be good if someone knows anymore about the Careys.

    By Andrea Ash (née Pinnell) (18/09/2011)
  • Is this shop in Queens Road just off of the A127 near Enefer’s Cafe?

    By Joe Rudniski (15/09/2011)
  • Was 4th Laindon the pack that used to meet in the St. Nicholas church hall?

    By Simon Jackson (07/09/2011)
  • I am so glad to hear everyone else’s memories of Laindon Park were so good. I was there from about 1968 to 1974 and loved it. Walking to school in all weathers – across the fields if it was good (or sometimes even if it wasn’t but ending up looking like a mud-wrestler by the time we got home!) and up by the Church when you couldn’t really take the short cut across the fields. Mr Grant was the first Headmaster I had, but don’t recall much about him, except that he was “portly” but I was only 5 so, maybe I’m wrong on that one! He was succeeded by Mr. Lilley, the only memory of whom I now retain is what came to be known as the “Lilber Glare” which was the glare with which he suffixed any accusation to an assembly – it was quite a thing to behold! But what really made my time there such a joy were the teachers – I stress these are in no particular order, I loved them all.. Mrs Lowe – inspired me to swim, and I got to represent Essex and won a bronze and won a gold medal in 1974 in the Basildon Gala. Miss Bodley/Mrs. Rose My first teacher, and i fell madly in love with her, but she married another man without waiting for me:( Miss Murgatroyd – at age 6 I remember telling quite a blue joke (which I’d heard my Dad telling the night before) at “reading time” to the class, which nobody got, but at Parent’s Evening she told my parents that she was having a hard time not cracking up in front of the class..:) Mrs Saunders – a Kiwi teacher who was just a wonderful lady, and all the “lads”, basically the football team, had a real soft spot for her, because she was lovely, and genuine. Mr Hawes – can’t remember a lot about him except he wore a corduroy suit and a beard, and was a cool guy… Mr. Barbero – the welsh wizard. A great teacher, and ever a teacher. One day, after reading my “Every Child’s Answer Book”, I proudly announced to him that I knew what the biggest number in the world was…when I told him it was a googol, he looked at me for a couple of seconds, then said…”and one….” Mrs Sutton – dinnerlady. Built like a little pepperpot and lovely, well to me, anyway. Who remembers “Hands together and eyes closed……THANG…” after which we were required to join in singing with “kyou for the food we eat….it ended with thank you for the birds that sing, thank you God for everything…aaaaa….meeeeeen” ?? That’s all that comes to mind right now, but thanks for posting the picture, though I dont think we ever used the gate in the picture during my time there, it was normally the one out of view just a little bit further up from the flagpole.

    By Simon Jackson (07/09/2011)
  • What memories!! next door to the Gannons house were the Becket family, Joan & Cliff Becket who were members of the “Laindon Players” I think. I played with their children Heather and Stephen, and also with Gloria Gannon. Also I wonder if the scrumping took place next to my bungalow Fornham in Sandringham Road? 

    By Joan Baterip (née Sarfas) (06/09/2011)
  • The other house in the background on the hill was called ‘Hawthorns’. Cannot remember the name of the people that lived there but they were a brother and two sisters. We lived just beyond the hill in a house called “Homeland”. Other neigbours surnames were Wheeton, Morris & Farthing. Any of these familiar?

    By Eric Pasco (05/09/2011)
  • The shop on the right with steps leading up I think became Blackwells News which was run by the Andrews family (they had daughter Brenda & son Roger). Did paper rounds for them for a few years for around 10 bob a week if I recall.

    By Eric Pasco (05/09/2011)
  • And over the top of the hill, just past Byrons store there was a great property for scrumping as the fruit trees all hung over the fence, easy pickings from the road.

    By Eric Pasco (05/09/2011)
  • The end shop (nearest St Nicholas Hill) was run by a Mr and Mrs Foster; their daughter was called Stella who was a Solicitor; my mum cleaned for them and I used to end up with Stella’s cast-offs! I believe they moved to Paddock Wood.

    By Andrea Ash (Nee Pinnell) (04/09/2011)
  • I believe the bungalow to the right is ”Conway” in Denbigh Road where Kim Markham lived? That would make the large block in the distance being number 1 (my home) to 5 Denbigh Road. Preslands Fair used the field in front of our home and a family called Cullums lived in a low building at the back of the field. Turners Coal had the big house up further. In the 50’s my eldest brother worked as a porter at Laindon Station – I also remember a Porter called Johnny, who I think was killed there crossing the line?

    By Andrea (03/09/2011)
  • Oh yes, Wagners, the Bon Bon factory – we lived quite a way from the Fortune, in Denbigh Road, but our back room was always filled with coloured crepe paper, glue, etc for making crackers and hats! (I can still remember the smell). Sometimes neighbours would come in and help out so it was quite a social gathering too.

    By Andrea (03/09/2011)
  • …. and didn’t the Sutton family live in that house before it was Berry Boys?

    By Andrea (03/09/2011)
  • ….. and were the last proprietors called Donald and David Reed?

    By Andrea (03/09/2011)
  • Re Windsor Hill, I remember Gloria Gannon’s house halfway up on the left hand side – her dad was the butcher. I scrumped walnuts from a big tree in their back garden.

    By Andrea (03/09/2011)
  • Gloria, I remember Gloria Negus too – we used to call her Gussy – mad, funny girl. But when I knew her, she lived in a bungalow in Pound Lane near to Dickens Drive.

    By Andrea (03/09/2011)
  • Gwen Moss was the Manageress of Kentex for quite a while – she was the sister of Flossie Collins from the hardware shop near Denbigh Road – they were of course from the Jeakins family – I wonder why no-one has contributed from that family? They were quite a big part of Laindon.

    By Andrea (03/09/2011)
  • There was a small office opposite Churchill Johnsons where I had to go to pay mum’s rent to Mr Rawley (above). I think the office was built on stilts – to get there, I had to walk on a long, narrow wooden bridge which seemed like miles up in the air to me (at the age of 8 or so!).

    By Andrea (03/09/2011)
  • G’day Bruce, so you did a stint for old Sid as well! I was there in 1960, from memory [a bit rusty] the gas engine drove the guillotine; a very large flat bed machine that old Jim used to hand feed the paper into and another old rotary machine a bit further in towards the office. I used to operate an ancient “baby Mann” a single sheet fed machine with leather cover rollers I had to stand on a box to work it and keep check on the printing progress. After a while they put me onto a Rotaprint small offset at the rear of the factory next to an A.B.Dick machine I didn’t last there very long, probably 6/9 months, I became a telegram boy over at Barstaple P.O. in Vange.  We never got the BSA Bantams in those days, had to ride all over the district on the old heavy postal bikes, any telegrams I got that I thought was too far to ride I used to sneak out on my own BSA 500, I was using my own petrol but then all I wanted to do was ride my motor bike as often as possible, I hate to think what would have happened if I had had an accident, would have been hell to pay I reckon. Life was so much simpler then, out of one job, into the next not a care in the world. It was great to be young in the 60s, what an era, what a place we lived in! Regards and best wishes to all that read and contribute to this site, its great!

    By Ken Page (31/08/2011)
  • I can remember going to the Radion with a friend one evening in 1956/7? and the film broke down (nothing unusual) but this time it was due to an amazing electric storm and so much rain had fallen when we came out of the cinema we stood on the steps and watched a river running down the High Road and the sky alight with continuous sheet and forked lightning. I remember so many shops and houses were flooded and the army trucks were helping people to evacuate. We took off our shoes and walked home knee deep in water. Not long after this the ditch at the side of the road was fitted with storm drains and covered in. More street lights were added so we did not need to go out with a torch for fear of falling into the ditch on dark nights!!

    By June Higgs (Ferguson) (29/08/2011)
  • Thank you Bruce, I remembered straight away after you reminded me, I loved art at school, I think I am right in saying he lived opposite the school and he had a mustache. Also his daughter was at school the same time as me. He always wore a tweed jacket with leather elbow patches and a very tall man. Thanks Bruce one name and the memories flood back.

    Editor; still only partially correct Gloria. There is an article in preparation that should fill clear up the errors.

    By Gloria Sewell (20/08/2011)
  • I wonder how much for the Austin Devon? Is that a Ford V8 Pilot lurking in the background? I worked in Hatters Garage (Regent) when I was at school, just up the Arterial. No wonder I got no time for studying for my GCEs. Anyone remember that place? And the Laindon Service Station and juke box.

    By Richard Haines (16/08/2011)
  • Boon’s was our local newsagent, as we were living in Nichol Road. When I first moved there I had the Lion on Monday, Eagle on Wednesday, Beano, Dandy and Topper. I must have cost my mum a fortune in all those comics. Then, later on as a teenager I had the New Musical Express every Friday. What with all the chocolate bars me and my brothers got through we must have kept Boon’s going. Later on, further up the road Keith’s sweet shop replaced Pelham’s and I remember Jimmy Bird’s mum worked there for a while. What was the name of the other newsagent further up, past the LHR school just before Holst Avenue? As for paper rounds, in 1962 I used to collect the Evening Standards off the train on Saturday and take some to sell round the Kathleen Ferrier estate – not much luck there, I had more returns than total sold.

    By Richard Haines (12/08/2011)
  • I remember Slopers all right, having lived in Compton Walk, but making any excuse to see one of the ladies in the shop. The Post Office always gave good service, which is something this country now sadly lacks a lot.

    By Brian Baylis (11/08/2011)
  • Yes, definitely Slopers. My mum went shopping there one day (1959) and left my little brother Rob in the pram parked up outside. She walked home over to Nichol Road before she realised he was still there. Typical Rob, he was asleep when she went back to collect him. The Post Office shop had a good book department where you could buy classics like Robin Hood and Around the World in Eighty Days. Happy times.

    By Richard Haines (09/08/2011)
  • Yes, certainly the best little school in the area. I remember Valerie Boatwright as I sat next to her in Mrs Hodgson’s class (yes you were a good runner, you had to be with all the boys chasing). My house colour was blue (Drake) and also at the High Road (Plainsmen). I think we won sports day in 1958 here at Laindon Park and again in 1959 at LHR. At this school I decided not to take the 11 plus, a good decision as I would not have wanted to go to Fryerns. The best thing at Laindon Park was the end of year summer outing when we went to the Natural History Museum in Kensington looking at the dinosaur exhibits – happy times. Going from here to Laindon High Road School was an interesting transition, I think there were 40 kids in each class and five first year classes (200 baby boomers).

    By Richard Haines (09/08/2011)
  • I was one of the victims of ‘bike theft’ from the bike shed next to the Radion cinema. I wonder if the police are still ‘on the case’, incidentally the bike shed did have other uses……….a wonderfull place for a ‘quick snog’ (if you ever got so lucky)

    By Bruce Bellamy (08/08/2011)
  • Was this shop next to ‘Henbest’ ladies and gentlemans outfitters?

    By Bruce Bellamy (08/08/2011)
  • Gloria; the art teacher was Minikin.

    By Bruce Bellamy (08/08/2011)
  • Ken, I also worked at the printers in Durham Road for a few months, in the VERY cold weather we all had to pull on the belts to get the old gas engine started (how’s that for health and safety). As far as I can remember when I was there the overhead shaft was only used to power the ancient guillotine, all the rest of the machines being a bit more modern. The early starts, the slightly mad boss and working in a freezer, not my scene so I got a job in a city shipping office. Still wondering what I am going to do when I grow up.

    By Bruce Bellamy (08/08/2011)
  • Is this picture of the station bend before Churchill Johnson existed?

    By Bruce Bellamy (08/08/2011)
  • I remember the Memorial Hall so well in my childhood. In those days it was quite safe to allow your children out without a grown up to look after them. Every Saturday morning I would walk, by myself from Pound Lane to the hall for dancing lessons. Miss Taylor the teacher taught all manor of dancing tap and ballet and jazz. One hours lesson for 1 shilling I think. I learnt ballet with Pearl Penson. We put on stage productions in this hall and a hall in Grays. The stage seemed so big at the time. I remember dancing several ballet numbers and a routine with plastic capes on ‘singing in the rain’. I do have a very embarrassing picture of Miss Taylor and several young girls in ballet tutu’s.

    By Valerie Kingsley (nee Boatwright) (08/08/2011)
  • Oh yes, so many happy memories. I was in Mr Rands, Mrs Hodgeson’s and Mr Stones class, in the fifties. I danced round the Maypole in that play ground and did country dancing there too. Mr Wilson was the head master and one sports day I was told of a large bee on my back, I ran to Mr Wilson and he quite calmly removed it for me. The picture in the corridor of a Chinese lady in yellow. I still have the felt needle case with blanket stitch around the edge that I made in needle work classes. I also ran many a race on sports day, and won, over the road where the school playing field was. My house colour was yellow, I think they called it ‘Clive’, and in those days they even gave out prizes such as, puzzles, balls, books and I even won a skipping rope. Ahh happy memories.

    By Valerie Kingsley (nee Boatwright) (08/08/2011)
  • Most of us impoverished young motorist have tales to tell about ‘Parkie’. Mine as follows:- I had an old triumph TR3 sport car. One of the brake pipes rubbed against the rear shock absorber and I took the pipe to Parkie expecting him to make me a NEW one. Parkie had other ideas, he brazed up the hole in the pipe. Today health and safety would have a field day.

    By Bruce Bellamy (08/08/2011)
  • During the 1950s the cinema was used for the Rememberance Day service, local organisations The British Legion, Scouts, ATC, St John Ambulance Brigade etc would march from the Fortune of War to the cinema for the service. Janet Gadd

    By Janet Gadd (04/08/2011)
  • I have an original postcard like this, along with a few more that I bought in the newsagents next to Green Stores. By all accounts, I got the last they had.

    If you bring them to a Memory Day we will scan them and share them with the rest of the community Editor.

    By Brian Baylis (03/08/2011)
  • Hello Christine, I’m glad you knew the old Beigent works which my mother ran. I will be talking more about it in my next article about the Sewell family’s life in Laindon, the most vivid memory I have of it was the old cast iron stove in the middle, which the girls kept stoked up all day with coal. No central heating then Christine, I have a feeling I knew you at Laindon High Rd, I was there 1953-1957. Regards Gloria

    By Gloria Sewell (28/07/2011)
  • Gday you blokes, love this site and the glorious old photos of days gone by. I wonder, would anyone by chance have any photos of Grant Best printers and Smith Greenfields printers in Durham Rd in the 50s. I started work in 59 at GBs then moved on to Smiths in 1960, never took any photos of them and should have. Smith Greenfields was a really old litho printers, had a shed out the back [that I burnt down by accident one day] with all the old stone litho tablets stored in it. A lot of the machines were run by an overhead system of leather belts that were driven by an ancient single cylinder gas engine that a bloke called old Jim used to start every morning. Jim used to live behind Tollworthy’s butchers, my mum Mary worked there for years then when John Tollworthy sold out she went to Harrington’s in the High Rd near Vowler Rd, she was there until they came out to OZ to be with self and my brother Peter in 1969, thanks guys. Keep up the good work. PS, I’m coming over ther next April, will look you blokes up for sure, Ken

    By Ken Page (26/07/2011)
  • I read with interest Patrick Neville’s article about the paper round for Boons 1965-68. I had that paper round before Patrick, you must have been my successor. Yes I remember it well going up Victoria Road and beyond into the Plotland’s area and along what is now Railway Approach that was my first half. The second half was along Nicholas Lane, Markham’s Chase into the Plotland’s area Hilly Road and roads that do not exist any more. And I always bought a Mars Bar before I left the shop. I finished with the round in 1963 when I left school to go into the Navy.

    By John Kingsley (25/07/2011)
  • So many good memories of this place. Attended by my brother, sister and myself and also my late father many years before. Could not wait to get to school on snowy days and make use of the playground slope that made such good slides. Pile our satchels up at the bottom to cushion the hardness of the iron railings. What great times. So different to nowadays with health and safety closing the schools in case someone slips and sues. So glad I had my childhood when I did.

    By Jesse Joy (24/07/2011)
  • Next door to the dart board factory was the “bon bon” factory which was where those of us who lived in Kings Road and the turnings around there had our street party for the coronation. Kings Road and Queens Crescent is part of what is now known as Steeple View.

    By Lyn Cairns nee Freeman (16/07/2011)
  • This is Slopers grocers and the Post Office, which were still there when I moved back to Laindon in 1967. There is a small block of flats there now, just next to Archibald Terrace.

    By Lyn Cairns nee Freeman (16/07/2011)
  • I remember clearly going into Buckenhams Butchers every Saturday with my Mum (Joan Newman) to get a joint of beef for our Sunday lunch. Charlie Buckenham was always cheerful and very cheeky and we always had a laugh with him and Tom!

    By Christine Joan Maloney (04/07/2011)
  • With regard to the Beigent Dress Factory my Auntie Hannah Mills (nee Buck) worked there!

    By Christine Joan Maloney (04/07/2011)
  • I have recalled the name of my pen pal it was Gloria Negus we started to write to each other after a trip to the Houses of Parliament for local schools. I wonder if any one remembers this. My mother bought me a white dress with red flowers on the lapels you never got much new then especialy if you had 2 aunts a little older than you, my dress came from John Bludells the less well off families will cirtainly remember them they were the local tally Co. Still I didn’t care I had a brand new dress and when I was picked out by one of the MPs to pretend I was the queen for a demonstration I was over the moon. I have never forgotten that moment I was so proud bye for now Gloria

    By Gloria Sewell (22/05/2011)
  • The name above the door of this shop, “Laindon Station PO” is a reasonable description of its position in Laindon High Road. Standing outside the shop on a suitable day, with the wind in the North West quarter, it might be possible to spit on Laindon Station to justify any claims that the Andrew’s shop was in spitting distance of the railway. 

    Click on link to see article on Main Post Offices of Laindon

    By John Bathurst (19/05/2011)
  • This is the second of the two photographs that appear to have been taken on the same day but at slightly different angles both looking north of Messrs. Parkinson Bros. Motor Engineers’ garage.

    Click on Link to see article on Parkinson Bros. Motor Engineers’

    By John Bathurst (19/05/2011)
  • This is the first of two photographs that appear to have been taken on the same day but at slightly different angles both looking north of Messrs. Parkinson Bros. Motor Engineers’ garage.

    Click on link to see article on Parkinson Bros. Motor Engineers’

    By john bathurst (19/05/2011)
  • It may be as late as 1938 before Laindon’s cinema took up its new name of “Radion”. The mast that was erected at the apex of its front façade with its illuminated globe was not lit up until shortly before the outbreak of WW2. It had then to be extinguished and left off under strict “black-out” conditions from September 1939 until mid 1945. In wartime, apart from an initial period of concern in which all places of entertainment remained closed for a time, the cinema once again became the primary source of amusement for many. In addition, it became much used by the showing of “Ministry of Information” official propaganda through film, as well as an important means of visually displaying the progress of hostilities. Film programmes were changed regularly to a pattern. On Sundays, (which, it needs to be remembered, had only been a day on which films could be shown since 1938, consequent upon the successful holding in that year of one of those very rare events; a national referendum) there was a one only programme continuously screened until cinema closing time. A new programme started on Monday. This same programme was shown for three days in succession until replaced totally on Thursdays by a fresh programme being introduced and played each day until the following Sunday introduced the next. Very few people worried too much about when each showing of a day’s programme began. It was not unusual to hear the words “this is where we came in” from somebody in the audience as they got up and left half way through a film’s showing. In consequence, there were very few natural breaks in the film’s showing, the programme just ground on and on from opening time until closing time. This would only be varied if, as sometimes happened, a special live programme had been advertised often involving local talent. As well as displaying its forthcoming film programmes on the large poster panels on the front façade of the “Radion”, the cinema management also took space in the “Laindon Recorder” to display each week’s complete programme. In consequence it is possible to recall details of two typical weeks in 1941 as they were advertised at the time: On Sunday 8th June for one day only the programme of films was: Walter Connolly in “Gates of Alcatraz “ (an A rated film) Allan Lane & Linda Hayes in “Conspiracy” (also rated A) On Monday 9th June for three days the programme of films was; Irene Dunn, Cary Grant & Gail Patrick in “My Favourite Wife” (A) Roger Pryor in “A Fugitive from Justice” (A) On Thursday 12th June for three days the programme of films was; Deanna Durbin, Robert Cummings & Mischa Aver in “Spring Parade” (U) Leon Errol in “Pop Always Pays” (U) plus a Walt Disney Cartoon. The following week’s programme started with: Sunday 15th June for one day only the programme of films was; John Payne & Jane Wyman in “Kid Nightingale”( U) Irene Dunn & Edgar Kennedy in “Everything on Ice” (U) On Monday 16th June for three days the programme of films was; George Raft, Ida Lupino & Ann Sheriden in The Road to ‘Frisco”(A) Jack Ht in “Alias Sabotage” (A) On Thursday 19th June for three days the programme of films was; Alice Fay,Betty Grable & Jack Oakie in “Tin Pan Alley” (U) Fred Scott in “Rangers Round Up” (U) In each case, the film classed as “First Feature” was advertised first but screened second with the “Second Feature” the first to be shown, invariably with a News Reel etc. being shown intermediately. Going to the cinema was not without its hazards; following a number of complaints action by Laindon’s police force led to the following report appearing in the “Recorder” of 8th January 1941: “Detective constable Harvey described at Billericay Police Court the watch he kept on a cycle shed attached to the Radion Cinema, Laindon. He said he saw two fifteen-year-old boys conversing at the doorway. Then the smaller of the two entered the shed and stole the lamp from a cycle while the other kept watch. When they went away he called to them to stop but they ran off. He gave chase and caught the boy with the lamp which was intact. The bigger boy got away but was later arrested at his home. The bench decided that the smaller of two defendants had been led astray by his accomplice and gave him a chance to go straight by placing him on probation. The older lad, however, was already on probation. In addition beside the larceny of the lamp, he was charged with receiving a stolen pair of shoes. He was sent to an approved school.” And in that of 17th September 1941: “Keeping observation on a Laindon Cinema, a policeman saw a twelve-year-old boy walk away with a bicycle. Not being satisfied with the boy’s answer that the cycle belonged to him, the constable saw him later and the boy admitted he had taken a cycle away from the cinema a few days previously. |His parents did not know anything about it because when he had finished riding it, he hid the cycle in a hedge. At Billericay Juvenile Court the boy was placed on probation for twelve months”. As well as having use of a bicycle in wartime 1941 being regarded as being as important as having use of a car today, cycle lamps were a necessary adjunct to staying within the law as an un-illuminated bike, front and rear, could attract a fine of at least five shillings.

    Thanks John I will be transferring your comment to an article on the cinema soon

    By John Bathurst (18/05/2011)
  • I remember the old Laindon nick well, it was on the corner of Victoria Rd and the High Rd opposite Dr Long’s surgery, the police had their houses at the back of the station. I do indeed remember Fred, we were in the same class at school Miss Jollymans (Laindon High Road) she used to keep bees outside.  Although we were the A pupils I don’t know how because we spent so much time dodging bees. I wonder if Fred remembers her favourite saying was “you lazy blighters” and our classroom always smelt of furniture polish.  Another of our teachers Mr Gay (Geography) used to walk between our desk with a book and you would be banged on the head with it if you spoke. Then of course there was Mr Lane (Maths) his trick was if you put your elbows on the desk you sat for the rest of the lesson with your hands on your head. Mr Bear (history I think) was a lovely dancer which I found out at the end of school dance. Mr Cluff, Miss Badger (cookery), Mr Peck (woodwork), Mr Rees (library), Mrs Gay (needlework), Miss Pope(p,e) to name but a few. Our art teacher was a local man I remember he was well liked but I can’t recall his name. Mr Woodward reigned over all, I could go on for ever but getting back to Fred I seem to recall his sister Pearl was a very good dancer and went off somewhere to train professionally, I think these memories are correct it was nearly 60 years ago now. I’m sure Fred will correct me if I am wrong but I think he fancied me a bit but that may be wishful thinking on my part.

    By Gloria Sewell (17/05/2011)
  • On the 19th of March 1941 the Manageress of Green’s Stores was fined £3 at Billericay Police Court for failing to blackout a light in the shop, a wartime condition. Police Constable Milner told the magistrate that when he was passing Toomey’s garage in the High Road he could see the light from 150 yards away on the Durham Road corner. He had been compelled to break into the shop to turn the light off. Mrs. Kitty Beasley of Church Road, Laindon, the shop’s manageress admitted responsibility. The offence had happened on a Wednesday when the shop closed at 1.0pm, it being “early closing day”. As she normally did’ she turned off all the electric lights by shutting down the main switch but had forgotten that the light that illuminated the window display was powered by gas and was left on during the day. It was this light that had broken the strict blackout rules. This is the shop taken over by Cliff Parkinson, the last of his family to remain in business in Laindon High Road in its connections with the motor trade. The shop now bears a plaque proclaiming it to be “Parkinson’s Corner” although, in reality, the Parkinson base was further north on the corner of Somerset Road (and at the New Fortune of War) and remained there for far longer than it was ever at Durham Road. On 21st May 1941, Cliff’s brother, Bert Parkinson, was summoned at the Billericay Police Court for assaulting a boy named Norman Hall but, because the court believed Bert’s story that the boy was one of two who he caught trying to steal a new bicycle from outside the High Street garage by substituting an older machine they brought with them for the purpose, the case was dismissed. Bert agreed he had struck the boy by slapping his face but only because he had been sworn at for telling them to “clear off”. Parkinson’s garage was one of several places within walking distance of Laindon Station at which bicycles were regularly stored by train passengers who had used the machines to reach the High Road along the districts un-made roads.

    By John Bathurst (17/05/2011)
  • Yes of course it was the right a little further down was a chemist, a cafe, the Radion and Dr Chowdary was opposite. I’m sure Parkinson was opposite the Fortune of War at sometime or maybe I am thinking of Parkinson’s taxis. I will never forget their lovely old black taxi with the wire type wheels, my father used to get one home every night.  If I saw one and I was out I used to hide because he would open the door and say “Get in”, I was 16 and it was only 7 o’clock. I still smile when I think of the shop doors I hid in.

    The Parkinson family did own the garage opposite the Fortune of War and the taxis but we are still tying to get the full story.

    By Gloria Sewell (16/05/2011)
  • Gday you blokes, love the photos so many memories there. Any chance of putting the six pics you have that move at the top of the home page. My mum worked for years at John Tollworthys butchers, it’s in those pics and I would like to load it into my computer to add to my own history for my aussie family, cheers Ken.

    I will add them with pleasure

    By Ken Page (16/05/2011)
  • I used to work here, after school, riding the big old trade bike and delivering the paraffin, good memories.

    By David Bailey (16/05/2011)
  • It would be wonderful if you guys could fit them altogether in the order they were in the Street. I can remember most of them but not where they were. Its been a long time, regards from Australia.

    We are currently working on that

    By Ken Page (14/05/2011)
  • Am I right in thinking to the left of Markham’s stores was Parkinson’s Garage? My uncle Ken did his apprenticeship there, later he opened his own workshop at the back of the Old Fortune of War, at the end of Wash Road. Some of you may remember him, Kenny Davies, he repaired quite a number of old Laindoner’s cars. Mr Parkinson later moved his business opposite the New Fortune of War to make room for Laindon Link and a new estate to be built. The public loo was opposite, halfway between Fortune of War and the station very handy.

    Parkinson’s garage was on the North side of Somerset Rd., (on the right looking at the photograph) and Howard’s / Markham’s was on the south. Parkinson moved to the old Green’s Stores on the corner of Durham Rd. 

    By Gloria Sewell (13/05/2011)
  • Ah yes this is what we all called the flea pit. Mr Phelps was the manager when we went there, the Roy Rogers club was a must on Saturday morning. I must admit I had some memorable times in the back row, we would come out and enjoy a frothy coffee in the Hiawatha snack bar next door. I recall there was a chemist next door to that and opposite was Dr. Chowdhary’s surgery my doctor and a much loved one. His surgery was a little narrow waiting room everyone would sit and smoke in there and you created your own rota “is it your turn no it was yours wasn’t it”, oh such fond memories gone forever.

    By Gloria Sewell (13/05/2011)
  • I can remember a Co-op being there and I am sure the haberdashery was Miss Butler. Morecroft’s was further up next to the Beigent works dress making factory it was owned in the Fifties till it was taken over by the Basildon council for redevelopment by Mr Jacobsy. My mother Violet Sewell was the managing director there. Does any one remember working for her? Opposite was Steers stores my school friend Jennie Steers lived there they were a little general stores. In this same block was Lloyds Bank and I think it was one of their first shops Donald and Achinsons opticians I think they had another shop further up towards the station.

    By Gloria Sewell (13/05/2011)
  • The old Laindon Hall I recall a family living there with quite a number of daughters perhaps someone can remember their name? I do know that it burnt down but I can’t say when it was, I know it was after the war. There was a pond in the garden where we would catch newts, a big no no today. Donaldson’s School was just down the road from the hall. I went to Markham’s Chase School and one of our teachers I think it was miss Whitley arranged it so we had pen pals and we used to exchange letters, does any one recall this? My pen pal was also named Gloria but I can’t recall her surname which is a pity. The Irish Club was just past the school, is this still there? I know the school is as my own children went there just before I moved to Suffolk in 1985.

    By Gloria Sewell (13/05/2011)
  • In my time the haberdashery shop was owned by Miss Butler and the grocery shop had several different owners, among them Poldens and Shotters.

    By Anne Burton (04/05/2011)
  • I am not absolutely sure but the gates containing the crisscross woodwork pattern maybe at “Daisybank”, Dr. Chowdary,s surgery. In which case according to my lsting the semidatched houses are, in order, “Orizaba”and “Streatham”, then “Avondale” and “Glen Rosa” making the bungalow “Elinor”, with the end of Ulster Road joining the High Road just beyond the trees.

    The gates are to the bungalow next to “Daisybank”

    By JCB (01/05/2011)
  • The handwritten note below the photograph is correct; The viewer is looking south along Laindon High Road of old. The first building on the right is Buckenham’s the butcher’s shop. Then comes Worth’s hardware or more usually known as an “oil” shop. Next is Laindon’s branch of The Grays Co-operative Society consisting of a grocery department, a butchery, a greengrocery, a bakery and a drapers with a shoe shop attached. There was also a tobacconist’s kiosk at one time but it fell out of use. In the distance it is possible to make out the facade of the “Radion” cinema. Laindon High Road had a ditch or concealed drain running along its eastern edge from end to end. It was probably originally a stream. It was under cover (piped?) or built over from just past “Cysters” field opposite Churchill-Johnson’s to just past the cinema, but was “open” until overed in past the Co-op. When it reached Worth’s shop there was only a bridge between the footpath and the shop’s front door!

    The ditch was on the western side of the High Road and was a tributary of the Crouch. It joins the other tributaries after crossing Dunton Road and then passes under Noak bridge.

    By JCB (01/05/2011)
  • The big house the rear of which is visible at top of the picture was Inverness House at the corner of Inverness Road and Essex Road. Essex Road can be seen cresting the hill. One year after heavy rain the High Road was covered in clay washed down the slope from this hill.

    By JCB (28/04/2011)
  • They must have found a buyer for the upturned wheelbarrow that was against the fence in the previous picture!

    By JCB (28/04/2011)
  • “Winston” club was prior to 1940 “Windsor” club because Windsor Road (aka ‘Hill’) is to the left in the photo. Little Gubbins farm obliterated at the time Laindon station was built stood to the club’s rear. This is probably the oldest part of “plotlands” Laindon as these roads are on maps of 1885

    By JCB (28/04/2011)
  • This is the shop run by Mrs Henbest on the west side of High Road. Mr Henbest’s “Bespoke” tailoring for gents was almost opposite on the east side. His son, Alan, took the business over later and did business in Basildon for a time when Laindon High Road was obliterated.

    By JCB (28/04/2011)
  • This photograph brings back memories, I did a paper round for Boons between 1965-68. The first round covered Victoria Rd and continued into the unmade section at the top Victoria Rd (I believe this was part of Plotlands, although that was a term I had not hear at the time). For this work I was paid 12/6 a week. The second round covered St Nicholas Lane, Pound Lane & Dickens Dr. Happy days.

    By Patrick Neville (24/04/2011)
  • If I am not mistaken, this is the woodyard behind the newsagents, between the Hiawatha and Laindon High Road School, and close to King Edward Drive?

    No Brian this was Carey’s builders merchant

    By Brian Baylis (15/04/2011)
  • If memory serves me correctly, it was 6d a pint out of the machine? I can recall getting one almost every night after returning from Basildon on the bus, getting off at the bottom of Laindon Link, to drink on the way home to Compton Walk.

    By Brian Baylis (15/04/2011)
  • This later became the Radion and I do have a photo of it as such in my personal collection.

    By Brian Baylis (15/04/2011)
  • The house next door to the Primrose, later became home to the Berry Boys and Boxing Club.

    By Brian Baylis (15/04/2011)
  • I can to this day, still recall the display in the windows, when I last looked in Churchill Johnsons.

    By Brian Baylis (15/04/2011)
  • To fink, I was born just over the hill and in Tyler Avenue.

    By Brian Baylis (15/04/2011)
  • Offy, Boon’s, Lings, Grays Co-op I can recall, but not the one between Offy and Boon’s. I lived in Compton Walk for a spell.

    Brian - The shops as far as we remember were Off-licence, Morecroft (haberdashery), Boons and Lings. can not remember a Grays Co-op on the east side of High Rd.

    By Brian Baylis (15/04/2011)
  • Laindon Nick and I can remember one Police Officer from there, and met up with him just this week. PC Fred Penson.

    Fred and I were in the First Laindon Scouts when Henry Cordwell ran the troop.

    By Brian Baylis (15/04/2011)
  • My late Mum used to shop in Henbests shop almost weekly for something.

    By Brian Baylis (15/04/2011)
  • The main shop where Mum got the groceries for the week and on the corner of Durham Road. I can still visualise the layout of the shop inside.

    By Brian Baylis (15/04/2011)
  • When the wool shop closed it was rented out by the Scouts Association and my father Reg Boatwright (4th Laindon, St. Nicholas Branch) helped run the shop.

    By Valerie Kingsley (15/04/2011)
  • That must be one of the bungalows my great granddad Joseph Clifford built or helped to build. He was a master carpenter and built his own very similar to it called Belgrave.

    By Valerie Kingsley (15/04/2011)
  • Dad used to buy the paraffin for our heater at Collings. I can recall him even buying 8oz’s of nails in there as well, in order to build a shed in our back garden.

    By Brian Baylis (15/04/2011)
  • Not the best placement for the road sign. Some real memories coming back from looking at these windows into the past, remembering sights, sounds, and smells, steam trains, coal yards, and dinner cooking. A boy back then on an adventure.

    By Ralph Maidment (07/04/2011)
  • Hi, The house next to the shops is called Yardley, me and the family lived there for a years, this is the first time I’ve seen it since we moved.

    By Jeff Footer (07/04/2011)
  • Hi, When I looked at these photos I looked with a very heavy heart, knowing they no longer exist and that I have walked passed most of them and been inside them too. They were the good old days. Jeff Footer

    By Jeff Footer (04/04/2011)
  • I was 4 when I moved to Laindon in 1965 am I right in saying that this was at the bottom of what is now Somerset Rd, were the roundabout sits?

    The Cinema was on the corner of New Century Road and Laindon High Road. Somerset Road was further up the High Road

    By Derick Wood (03/04/2011)
  • I bought the very last postcards of Laindon on sale in the newsagents, that were next to Green’s Stores, on the corner of Durham Road, and still have them to this day, as well as many other photos I’ve taken.

    It would be nice to see these and subject to copyright publish them on the site.

    By Brian Baylis (03/04/2011)
  • We now live in the age of 24/7 shops but back in the days when this photograph was taken the fresh milk vending machine to the right of the shop was the only way you could get a ‘pinta’ when you ran out late at night.

    Yes Colin but people were less demanding in those days and planned ahead.

    By Colin (31/03/2011)
  • Maybe but I’m sure that it was well used otherwise it wouldn’t have been worth the dairy placing it there!

    By Colin (31/03/2011)

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