Patrick Griffin was his son in year used to knock about with him.
By Steve White left high rd school 59 (08/11/2022)
The sweet shop was run by the Griffin family in the early sixties. Daughter Christine was in my classes at LHR School.
By ERIC PASCO (26/04/2022)
There was a sweet and tobacco shop directly across New Century Road from the Radion. I think it changed names more than once. In my day it was known as Smarts. Directly to the right of Laindon High Road School was the British Legion Hall. At least, so my memory insists.
By alan davies (25/04/2022)
Hi, Does anyone remember the little sweet shop with the tin roof on? I can’t remember if it was to the right of the Radion or to the right of Laindon Secondary school. I do remember that a young girl who served us had been hurt in a fire when younger. I recall standing in there with a friend while it rained, the noise on the roof was deafening! Also there was a tiny shop at the top of Church Road, I used to call in there on the way home from Laindon Park Primary, any info?
By Gloria O sullivan (24/04/2022)
Hi. I’m doing some digging to do with my mum’s health. Was wondering if anyone knows any information about youth clubs in the 80s. Nicholas or Laindon High Road. I need to know if you worked along her or remember dates more accurately. Her name is Jean Edwards. Thank you.
By Amanda Edwards (13/02/2020)
I well remember the Hall, you could see it from the school field. With regard to it burning down, it was widely believed to be the work of an unpleasant boy who lived in Pound Lane. Fortunately I can not remember his name. Such a shame that one of the few historic buildings in the area should have been lost in this way. Another sad loss was Sellers farmhouse in Dunton Road, which also burned down.
By Paul Stickland (13/10/2016)
Shop in Basildon Drive was called pellams?
Editor:- Pelham’s shop was in The Broadway, Laindon High Road, near King Edward Terrace. Pelham’s Alley (a narrow footpath at the side of Pelham’s shop leading from the High Road through to Tattenham Road) is still there.
By Gwen (Humberstone)Marmo (12/10/2016)
Was always the Evangelical Church and Sunday School.
By Sean Banks (05/12/2015)
I lived In Dickens Drive from 1975 to 1990, had a brilliant time growing up exploring the fields where the old bungalows once stood. The road was commonly know as ‘the bumpy’ due it being unmade until mid to late 80’s when the council decided to concrete the middle part where the houses were.
By Sean Banks (05/12/2015)
Some of the first new houses to be built in that area were in Woolmergreen, directly behind Markhams Chase School (out of sight in this picture). We lived at No 69 from 1971 to 1981. We were the third family to live there. The first were the Fletcher family who I understand moved in around 1961. They later moved round the corner to No 101. (Their son Andrew was a founder member of the very successful group Depache Mode). The second family to live at No 69 were the Thomas family.
We moved into No. 69 in October 1971. We were given the key which was still on John Fletcher’s ‘York Shipley’ key fob. When we moved out in 1981 (just as Depache Mode were on the brink of stardom) I still had the key fob. I wish I had kept it, but unfortunately I gave to to the person who moved in after us.
Church Avenue was ‘made up’ early in 1964 and its name was changed so that it became part of St Nicholas Lane, as it remains to this day. Previously it had been not more than a rough track which became unpassable during winter because of the mud.
By Nina Humphrey(née Burton) (21/10/2015)
Church Avenue, when still unmade and the dwellings still mostly occupied, was an area, where as kids we would rummage around. It was our kind of adventure playground, lots to do and always many fruit trees and bushes to raid and plunder, along with the naturally occurring blackberry bushes. At the end of the “road”, at the junction with St Nicholas Lane and Church Hill, were a set of 2 or 3 large galvanised rubbish bins. These were for the use of the residents and I would often look to see if there was anything worth having. One time this paid off, as I found a tin (shortbread biscuits) that upon opening was found to be full to the brim with old silver threepenny bits! Of course this was speedily taken home, but from that day to this, my “treasure” I have never seen since! I think that when the residents were preparing to move out from their homes to be rehoused elsewhere, they must have been discarding stuff they weren’t going to be taking with them and made a bit of a mistake. Why else would you throw this sort of thing away? A short time after this, all the properties were vacant and being demolished or burnt down, this is where we gathered much of our firewood from.
By Donald Joy (21/10/2015)
Odd, isn’t it, the ways the memory can fail you? In this picture I see that Nicholas School was already in place, completed or not, yet there are no buildings in Ballards Walk, the new layout of Markhams Chase or any of the surrounding roads. These new roads are all in place but no houses. Church Avenue is still in place, so St Nicholas Lane hadn’t been extended to reach Upper Mayne yet.
This is not how my memory tells me that it happened, I really did think the houses came before the school did. As I only lived 100 yards from the school I should have remembered correctly, but obviously I didn’t.
Error – Church Avenue is gone, St Nicholas Lane does now reach Upper Mayne. Picture is rather small and unclear on my device. Sorry.
By Donald Joy (02/10/2015)
Referring to my comment about “Gloria”. Just remembered the Gloria who lived next door to me was named Revening. If of any interest to anybody the families that lived in the Airey Houses in Pound Lane were as follows :
Referring to Barry Ellerby’s comment of 15.10.2012, I think the name of the shop was “Emery’s”. Mr. Emery and my dad would help each other out if they ran out of a particular product until each got a delivery of whatever they were short of. Shopkeeping then was not the cut-throat business that it is today.
By Georgina Nottage (née Ellingford) (27/08/2015)
In my previous comment I said I could see my house, this is about that house. As mentioned elsewhere on this site by Richard Haines, I lived at 6 Airey Houses, Pound Lane, named after the “designer” of these pretty much prefabricated constructions. I have read somewhere on site that a prolific contributor, Gloria Sewell, also dwelt in such an abode and I would like to compare notes on a few things with her. In the house next to mine (pair of semi’s), lived a girl named Gloria, although I don’t believe they are one and the same, as the Gloria next door was (and still is) a year or two younger than me, while Gloria Sewell (no disrespect) seems to be a little older than myself. This being the case, where was Gloria’s Airey House, King Edward Estate maybe? Did you have folded newspaper stuffed in your Crittal metal window frames to stop the draughts, as we did? In the living room to one side of the chimney breast did you have a floor to ceiling cupboard? We did, it was used for all manner of storage including my few toys.
I had not shut the door one day and, rightly so, was told to close it, there was something in there that was really too long to sit on the shelf therefore the door would not close. So like a good little boy I gave the door an almighty shove and PRESTO, it closed. Problem solved. Not quite. Ten minutes later the lady next door came to our house with an armful of our belongings! These had appeared in her cupboard after being pushed through the adjoining wall that was made of what appeared to be some type of cardboard material. Now I have to say that these houses were really well made, as were the red marks on my bum! I have many fond memories of my time living here and equally many have a similar red mark ending. I wouldn’t change it if I could, it’s what made me the person I am and that’s not an apology! But then again, maybe it should be?
By Donald Joy (23/08/2015)
Wasn’t this a church?
By Donald Joy (14/08/2015)
What a wonderful picture arousing so many memories, why I can even see my house from here. As an old codger I can recall when it looked even more different. Nicholas School would have been a recent addition to the landscape in this picture, built upon a field where most mornings we would go to pick mushrooms. And as a nipper I played in the fields where the Pound Lane Estate now stands, usually getting a good hiding for coming home wet from being in a pond (large puddle), covered in mud or with torn clothing! I think I remember another hiding for arriving home minus one shoe that had come off being stuck in the mud at the bottom of aforementioned pond! Happy days.
By Donald Joy (13/08/2015)
Where, pray tell, is the red telephone box which stood outside the off license?
By Alan Davies (14/04/2014)
This is a very early photograph of North Parade taken before the telephone box was installed. It is also prior to the off-license being built between 4 North Parade and the bungalow to the north.
There’s further details about North Parade and a clearer more up-to-date photograph showing the telephone box and the off-license in the article “Old Photographs of Laindon” which shows that the red telephone box stood outside the draper’s shop and not the off license.
By Nina Humphrey(née Burton) (14/04/2014)
The cycle shop was called Ling’s. My mum bought me a brand new bike for my birthday from there.
By Mick Mower (13/04/2014)
Hi Bill The answer to your question is no! The church itself is usued for most of it social events. Concerts, Quiz nights, festivals etc.
I deleted William Diments earlier comment, where he pointed out that ‘images 4 and 5 were of the same location just separated by time’ from this page in error
By Ian Mott (31/12/2012)
Looking back through the various comments in Respect of the photo. Nina is quite correct in stating there were were two ‘halls’, but does not differentiate for those who did not know the area that the Laindon Hall on Church Hill was originally a residence, but the hall at the bottom of the hill adjacent to Pound Lane was built as a social and recreational venue and replaced an earlier hall adjacent to the west side of the church and which also used as a school annexe, but burnt down in the early 1930s.
It would seem from the comments that this hall in Pound Lane was demolished in the 1990s, something I was not aware of and was quite surprised as it was of quite reasonable brick construction and causes me to ask if the Church now has any building for social intercourse. Ken Porter will obviously be able to answer this?
By WH.Diment (14/12/2012)
Peter did your brother John Long go to Langdon Hills Primary and then to Laindon High Road and is his birthday in September? If so I knew him
By Joan Merchant nee White (02/11/2012)
My dad Albert Drewer worked for Cottis’s bakery for over 40 years, sadly he passed away a number of years ago. He worked with Bill Rossiter, and I remember going to Bill;s house when we were young, they were a lovely family.
My dad used to deliver the bread using a horse and cart all around Dry Street area. Then he used a van later on delivering around Kathleen Ferrier Crescent, Holst Avenue, etc. I used to help him sometimes, carrying the big bread basket that was bigger than me.
We lived in Kathleen Ferrier Crescent for a number of years, then moved to Gaywood, just off Devonshire Road. Does anyone remember him?
By Linda Smith (nee Drewer) (26/10/2012)
Does anyone remember the little shop that stood in Basildon Drive opposite Dickens Drive. My mum always called the shop Henry’s, is this the right name. The plot of land where the shop stood is still vacant but well overgrown, in this photo you can just see the shop near the bottom on the left hand edge of the photo.
By Barry Ellerby (25/10/2012)
My family lived in Dickens Drive, I was 2 years old when we were moved out to Basildon Drive in 1971 so they could knock down the bungalow we lived in, Dickens Drive was an un-made road which we used to call the bumpy road, only a few houses were left half way down the road opposite Downham Walk until 1989-90 when the new houses and flats were built. The school in the photo was then called Nicholas School not St Nicholas School, St Nicholas School was in Church Road now known as Laindon Park.
By Paul Pinnell (23/10/2012)
Are you any relation to Eileen Whiskin? I remember her from Langdon Hills School I think.
By Janet Harper (nee McDonnell) (26/09/2012)
Cottis’s bakery was behind the shop that was on the way from the station towards Langdon Hills. Oh the hot bread!!!
By Janet Harper (nee McDonnell) (26/09/2012)
I lived on Laindon High Road, next to the post office, from 1960 to 1964 after my parents moved from Langdon Hills. I would dearly love to see some photos of the old place if any one should have them.
By Roy Footer (22/09/2012)
This photo brings back memories, we used to walk down the steps onto what we called the cinder track to get to Berry Lane then as we got to the Berry Lane junction the first shop was Lungly’s. We lived in Ferndale Road. The houses on the right across the railway lines were the railway cottages.
By Les Whiskin (09/09/2012)
Great pictures Peter. Where did you get them. I went to school with Shelia and still keep in touch with her on Friends Reunited. When she is down this way she pops in which is great. Also remember John, sorry Peter don’t really remember you, probably a babe at the time. Once again great pictures.
By Frances Livesey (Tyler) (26/08/2012)
I was born in Laindon in “Avondale” opposite the Radion Cinema in 1926 and this picture gives me many memories as I went to live in “Viola” (about three doors on the left ) up Cambridge Road, the turning was on the right about 200 yards behind the picture of the “Ford” truck and the name of the bungalow was the name of my mother called “Viola”.
I was about about two years when we went to live there and I can distinctly remember an airship passing over our bungalow which I learned many years later that it was the R101 passing over on its journey to France when it eventually crashed in 1930.
Later we moved to Kings Road about 1934 an I went to Laindon High Road School then as one of the first pupils to go to Markham’s Chase School, walking from Kings Road along the “Arterial Road” up Pound Lane across the foot of the hill of St Nicholas Church being “bullied” (yes we had them all those years ago) by one of the “Cox” family and being chased. One of these situations I was so out of breath I eventually suddenly stopped but my “chaser” did not, and he collapsed. My friends thought that I had knocked him out but but the outcome was that I never had any more trouble from him.
Basildon Drive brings back memories of one of my colleagues a Pat Roach who with a Ron Tilley were members of the ATC. We all went our different ways after leaving the ATC with Ron joining the RAF as a tail gunner on Lancasters, Pat as AB on the HMS Vengeance, and I as FAA on HMS Glory. Where are they now?
By John Constable (25/08/2012)
The photo does give a slight insight into Laindon’s past at the beginning of the new town era. While the extension of St. Nicholas Lane can be seen to join up with the Upper Mayne roundabout, there is virtually no development to be seen in Cranes Farm Road and Gloucester Park has not begun to emerge. The Airey houses at the foot of Church Hill in Pound Lane can clearly be seen the road from the church to Nicholas is obscured by greenery. Also, no housing has begun on the west of Upper Mayne or the Markhams Chase area which are now highly populated.
By W.H.Diment (19/06/2012)
What a wonderful photograph, I grew up in Dickens Drive, in one of the newer council houses. We moved there in 1962 and this is just how I remember it. Sadly as I grew up I watched the whole area getting demolished, at first it seemed exciting with all the bulldozers around. This then turned to sadness as my friends I had grown up with where being moved out and rehoused all over the new town.
This was a strange time as I remember walking to Laindon Park School in the morning and on my return home there was a pile of bricks where there was a bungalow that morning, when I went to school. This process went on until 1978 when every single bungalow had gone, this also included all the bungalows along St Nicholas Lane which backed on to our garden. I can even remember the name of the demolition firm D.S .Cross of Wickford.
The one thing that used to amaze me was the way they got rid of the brick built air raid shelters. They would save all the wood from the bungalow windows, doors and the roof and they would fill the shelter with this and set it on fire and keep the fire going all day. This would weaken the brick work and then they would just push it over. That was some sight watching the flames roaring out the doorway of the shelter.
My fondest memory of these times was the day me and a few friends went in to a shed of a empty property, it was full to the brim with all sorts of stuff, we started to empty it out, you would not believe some of the items we found, an old Velocette Police motor bike, World War II German hats and belts etc, Port of London Police helmets but the most bizarre thing was an old gramophone in full working order. We soon found some records, so fully winded, on went a record, there we are in the back garden of an old bungalow playing gramophone music that sounded French to us what great times.
I still live in Laindon and wonder what have we gained from all the upheaval of the 1960s and 70s especially the state of the Laindon shopping centre, it looks like its had a Nato air strike. Laindon deserves better, as so much was given to allow them to build the new town.
By Barry Ellerby (17/06/2012)
My brother Bill Rossiter drove a horse drawn van delivering bread for JG Cottis in 1940 and 1941. After seeing war service in the Irish Guards (Guards Armoured Division as a Bren Gun carrier driver) he returned to Cottis’s bakery and was then responsible for maintaining their small fleet of motor vans. He still lives in Basildon.
By Harry Rossiter (08/06/2012)
There is the cycle shop where I bought my first NEW bike in the 1960s, and next door was Boons Newsagent post office and sweet shop, where during the war, Mr Boon would save milk chocolate “under the counter” for my mother. I well remember having to take the cryptic message “Mr Boon has something for you” to her when I was about 6
By Mary Cole (21/04/2012)
As I remember it Laindon Hall became the property of the local council. It was in disrepair, and as a listed building the repair bill would have been the councils responsibility. Unfortunately the council had no money.
Somebody made the comment “If it burnt down, we would not be responsible” and the remark was printed in the local paper. Surprise, surprise….. the next night the Hall burnt down!
By Mary Cole (08/04/2012)
I suggest this photo dates from the 1920s, certainly not later than the very early thirties. One cabbie who has not been mentioned in the archives was Dick Hillman. Also, I noticed in one of the comments in respect of Farmers Taxis that they had large Austins, I believe these were in fact American Buick limousines of which they had three. These were replaced circa 1948/1950. There was another taxi which would always be at the Saturday night Memorial Hall dances. The owner/driver was called George, but I never knew his surname.
By W.H.Diment (26/03/2012)
This building is on the site of the former ‘Garden of Roses’.
By Nina Humphrey(née Burton) (20/03/2012)
Sorry Denise, you are absolutely right, it was April 1964 and not April 1963. My mistake. Best wishes.
By Nina Humphrey(née Burton) (17/03/2012)
There seems to be some slight confusion regarding this hall. There were two halls near St Nicholas Church. The one in the picture is Laindon Hall, which was sited just past the church on the way to Laindon Park School. I passed it twice each day on my way to and from work during the early sixties. The hall burnt down in April 1963. I was shocked to see its charred remains one morning, as it had been perfectly okay when I passed it the evening before. The hall where wedding receptions were held (my sister’s included) was on the other side of the church, slightly down the hill, close to Pound Lane. This is most probably the one that David helped to knock down in the nineties.
By Nina Humphrey(née Burton) (16/03/2012)
It was finally burned down late April 1964 a couple of weeks after a previous fire.
By Denise Rowling (16/03/2012)
I noticed Nicholas School has only the lower school buildings built at this time and all along Nicholas Lane there are houses on the left hand side.
I worked at Nicholas School from 1975 to 1998 and one of my work mates had her bungalow bought by the Council (she lived in St. Nicholas Lane) against her will. This was the Adams family. Wish I could go back in time to see it as it was.
Editor: As information and photographs becomes available we will tell the story of all areas of our community. The photograph appears to have been taken in the early to mid 60s.
By Janice Gillam (11/03/2012)
Yes it is the Laindon Hall near St Nicholas Church I had my wedding reception in it 1968
By Jan Burton (01/03/2012)
Yes Churchill Johnson was opposite ‘The Winston Club’ on the corner of Northumberland Ave
By Jan Burton (01/03/2012)
I can confirm it is Laindon Hall. I attended Laindon Park School and passed by it on the way home
By Peter Boatwright (09/02/2012)
I believe this is Laindon Hall, it was destroyed in the 1990s. I helped knock it down for the vicar at the time, can’t recall his name though.
By David K (01/02/2012)
What a great picture, shame there aren’t more shots like this. My dad grew up in Laindon and he is always telling me how it used to be all fields. Now its just a concrete jungle!
I’m only 38 and have lived in Laindon all my life and have seen a lot of change myself. Sorry to say but I’m slowly starting to hate my hometown.
By David K (01/02/2012)
This photo appears on the rear cover of the Marion Hill book and is said to be the Cottis delivery service for Laindon and Langdon Hills at the turn of the century.
By W.H.Diment (31/01/2012)
No Patsy, sorry. I have a brother John and a sister Sheila. We grew up in Devonshire Road.
By Peter Long (13/01/2012)
Peter Long has been kind enough to share some beautiful old Laindon photos. I am wondering if he will consider writing some of his memories too?
By Andrea Ash (nee Pinnell) (13/01/2012)
Could this be Laindon Hall, beside St Nicholas Church? Allowed to fall into disrepair and burnt down by vandals late 1950s
By Marty Cole (12/01/2012)
I do not remember when the second shop was opened. I do remember a more modern horse drawn van delivering bread during ww2
By Mary Cole (12/01/2012)
Is this looking towards the Laindon Hotel from near the train station?
Editor: Yes, it looks as if it could have been taken from the corner of Northumberland Avenue an the High Road near Churchill Johnson.
By Helen Painter (03/01/2012)
Walked this road many many times! On the corner of Basildon Drive leading out onto St Nicholas Lane.
By Lisa Kilbane (18/12/2011)
This picture is also very old, similar to that of the Hiawatha. I suggest this was possibly circa WW1 or even earlier also is this Laindon or Langdon Hills, as I do not know which was the earlier of J G Cottis shops, that in Laindon High Rd or Langdon Hills.
By W.H.Diment (11/12/2011)
The Fortune of War pub. I would say this photo is early 70s and funny that looks like me driving my Ford Cortina 🙂
By the way Peter did you have a brother called Terry? I’m sure I remember you from Langdon Hills where I lived.
By Patsy Spendlove née Roper (26/11/2011)
I have a similar photo to this, but when Cole’s was Kentex, in a jigsaw I had made on Laindon. In the same photo, I am 100% certain my Mum and I are seen outside the butchers just a short way along on the right.
By Brian Baylis (20/11/2011)
Is there a description for this photo please?
Editor: This is an aerial view looking east along St Nicholas Lane. The building on the right of the road in a field is Nicholas School now James Hornsby and the Pound Lane Estate is in the foreground on the left of the road. I will add more details to the photograph as they become available.
By Andrea Ash (née Pinnell) (17/11/2011)
This picture shows the Garden of Roses in St Nicholas Lane just up the hill and around the bend from the Hiawatha and the road on the left is Basildon Drive. If you look carefully behind the trees on the horizon, you will see the spire of St Nicholas Church.
By William Diment (04/10/2011)
Does anybody remember exactly where this was?
By Peter Long (02/10/2011)
The lovely black cabs outside station some had dark blue on them as well. My dad got one home every night when he got off the London train. I remember they made a lovely kind of ticking sound.
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Patrick Griffin was his son in year used to knock about with him.
The sweet shop was run by the Griffin family in the early sixties. Daughter Christine was in my classes at LHR School.
There was a sweet and tobacco shop directly across New Century Road from the Radion. I think it changed names more than once. In my day it was known as Smarts. Directly to the right of Laindon High Road School was the British Legion Hall. At least, so my memory insists.
Hi,
Does anyone remember the little sweet shop with the tin roof on? I can’t remember if it was to the right of the Radion or to the right of Laindon Secondary school. I do remember that a young girl who served us had been hurt in a fire when younger. I recall standing in there with a friend while it rained, the noise on the roof was deafening! Also there was a tiny shop at the top of Church Road, I used to call in there on the way home from Laindon Park Primary, any info?
Hi.
I’m doing some digging to do with my mum’s health.
Was wondering if anyone knows any information about youth clubs in the 80s.
Nicholas or Laindon High Road.
I need to know if you worked along her or remember dates more accurately.
Her name is Jean Edwards.
Thank you.
I well remember the Hall, you could see it from the school field. With regard to it burning down, it was widely believed to be the work of an unpleasant boy who lived in Pound Lane. Fortunately I can not remember his name. Such a shame that one of the few historic buildings in the area should have been lost in this way. Another sad loss was Sellers farmhouse in Dunton Road, which also burned down.
Shop in Basildon Drive was called pellams?
Editor:- Pelham’s shop was in The Broadway, Laindon High Road, near King Edward Terrace. Pelham’s Alley (a narrow footpath at the side of Pelham’s shop leading from the High Road through to Tattenham Road) is still there.
Was always the Evangelical Church and Sunday School.
I lived In Dickens Drive from 1975 to 1990, had a brilliant time growing up exploring the fields where the old bungalows once stood. The road was commonly know as ‘the bumpy’ due it being unmade until mid to late 80’s when the council decided to concrete the middle part where the houses were.
Some of the first new houses to be built in that area were in Woolmergreen, directly behind Markhams Chase School (out of sight in this picture). We lived at No 69 from 1971 to 1981. We were the third family to live there. The first were the Fletcher family who I understand moved in around 1961. They later moved round the corner to No 101. (Their son Andrew was a founder member of the very successful group Depache Mode).
The second family to live at No 69 were the Thomas family.
We moved into No. 69 in October 1971. We were given the key which was still on John Fletcher’s ‘York Shipley’ key fob. When we moved out in 1981 (just as Depache Mode were on the brink of stardom) I still had the key fob. I wish I had kept it, but unfortunately I gave to to the person who moved in after us.
Church Avenue was ‘made up’ early in 1964 and its name was changed so that it became part of St Nicholas Lane, as it remains to this day. Previously it had been not more than a rough track which became unpassable during winter because of the mud.
Church Avenue, when still unmade and the dwellings still mostly occupied, was an area, where as kids we would rummage around. It was our kind of adventure playground, lots to do and always many fruit trees and bushes to raid and plunder, along with the naturally occurring blackberry bushes. At the end of the “road”, at the junction with St Nicholas Lane and Church Hill, were a set of 2 or 3 large galvanised rubbish bins. These were for the use of the residents and I would often look to see if there was anything worth having. One time this paid off, as I found a tin (shortbread biscuits) that upon opening was found to be full to the brim with old silver threepenny bits! Of course this was speedily taken home, but from that day to this, my “treasure” I have never seen since! I think that when the residents were preparing to move out from their homes to be rehoused elsewhere, they must have been discarding stuff they weren’t going to be taking with them and made a bit of a mistake. Why else would you throw this sort of thing away? A short time after this, all the properties were vacant and being demolished or burnt down, this is where we gathered much of our firewood from.
Odd, isn’t it, the ways the memory can fail you? In this picture I see that Nicholas School was already in place, completed or not, yet there are no buildings in Ballards Walk, the new layout of Markhams Chase or any of the surrounding roads. These new roads are all in place but no houses. Church Avenue is still in place, so St Nicholas Lane hadn’t been extended to reach Upper Mayne yet.
This is not how my memory tells me that it happened, I really did think the houses came before the school did. As I only lived 100 yards from the school I should have remembered correctly, but obviously I didn’t.
Error – Church Avenue is gone, St Nicholas Lane does now reach Upper Mayne. Picture is rather small and unclear on my device. Sorry.
Referring to my comment about “Gloria”. Just remembered the Gloria who lived next door to me was named Revening. If of any interest to anybody the families that lived in the Airey Houses in Pound Lane were as follows :
No. 2 Tyler. No. 4 Bailey. No. 6 Joy. No. 8 Revening.
No. 10 Broom. No. 12 Freeman. No. 14 Walker. No. 16 Burton.
Referring to Barry Ellerby’s comment of 15.10.2012, I think the name of the shop was “Emery’s”. Mr. Emery and my dad would help each other out if they ran out of a particular product until each got a delivery of whatever they were short of. Shopkeeping then was not the cut-throat business that it is today.
In my previous comment I said I could see my house, this is about that house. As mentioned elsewhere on this site by Richard Haines, I lived at 6 Airey Houses, Pound Lane, named after the “designer” of these pretty much prefabricated constructions. I have read somewhere on site that a prolific contributor, Gloria Sewell, also dwelt in such an abode and I would like to compare notes on a few things with her. In the house next to mine (pair of semi’s), lived a girl named Gloria, although I don’t believe they are one and the same, as the Gloria next door was (and still is) a year or two younger than me, while Gloria Sewell (no disrespect) seems to be a little older than myself. This being the case, where was Gloria’s Airey House, King Edward Estate maybe? Did you have folded newspaper stuffed in your Crittal metal window frames to stop the draughts, as we did? In the living room to one side of the chimney breast did you have a floor to ceiling cupboard? We did, it was used for all manner of storage including my few toys.
I had not shut the door one day and, rightly so, was told to close it, there was something in there that was really too long to sit on the shelf therefore the door would not close. So like a good little boy I gave the door an almighty shove and PRESTO, it closed. Problem solved. Not quite. Ten minutes later the lady next door came to our house with an armful of our belongings! These had appeared in her cupboard after being pushed through the adjoining wall that was made of what appeared to be some type of cardboard material. Now I have to say that these houses were really well made, as were the red marks on my bum! I have many fond memories of my time living here and equally many have a similar red mark ending. I wouldn’t change it if I could, it’s what made me the person I am and that’s not an apology! But then again, maybe it should be?
Wasn’t this a church?
What a wonderful picture arousing so many memories, why I can even see my house from here. As an old codger I can recall when it looked even more different. Nicholas School would have been a recent addition to the landscape in this picture, built upon a field where most mornings we would go to pick mushrooms. And as a nipper I played in the fields where the Pound Lane Estate now stands, usually getting a good hiding for coming home wet from being in a pond (large puddle), covered in mud or with torn clothing! I think I remember another hiding for arriving home minus one shoe that had come off being stuck in the mud at the bottom of aforementioned pond! Happy days.
Where, pray tell, is the red telephone box which stood outside the off license?
This is a very early photograph of North Parade taken before the telephone box was installed. It is also prior to the off-license being built between 4 North Parade and the bungalow to the north.
There’s further details about North Parade and a clearer more up-to-date photograph showing the telephone box and the off-license in the article “Old Photographs of Laindon” which shows that the red telephone box stood outside the draper’s shop and not the off license.
The cycle shop was called Ling’s. My mum bought me a brand new bike for my birthday from there.
Hi Bill The answer to your question is no! The church itself is usued for most of it social events. Concerts, Quiz nights, festivals etc.
Details of events can be found on the St Nicholas Church Website http://www.stnicholaslaindon.co.uk
I deleted William Diments earlier comment, where he pointed out that ‘images 4 and 5 were of the same location just separated by time’ from this page in error
Looking back through the various comments in Respect of the photo. Nina is quite correct in stating there were were two ‘halls’, but does not differentiate for those who did not know the area that the Laindon Hall on Church Hill was originally a residence, but the hall at the bottom of the hill adjacent to Pound Lane was built as a social and recreational venue and replaced an earlier hall adjacent to the west side of the church and which also used as a school annexe, but burnt down in the early 1930s.
It would seem from the comments that this hall in Pound Lane was demolished in the 1990s, something I was not aware of and was quite surprised as it was of quite reasonable brick construction and causes me to ask if the Church now has any building for social intercourse. Ken Porter will obviously be able to answer this?
Peter did your brother John Long go to Langdon Hills Primary and then to Laindon High Road and is his birthday in September? If so I knew him
My dad Albert Drewer worked for Cottis’s bakery for over 40 years, sadly he passed away a number of years ago. He worked with Bill Rossiter, and I remember going to Bill;s house when we were young, they were a lovely family.
My dad used to deliver the bread using a horse and cart all around Dry Street area. Then he used a van later on delivering around Kathleen Ferrier Crescent, Holst Avenue, etc. I used to help him sometimes, carrying the big bread basket that was bigger than me.
We lived in Kathleen Ferrier Crescent for a number of years, then moved to Gaywood, just off Devonshire Road. Does anyone remember him?
Does anyone remember the little shop that stood in Basildon Drive opposite Dickens Drive. My mum always called the shop Henry’s, is this the right name. The plot of land where the shop stood is still vacant but well overgrown, in this photo you can just see the shop near the bottom on the left hand edge of the photo.
My family lived in Dickens Drive, I was 2 years old when we were moved out to Basildon Drive in 1971 so they could knock down the bungalow we lived in, Dickens Drive was an un-made road which we used to call the bumpy road, only a few houses were left half way down the road opposite Downham Walk until 1989-90 when the new houses and flats were built. The school in the photo was then called Nicholas School not St Nicholas School, St Nicholas School was in Church Road now known as Laindon Park.
Are you any relation to Eileen Whiskin? I remember her from Langdon Hills School I think.
Cottis’s bakery was behind the shop that was on the way from the station towards Langdon Hills. Oh the hot bread!!!
I lived on Laindon High Road, next to the post office, from 1960 to 1964 after my parents moved from Langdon Hills. I would dearly love to see some photos of the old place if any one should have them.
This photo brings back memories, we used to walk down the steps onto what we called the cinder track to get to Berry Lane then as we got to the Berry Lane junction the first shop was Lungly’s. We lived in Ferndale Road. The houses on the right across the railway lines were the railway cottages.
Great pictures Peter. Where did you get them. I went to school with Shelia and still keep in touch with her on Friends Reunited. When she is down this way she pops in which is great. Also remember John, sorry Peter don’t really remember you, probably a babe at the time. Once again great pictures.
I was born in Laindon in “Avondale” opposite the Radion Cinema in 1926 and this picture gives me many memories as I went to live in “Viola” (about three doors on the left ) up Cambridge Road, the turning was on the right about 200 yards behind the picture of the “Ford” truck and the name of the bungalow was the name of my mother called “Viola”.
I was about about two years when we went to live there and I can distinctly remember an airship passing over our bungalow which I learned many years later that it was the R101 passing over on its journey to France when it eventually crashed in 1930.
Later we moved to Kings Road about 1934 an I went to Laindon High Road School then as one of the first pupils to go to Markham’s Chase School, walking from Kings Road along the “Arterial Road” up Pound Lane across the foot of the hill of St Nicholas Church being “bullied” (yes we had them all those years ago) by one of the “Cox” family and being chased. One of these situations I was so out of breath I eventually suddenly stopped but my “chaser” did not, and he collapsed. My friends thought that I had knocked him out but but the outcome was that I never had any more trouble from him.
Basildon Drive brings back memories of one of my colleagues a Pat Roach who with a Ron Tilley were members of the ATC. We all went our different ways after leaving the ATC with Ron joining the RAF as a tail gunner on Lancasters, Pat as AB on the HMS Vengeance, and I as FAA on HMS Glory. Where are they now?
The photo does give a slight insight into Laindon’s past at the beginning of the new town era. While the extension of St. Nicholas Lane can be seen to join up with the Upper Mayne roundabout, there is virtually no development to be seen in Cranes Farm Road and Gloucester Park has not begun to emerge. The Airey houses at the foot of Church Hill in Pound Lane can clearly be seen the road from the church to Nicholas is obscured by greenery. Also, no housing has begun on the west of Upper Mayne or the Markhams Chase area which are now highly populated.
What a wonderful photograph, I grew up in Dickens Drive, in one of the newer council houses. We moved there in 1962 and this is just how I remember it. Sadly as I grew up I watched the whole area getting demolished, at first it seemed exciting with all the bulldozers around. This then turned to sadness as my friends I had grown up with where being moved out and rehoused all over the new town.
This was a strange time as I remember walking to Laindon Park School in the morning and on my return home there was a pile of bricks where there was a bungalow that morning, when I went to school. This process went on until 1978 when every single bungalow had gone, this also included all the bungalows along St Nicholas Lane which backed on to our garden. I can even remember the name of the demolition firm D.S .Cross of Wickford.
The one thing that used to amaze me was the way they got rid of the brick built air raid shelters. They would save all the wood from the bungalow windows, doors and the roof and they would fill the shelter with this and set it on fire and keep the fire going all day. This would weaken the brick work and then they would just push it over. That was some sight watching the flames roaring out the doorway of the shelter.
My fondest memory of these times was the day me and a few friends went in to a shed of a empty property, it was full to the brim with all sorts of stuff, we started to empty it out, you would not believe some of the items we found, an old Velocette Police motor bike, World War II German hats and belts etc, Port of London Police helmets but the most bizarre thing was an old gramophone in full working order. We soon found some records, so fully winded, on went a record, there we are in the back garden of an old bungalow playing gramophone music that sounded French to us what great times.
I still live in Laindon and wonder what have we gained from all the upheaval of the 1960s and 70s especially the state of the Laindon shopping centre, it looks like its had a Nato air strike. Laindon deserves better, as so much was given to allow them to build the new town.
My brother Bill Rossiter drove a horse drawn van delivering bread for JG Cottis in 1940 and 1941. After seeing war service in the Irish Guards (Guards Armoured Division as a Bren Gun carrier driver) he returned to Cottis’s bakery and was then responsible for maintaining their small fleet of motor vans. He still lives in Basildon.
There is the cycle shop where I bought my first NEW bike in the 1960s, and next door was Boons Newsagent post office and sweet shop, where during the war, Mr Boon would save milk chocolate “under the counter” for my mother. I well remember having to take the cryptic message “Mr Boon has something for you” to her when I was about 6
As I remember it Laindon Hall became the property of the local council. It was in disrepair, and as a listed building the repair bill would have been the councils responsibility. Unfortunately the council had no money.
Somebody made the comment “If it burnt down, we would not be responsible” and the remark was printed in the local paper. Surprise, surprise….. the next night the Hall burnt down!
I suggest this photo dates from the 1920s, certainly not later than the very early thirties. One cabbie who has not been mentioned in the archives was Dick Hillman. Also, I noticed in one of the comments in respect of Farmers Taxis that they had large Austins, I believe these were in fact American Buick limousines of which they had three. These were replaced circa 1948/1950. There was another taxi which would always be at the Saturday night Memorial Hall dances. The owner/driver was called George, but I never knew his surname.
This building is on the site of the former ‘Garden of Roses’.
Sorry Denise, you are absolutely right, it was April 1964 and not April 1963. My mistake. Best wishes.
There seems to be some slight confusion regarding this hall. There were two halls near St Nicholas Church. The one in the picture is Laindon Hall, which was sited just past the church on the way to Laindon Park School. I passed it twice each day on my way to and from work during the early sixties. The hall burnt down in April 1963. I was shocked to see its charred remains one morning, as it had been perfectly okay when I passed it the evening before. The hall where wedding receptions were held (my sister’s included) was on the other side of the church, slightly down the hill, close to Pound Lane. This is most probably the one that David helped to knock down in the nineties.
It was finally burned down late April 1964 a couple of weeks after a previous fire.
I noticed Nicholas School has only the lower school buildings built at this time and all along Nicholas Lane there are houses on the left hand side.
I worked at Nicholas School from 1975 to 1998 and one of my work mates had her bungalow bought by the Council (she lived in St. Nicholas Lane) against her will. This was the Adams family. Wish I could go back in time to see it as it was.
Editor: As information and photographs becomes available we will tell the story of all areas of our community. The photograph appears to have been taken in the early to mid 60s.
Yes it is the Laindon Hall near St Nicholas Church I had my wedding reception in it 1968
Yes Churchill Johnson was opposite ‘The Winston Club’ on the corner of Northumberland Ave
I can confirm it is Laindon Hall. I attended Laindon Park School and passed by it on the way home
I believe this is Laindon Hall, it was destroyed in the 1990s. I helped knock it down for the vicar at the time, can’t recall his name though.
What a great picture, shame there aren’t more shots like this. My dad grew up in Laindon and he is always telling me how it used to be all fields. Now its just a concrete jungle!
I’m only 38 and have lived in Laindon all my life and have seen a lot of change myself. Sorry to say but I’m slowly starting to hate my hometown.
This photo appears on the rear cover of the Marion Hill book and is said to be the Cottis delivery service for Laindon and Langdon Hills at the turn of the century.
No Patsy, sorry. I have a brother John and a sister Sheila. We grew up in Devonshire Road.
Peter Long has been kind enough to share some beautiful old Laindon photos. I am wondering if he will consider writing some of his memories too?
Could this be Laindon Hall, beside St Nicholas Church? Allowed to fall into disrepair and burnt down by vandals late 1950s
I do not remember when the second shop was opened. I do remember a more modern horse drawn van delivering bread during ww2
Is this looking towards the Laindon Hotel from near the train station?
Editor: Yes, it looks as if it could have been taken from the corner of Northumberland Avenue an the High Road near Churchill Johnson.
Walked this road many many times! On the corner of Basildon Drive leading out onto St Nicholas Lane.
This picture is also very old, similar to that of the Hiawatha. I suggest this was possibly circa WW1 or even earlier also is this Laindon or Langdon Hills, as I do not know which was the earlier of J G Cottis shops, that in Laindon High Rd or Langdon Hills.
The Fortune of War pub. I would say this photo is early 70s and funny that looks like me driving my Ford Cortina 🙂
By the way Peter did you have a brother called Terry? I’m sure I remember you from Langdon Hills where I lived.
I have a similar photo to this, but when Cole’s was Kentex, in a jigsaw I had made on Laindon. In the same photo, I am 100% certain my Mum and I are seen outside the butchers just a short way along on the right.
Is there a description for this photo please?
Editor: This is an aerial view looking east along St Nicholas Lane. The building on the right of the road in a field is Nicholas School now James Hornsby and the Pound Lane Estate is in the foreground on the left of the road. I will add more details to the photograph as they become available.
This picture shows the Garden of Roses in St Nicholas Lane just up the hill and around the bend from the Hiawatha and the road on the left is Basildon Drive. If you look carefully behind the trees on the horizon, you will see the spire of St Nicholas Church.
Does anybody remember exactly where this was?
The lovely black cabs outside station some had dark blue on them as well. My dad got one home every night when he got off the London train. I remember they made a lovely kind of ticking sound.
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