Dovercourt, High Street c.1950
Photo ref: D51005
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More about this scene

John Bagshaw, an East India merchant and, from 1847, MP for Harwich, saw the potential of Dovercourt as a resort. His plans initially centred on a spa house, which opened in 1854 but did not last. There are least three signs for Hovis in this picture. Opposite the Co-op (which displays two of them) is George Smith's shop, 'growers of flowers and fruit'. Smith, a market gardener, had the shop purpose-built in 1898 to sell his produce. His nursery, he claimed, boasted 10,000 acres of glass.

A Selection of Memories from Dovercourt

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 Dovercourt

Sparked a Memory for you?

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

I was born in Dovercourt hospital 24th December 1959. I lived above the Home and Colonial shop in the high street where my lovely Dad Mr. Roe was manager. My lovely mum Margaret often used to work there when my sister's Bren and Chris and my brother Brian were at school. These were the best years of my life. We had to move up to London for my Dad to take over a shop in Caledonian Road in 1969. What a ...see more
Does anyone remember a Marion from the Convent? I have just found out that my 85 year old mum, Mary, exchanged letters with a nine year old Marion 60 years ago. The letters stopped abruptly after the last letter in February 1954. She has kept every letter but always wondered why the letters stopped. It would be fantastic to reunite them or at least find out what happened to little Marion. We think 12/2/44 is likely to be Marion's date of birth. Can anyone help?
I was born in 1946 in Dovercourt. I went to Sir Anthony Dean school, I think I was there the first day it was opened. My family name is Oldroyd, and I lived in Oaklands Road. As far as I know I'm the only person from that time who has made a career in music. I have great memories of my childhood in Dovercourt and it would be great to hear from anybody who knew me at that time. One of my first stage appearances ...see more
I was also at the convent in Dovercourt and think I remember Rita and Mary Kelly. I remember the flood and the statues in the chapel looking very freaky as the water had washed the plaster away leaving spiky metal fingers showing. After the flood I was sent to Sandrock Hall in Hastings where I was beyond miserable. My maiden name was Godfrey,