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Chelmsford
Chelmsford maps
Historic maps of Chelmsford and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Chelmsford maps
Chelmsford area books
Displaying 1 of 18 books about Chelmsford and the local area. View all books for this area
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Memories of Chelmsford
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memories of Chelmsford.
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Coffee Shop in Duke Street
Does anyone remember the name of the coffee shop in Duke Street opposite the Golden Fleece, you could smell the coffee from miles away!
Chelmsford Market Day
On market days my father would take me to see ferrets which were displayed in cages on stands under the trees by County Hall, in the area now occupied by public toilets.
Chelmsford, Shops in The High Streeet, 1919.
This view is taken from outside the island where the current Lloyds Bank stands, and shows the view down the High Street. In the background can be seen the spire, which was the Wesleyan Church, and to-day is the site of the old Caters House. On the right hand, you can see a shop blind near the horse and cart. Beyond this is where the current Marks & Spencers stands. The stone bridge would be just past where the church once stood.
Chelmsford, Rainsford Road, 1906.
The lady standing on the left hand corner is at the top of Waterhouse Lane. Beyond the man leaning against the lampost is the start of Rainsford Road. The first 2 smaller houses that you can make out, on the right, are where the present Esso petrol station stands. The larger house just beyond them, still stands to day, admittedly with the larger chimney pot shortened, but this is on the corner with Maltese Road. The wall that can be seen this side of the woman, was the wall of a large detached house which once stood there. This was demolished and that land is now used as a car park adjacent to the County Hotel.
Chelmsford, Duke Street, 1925.
This shot hasn't changed much on the right hand side at all. There is one more building towards us, out of shot, which is where the present day Co-op Store stands on the corner of Wells Street. The large building in the distance with the chimney pots still stands to-day on the corner of Broomfield Road. To the left hand side, this has totally altered. Gone is the old bus station which used to be there, to be replaced by the newer ones complete with obligatory few shops and many apartments. These were no doubt constructed to cater for those who needed as short a distance to the railway station, in order to commute. Is it an improvement? Some improvements are that, but not all. Some merely become a blot on the landscape, fulfilling the artistic desires of architects.
Chelmsford, New Street, 1920.
Here you can just see a part of the goods yard, opposite Marconi's Buildings, which were where goods trains pulled up, and were unloaded. Various horse and carts would stop here to collect their goods. Amongst them wouild be the various coal merchants horse and carts, ready to load up and take out to the customers. Two such merchants existed with very small offices either side of Duje Street. Moyes and Charringtons are just names that spring to mind. Seeing a coal man, with his leather part over his shoulder, and something covering his head, carrying a sack of precious coal that meant warmth once more. Hearing it being dumped in your shed, and mother watching as he took his empty sack out, folded it in half, and put it on the pavement. Had he delivered 5 or only 4 sacks? Nothing missed a mothers stare, to short change her could be the start of an argument.
Chelmsford, Car, Duke Street, 1925.
The car would have been parked outside where the Duke Street Post Office once stood. The man behind it about to step on the pavement has just crossed Broomfield Road into Duke Street. Behind him can be seen the awnings of the fruit and vegetable shop which once stood there. Even clearer in this picture is the 'Teas' sign which for many years was referred to as The Greasy Spoon Cafe. The large building in the background, to the left, has long gone, and is the present site of The County Hotel.
Chelmsford, Infirmary, 1895.
This may well have been called the Infirmary, so its use didn't change a great deal for many people lots of decades later. It then became the London Road Hospital, and the A. & E. section were accessed down the extreme right of the building. This was to come to an end much later when Broomfield Hospital was first constructed. This same building still stands to-day, being used differently, and can be seen on the Google maps. The centre part was still retained up until about 3 years ago, as the main entrance was used for women who still attended for mammogram examinations. As you entered the main entrance, there were stairs slightly to the right which lead to upstairs. Now this service may well be at the Springfield Hospital.
