Braintree, Bocking End c.1955
Photo ref: B178032
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More about this scene

The Co-operative's elegant range of buildings with a clock tower was another victim of 1960s development in the town. The Society was formed by a group of silk workers in 1864. The first shop was in a house in South Street, and then new premises were found in Swan Street, to the left of the island site. As business grew, it moved in 1875 to this site in Bocking End. The photograph shows the rebuilt premises of 1907. The resplendent clock tower was a landmark feature of the townscape. The Society merged with the Chelmsford Star Co-op, and now occupies a prestigious site in the George Yard shopping centre.

A Selection of Memories from Braintree

For many years now, we've been inviting visitors to our website to add their own memories to share their experiences of life as it was, prompted by the photographs in our archive. Here are some from Braintree

Sparked a Memory for you?

If this has sparked a memory, why not share it here?

Hi there I used to work for Baughans at their manufacturing plant in Braintree and also in their shops in the area. If anybody remembers me or even worked for Baughans it would be nice to chat. I now live in Norwich.
Maureen was 10 in 1947. She was accused by Cordingley of ‘Disturbing the boys in the sixth form’ We’re you disturbed? We married in 1982. She died of Alzheimer’s on March 15 2020. I have her school badge. Brendan McNamara
I lived in 77 Challis Lane in the late forties to 1955. At age nine our family moved to Australia. My Father Frank Kirrage, worked on the Buses, then managed the Cafeteria, My Mother, Charlotte worked at the Hospital.My name is Tony Kirrage and would be great to hear from anyone who remembers us.
I just wanted to add my pennysworth. My sister Mary Mooring worked at Critalls back in the '40s and 50s. She first worked in the Braintree division, but then I think was transferred to Witham. On my return from New Zealand in '55 I invited her to come back to Wellington with me, which she did. Unfortunately she died a few years ago. I remember during the war- the real one, I mean- Braintree through some arcane mechanism ...see more