The Spa Hotel c1955, Hockley
The Spa Hotel c1955, Hockley Ref: H176002
Memories of The Spa Hotel c1955, Hockley
View Looking Down to The Spa
I can remember all the shops in this picture. Think there was Hewitt's the Photographer, Horsnall Stores and next to Horsnall was INIFER POTTER who are now celebrating their 100th year this year. As regards POTTER's, the picture shown on their celebratory plastic bag shows my Dad, Ernie Jay as the errand boy with his bike, alongwith I presume Mr. & Mrs. Inifer Potter, and my dad's cousin, Arthur Nicholson.
Hockley & local memories
Read and share memories of Hockley and Essex inspired by Frith photos.
Broad Parade Shops
My parents bought a house in Willow Walk, which is on the right of the photographer, in August 1954. At that time there were no shops, no pavements, just muddy concrete roads. We were the first to occupy a house in the road, and watched the builders (A W Deavin) complete the other houses, bungalows and finally the shops. In the photo, the shops look very established, so I guess it must have been taken late 1955, or maybe 1956. Before the Broad Parade shops were built, we used to buy eggs from the small farm opposite - was that The Elms? Afterwards, we did most of our shopping at these shops, and I remember that the last shop, at the Greensward Lane end, was an Off-Licence called Galleon Wine, as well as Broughtons, the chemist, where my girlfriend worked. There were also three shops in Greensward Lane, opposite the end of Broad Parade, one of which was an Ironmongers, Ansell & Taylor. ... Read more
Not What It Seems
This is Main Road Hawkwell, looking up the hill to the White Hart, taken from about where the fire station is now. The small white building in the middle of the photo is O'Leary's the butchers.
HOCKLEY COUNTY SECONDARY SCHOOL
I went to Hockley Secondary in 1965, along with my twin sister, Diane (the Jay twins). We were separated at first, each being put into a different class form. Diane was very upset, so we were reunited!!!
I still only live just down the road and always have fond memories of our days at this school and of course being identical twins, causing a bit of confusion for our teachers!!!
Hockley, Broad Parade
I recognise this picture from a postcard, as the house where my family used to live is also in the picture.
I can remember the shops in those days - Eve's the hairdresser, Thomas the Butcher, Sutherlands the sweetshop/newsagent, Broughton the chemist, Green Stores/Key Markets and the Off Licence.
Beginnings of Greensward Academy
This is the school 3 of my children attended between September 1985 to July 2003. It was Greensward Lane School, then it changed to Greensward College then it became a City Academy.
June 2011
Well, I did visit Clements Hall last spring/summer 2011, after not seeing C.H in about fifty years ago. We parked at the keep fit-gym club and as soon as I got out of the car I turned around and saw the the playing field, known then as the cricket field, it was as nothing had changed or moved, the swings and slide were just the same, the openings were there. We started walking towards the muddy lane then runs alongside of the swings, noticed the pond had all gone. We used to skate on there in the very cold winters of the sixties. It was so surreal I just couldn't take it all in. Then we arrived at the house, the temptation to reach the front door was overwhelming. The brambles were in the way but we carried on around the back, there were a few dogs barking but nobody came out to the yard. Everything was just the same but I really would have liked to see inside. It... Read more
Looking Back at Hockley, Essex
I rather enjoyed my young days at Clements Hall, Hockley children's home. We use to go scrumping and the corn on the cob field was right next to us, so we never went hungry, just ended up with tummy aches the next day. The playing field next to us was known as the cricket field and we used to make the tea for the cricketers. Then we would have days out to Southend and had one of those sun huts to do our changing in, great fun. There was always something to do in Hockley for youngsters. The schools were great. I went to Hawkwell Holt School then to Rochford Senior School as it was known back in the early sixties. I have recently looked Hockley up on multimap and noticed not much had changed. I live in York now but will be using the Eurostar train for Paris to visit my daughter as she won a PH.d Fellowship for eight weeks in Paris, on the way back I will... Read more
Clements Hall
I must have been about six when I stayed at Clements Hall with my brothers Edwin and Terry. Christine's story brought back memories. I also remember the geese, the matron often made me sit on the step to shell the peas and the geese would gather around pecking at me, I was so very frightened of them as a small child. I also remember the tram, we spent hours playing in it. I also remember a wooden gate not far from the tram that led into a lane, I seem to remember going along that lane to Sunday school. The main hall had 2 or 3 steps that we used to sit on and wind wool around our hands with a lady we knew as Sadie Coco, there was an old record player on a table and I remember so vividly listening to 'Que Sera Sera, whatever will be will be' and 'How much is that doggie in the window'. At Easter there was a huge Easter egg donated decorated with iced flowers,... Read more
Clements Hall
I remember Clements Hall children's home. My mum worked there in the early 1950s and my Uncle Reg also worked there, until much later. It was a fun place to be and it's a shame there are no photos because my brother lived there with our mum and I'm sure he would have liked to have seen it again.
Clements Hall, Children's Home
My memory of Hockley is staying in a children's home called Clements Hall in 1960/5. It was near a few orchards where we would go scrumping for our midnight feasts. It really was a great place to stay as a kiddy. We had geese running loose in the grounds and each Christmas we had geese for Christmas dinner. In the second part of the gardens was an old tram we use to play on, great fun again. We went to Hawkwell Holt Junior School and Rochford Senior School, we had to walk through two Spinneys before we got to the bus stop, to go to school. The picture shown as Rochford school does not strike accord with me, so maybe there is another school in Rochford? It would be super if somebody read this, and knew all about what I have written.
