Wickford, Essex

The Brickfields ... those tall terraced red houses - still there..

The Brickfields, a place to catch sticklebacks,newts, tadpoles and slow worms. A friend of mine used to live in one of the terraced houses,I believe they must have once been workers' houses and were then taken over by the council. They still exist today, and fortunately haven't been ruined by renovations, as far as I can tell anyhow. There was a... [more]

Gigneys Shop  

My wife's maiden name is Gigney and I know the family had busineses in Wickford and Stanford le Hope.

Can anyone supply more details? - one was a saddlers and general store. Do any photos exist of these shops? Indeed can anyone advise if they still stand or where exactly they were?

Flood

I was sent off to buy some bread by my mother. But crossing the river Crouch by the bridge was impossible.  Wickford was under water. I don't recall the year. But the brand name of the bread was: Wheatchief. I used to buy sandpaper in Mays for my dad. And Egans, I thought they could fix anything, as well as selling... [more]

back in 1963

I was moved to Wickford with my family in December 1963, a hard winter, removal van had trouble getting up the unmade road. Coming from London, it was a bit of a sleepy village for me and especially for my teenage siblings. Had to wait for 2 weeks to be able to buy a number one record, from Eagans the music... [more]

My Memory

We left England that year for Australia. It was April, I was 12. All my friends left behind, playing in the park near the River Crouch. I don't remember names, it was long ago. I can see myself walking to different places, I wish I had more memories.

Living in Wickford 1963 - 1972

We lived from 1963 - 1972 in Wickford, all of us 3 children going to Wickford Junior school up Market Road. I can recall a man who used to paint lead soldiers from his house near the school. From 11 years of age I remember working at Tilbury's the Butchers shop on a Saturday for 10 shillings for the day. The... [more]

My memories of Wickford

My parents and I lived in North London near Hendon aerodrome.  Because it was well known as an RAF base the German Luftwaffe raided the area regularly.  My parents decided to move to somewhere safer and because my mother's sister, Mabel Dunk, owned the cafe opposite St. Andrews on London Road, in 1940 my mother took me to live with her... [more]

The Railway

Wickford is nice.

Basildon Living Memories Pocket Album

Pardey & Johnson traded from the gabled building on the left. Basically a grocery shop and off-licence, it also accommodated Wickford's post office around the time of our picture. The in-store café can be seen to the extreme left. The pub sign a few doors along marks the position of the White Swan.

Basildon Living Memories Pocket Album

We are looking south, towards Halls Corner. The shops on the left were built with bricks from the Nevendon Road brickworks. The shrubs conceal Ladybrow, a former doctor's house and surgery. It was demolished in the late 1960s, and the site is now occupied by the Ladygate Shopping Centre.

Essex Living Memories

This busy street is crowded with shoppers, although the road is still fairly free from traffic. Awnings protect the shop fronts and the goods displayed in the windows. The town has grown considerably in recent years.