Memory Lane Southend Town Centre

[kaymac]

C&A

Forgot them. The retailer triumphantly announced as the flagship store for the Hammerson Development. Mind you, Debenhams not looking too healthy either.

 

[kaymac]

Old picture of Garons cinema and cafe.....

 

[AndyT]

I can't believe you didn't know that! Thought everyone who lives here did!

In my defence, I've never lived in Southend itself and was too busy dating ONJ!

I'm glad I wasn't the only one who didn't know, though or had forgotten.

 

[AndyT]

All these photos are superb.

Anyone know where The Gaumont used to be. Is that what became The Odeon? :-

 

[AndyT]

Anyone remember Bermans shop just along Southchurch, nowadays The Slug and Lettuce ?

I do, if that's the one that had a kind of upstairs area that was up are narrow flight of stairs. Kind of had a toy department up there?

 

[Bielzibubz]

Meanwhile Chelmsford appears to be thriving with a more than decent modern shopping centre that puts Southend's facilities to shame.

Being granted City status has made a huge difference to the amount the council receives from central government and has been credited with the massive increase in private investment in the town and its infrastructure.

 

[HypoTypo]

All these photos are superb.

Anyone know where The Gaumont used to be. Is that what became The Odeon? :-

Gaumonts was on Southchurch and the building was demolished in 1958 for redevelopment

 

[Bielzibubz]

Cricko, just after joining the Boy Scouts

 

[The Big Dady]

All these photos are superb.

Anyone know where The Gaumont used to be. Is that what became The Odeon? :-

No it was down Southchuch Road here are some more pics.








Inside

 

[AndyT]

Another lovely building demolished. Presumably for the Vic Circus development?

 

[The Big Dady]

Southend High Street at the Junction of Tyler's Avenue

 

[AndyT]

Is that a Number 7!?

Fantastic photo. More people on bikes than in cars. Those were the days.

Love the old canopies that used to be on the shopfronts back then.

 

[Tangled up in Blue]

Things I should have known.

It's called Southend as it was at the "South End" of Prittlewell Priory.

I really should know that!

Indeed.Prittlewell Priory even gets a mention in the Domesday book.

 

[AndyT]

MO, Tangles.

I'll admit to knowing about PP, but I hadn't known the derivation of Southend before.

 

[HypoTypo]

Another lovely building demolished. Presumably for the Vic Circus development?

It's roughly where Paddy power is now Andy

 

[AndyT]

Thanks, Hypo.

Yep roughly where I thought once BD and yourself had said it was in Southchurch Road.

 

[kaymac]

Being granted City status has made a huge difference to the amount the council receives from central government and has been credited with the massive increase in private investment in the town and its infrastructure.

Granted that, B, but they received that only 6 years ago and must have been doing something right well before those recent developments and extra government funding ? Whereas SBC has made attempts and kept failing yet continues to spend money on madcap traffic management schemes around the borough, none of which are benefitting anyone.

 

[The Big Dady]

Another Pic of Victoria Circus 1959 looking down Southchurch Avenue, with Garons Clock on the left over the Talza Arcade, Hotel Victoria in the centre, and Dixons department store on the right. Who remembers the underground toilets in the middle of Victoria Circus?

 

[kaymac]

Great picture, TBD, if a bit too early for me to recall the loos. That looks a proper shopping area.

 

[HypoTypo]

MO, Tangles.

I'll admit to knowing about PP, but I hadn't known the derivation of Southend before.