Flood

Year: Unknown

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 records!  But my Saturday haunt was the library in the High Street. A little room it was, housing their cardboard pockets to place your chosen book-ticket into. Does anyone remember the little library in the High Street? I went back to Wickford a fews years back, and well, the only thing recognisable was the cycle shop at Halls Corner - Prentice. Halls had been long gone too I was told. And the Castle Pub, now a supermarket is in its place.

Year: Unknown

RE: Flood

Hi Nicole, I was born in Laurel Avenue, just off St Peter's Terrace, and walked daily along the London Road to get to the High Street and school etc. I believe Wickford's bad flood was around 1953 - my memories of it are so faint, I actually remember seeing a couple of rowing boats in use, but that's about all, and at that time I would have been 3 years old, and probably wasn't taken out during this time (well, I must have been once).
I must say it's great to know of somebody who also remembers that musty little library, I remember we had to be deadly silent - and I was honoured to be the youngest member! I was able to read at the age of 3 years, I think mostly due to the fact that my big sister probably taught me! Yes, Prentice is still there, Halls do have a shop in the High Street near to Iceland, selling pottery, pots and pans etc and they have a little 'storage' shop, and also a pet-food shop near the fish and chip shop at Halls Corner. The Castle was knocked down in the late 1980s and the people of Wickford weren't told and many were understandably upset!