Memory Lane Southend Town Centre

[kaymac]

Never realised those underground toilets were operating even back in those very early days!

Much prefer that old frontage of Woolworths, much more character.

 

[Ex-Member1]

Actually looking at it again that may be another Jetty/pier as the Gas works would have been further on, perhaps where the overhead bit was.. Us youngsters need help from some of you old timers on this thread.

I think it was a pipeline but for the life of me can't remember what it transported. Sorry. The old brain cells ain't as plent iful as they were!

 

[The Big Dady]

Southend High Street Railway Bridge being replaced in Feb 2013 after the original had stood for 130 years, it was originally installed in 1883. (7 pics)

The original Railway Bridge



Old bridge being removed


Old bridge being removed



Old Railway Bridge removed



New Bridge on special lorry waiting in Tyler’s Avenue car park



New Bridge on special lorry going down side road to get to High Street



New Bridge moving down High Street

 

[Benfleet A1]

Does anyone know if the York Road market still exists? Now there's another fond memory for me. Broken biscuits, 2d a bag!!!

Sadly no, now just a carpark. Great butchers and second hand record shop in there back in the day.

 

[kaymac]

Tight squeeze for the bus under that old bridge!

 

[The Big Dady]

I think it was a pipeline but for the life of me can't remember what it transported. Sorry. The old brain cells ain't as plent iful as they were!

I think it may have been a conveyor belt for Coal/Coke?

 

[rigsby]

One thing that is noticeable from the photos of the High Street thriving is all the buses.

Such a shame that Southend became such a car dominated place as the traffic chokes it.

Its not just Southend all town/city centres have gone that way. Others of course have come up with better plans. The problem for us is the dead end nature of the Town. Chelmsford has better road links but that will always be the way as you can approach from any direction.

We do have the luxury of two mainline railway systems and a great unused opportunity in the river Thames.


Looking at all the close pound shops in the High street and the dated and unused money laundering scams (known as arcades) on the sea front. The fraise that comes to mind...…'If you build it, they will come'

 

[Benfleet A1]

Southend High Street Railway Bridge being replaced in Feb 2013 after the original had stood for 130 years, it was originally installed in 1883. (7 pics)

The original Railway Bridge

View attachment 6544

Old bridge being removed
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Old bridge being removed

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Old Railway Bridge removed

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New Bridge on special lorry waiting in Tyler’s Avenue car park
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New Bridge on special lorry going down side road to get to High Street

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New Bridge moving down High Street

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Is that bus holding the bridge up?


Also wondering if there is a picture of specalist lorry taking out every car down said side road. ?

 

[kaymac]

Aerial view of the Gasworks Jetty and storage tanks....

 

[kaymac]

Anyone have pictures looking along Alexandra Street, East and West ? Used to be a row of shops opposite BHS, before the Royals was built, including a barber shop and a cafe.

 

[The Big Dady]

Southend High Street looking down towards The Royal Hotel and Pier Hill 1985



Southend High Street looking north east from The Royal Hotel, note the famous Tomassi’s Restaurant, the whole block was demolished to make way for The Royals Shopping Centre.



Southend High Street looking north towards Railway Bridge 1900’s



End of Southend High Street looking down Pier Hill with The Palace Hotel.



Southend High Street the Smarts store in 1913.

 

[The Big Dady]

A No.7 Southend Corporation Bus going up Pier Hill to Southend Hill Street



A No.8 Southend Corporation Bus waiting in Bradley Street which lead to Victoria Avenue and Victoria Circus, behind the buildings was the Talza Arcade.



A No.4B Southend Corporation Bus waiting in Bradley Street which lead to Victoria Avenue and Victoria Circus, behind the buildings was the Talza Arcade.



Bradley Street ran east west and which lead to Victoria Avenue and Victoria Circus, , behind the buildings was the Talza Arcade (I may have posted this pic before)



Two Southend Corporation Buses waiting outside The Palace Hotel before turning into Southend High Street.

 

[KevinJH]

Looking down Southend Pier Hill 1973

View attachment 6524

I wonder if the geezer who left that Viva there got a ticket ?

And Rossi's !! - gotta be the best ice cream in Christendom, surely......

 

[rigsby]

The underground toilets, Southend's very own ice skating rink

As a lad, I was banned from the underground toilets. My mum had heard 'rumours' via the 70's social media....namely the queue in the butchers

 

[rigsby]

Sadly no, now just a carpark. Great butchers and second hand record shop in there back in the day.

I believe York road market was set up so that injured veterans from WW1 could start a small business.

 

[AndyT]

The pic below that BD posted under #221. That must be the last moments of The Ritz :-

 

[The Big Dady]

Interestingly if you look in the distance of the Pier Hill photo you can see the old Gas works Jetty and beyond is the overhead loading/unloading system that went right across the main road....Does any know the name?

Aerial view of the Gasworks Jetty and storage tanks....

The Southend-on-Sea and District Gas Company was established in 1854 and a gasworks was built to the east of the pier. The company absorbed the undertakings at Rochford (1920) and Leigh-on-Sea (1923), and was in turn absorbed by the GLCC (Gas Light and Coke Company) in 1932. By this time the plant at Southend was obsolete and the works was entirely rebuilt. Coal was supplied to a dedicated pier.

Productive capacity was 7.75 million cubic feet per day in 1948.

 

[The Big Dady]

The pic below that BD posted under #221. That must be the last moments of The Ritz :-

Yes and here are some other pics of the Ritz and its demolition.

 

[rigsby]

View attachment 6563



View attachment 6564

The Southend-on-Sea and District Gas Company was established in 1854 and a gasworks was built to the east of the pier. The company absorbed the undertakings at Rochford (1920) and Leigh-on-Sea (1923), and was in turn absorbed by the GLCC (Gas Light and Coke Company) in 1932. By this time the plant at Southend was obsolete and the works was entirely rebuilt. Coal was supplied to a dedicated pier.

Productive capacity was 7.75 million cubic feet per day in 1948.

You can see half of Southchurch park as well. The old terracing at the north end f the cricket pitch and the football pitch which is no longer in use.

 

[kaymac]

Jeez, what sad pics of the Ritz, my favourite of the Southend cinemas in those days.

Birds-eye view of the Kursaal site.....

A bit more Kursaal...