Abridge picture A106012

Year: 1955

Abridge picture A106012

This photo appears at the back of Essex Living Memories. The two ladies in the foreground with the prams appear familiar - The lady on the left may be Mrs Peagram with her son Colin in the pram. The couple with the child in the pushchair outside the butchers looks like and could actually be my parents and me. They might have just stepped off the No.10 bus the back of which you can see parked by the Blue Boar Pub on the left. At the time this photo would have been taken we weren't yet living in the village, but my parents formed the Leyton Self-Build Group which started with 100 members but was left with six committed members who built houses in the semi-detached style opposite Raven's Garage in London Road. My father at this time would have been spending all his spare time in the village building the houses, with the five other men and my grandfather who was a bricklayer by trade. They also had help from Frank Reeves who was a local drainage expert.

To the right of the picture behind the women with prams is Brighty's Electrical, beyond that the weatherboard Post Office, the butcher's shop and a big chestnut tree which was one of several trees in the grounds of Dr Ellis's house, built in the Georgian era, but later demolished to make was for a cul-de-sac. The old van parked in the Market Place possibly belonged to Trixxie who raised poultry up at Lambourne. He was brother to Six Foot, a very small man who lived half way up Hoe Lane. Six Foot kept a very narrow shop (located behind the van) where large quantities of fresh eggs were sold, hen and duck, and fresh tea was served from an urn. There was just about enough room for the counter on the left, a small alleyway for the customers and on the right a stool or two and a ledge to put a plate and cup on. I think you could buy a sandwich or a biscuit. Next to Six Foot's tiny shop was Bertie Brighty's shop which also had a cafe at the back. You would go down steps to get into these old buildings.

You can also see the greengrocer's shop with the Hovis sign on the wall. Fresh bread would be delivered there daily from the bakery at Theydon Bois.