Nostalgic memories of Great Tarpots's local history
Share your own memories of Great Tarpots and read what others have said
For many years now, we've been inviting visitors to our web site to add their own memories to share their experiences of life as it was when the photographs in our archive were taken. From brief one-liners explaining a little bit more about the image depicted, to great, in-depth accounts of a childhood when things were rather different than today (and everything inbetween!). We've had many contributors recognising themselves or loved ones in our photographs.
Why not add your memory today and become part of our Memories Community to help others in the future delve back into their past.
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Displaying all 10 Memories
I was born in Pitsea in 1949. My parents lived at The Bracknell, Rectory Road. I tried to trace it some years ago with my brother, but sadly could find no trace. I was christened at St Michael's church and my Godmother was Martha Kemp. Again sadly, I can find no trace but would so love to hear from anyone who knew of my family (Marshall). Best wishes, Bella
I enjoyed reading the memories of the shops at Tarpots. I started work at Tarpots post office as a fifteen year old in January 1949. First for Mrs Palmer for about two years, then for Harry Smith, a lovely man. I stayed there until 1956. I went to work for Mr Smith again in the late sixties until my husband, our three sons and myself moved to Norfolk in 1971. Seeing the names of the shop keepers is wonderful. A young ...see more
My Grandad is Owen Jones! (I'm Elaine's daughter). Grace and Owen are still in Paignton. I'm seeing them tomorrow and have printed out your comments. Nana loves talking about the good old days!
Saturday mornings was when my mother and I would join the family next door for our day out, down to the Tarpots Corner and a bus into Wescliff by the playing fields and then a dancing lesson at Mimi Greens School of Dancing for Austin and I, tap dancing in our case while Chrissie and Josie went on to the ballet class, very successfully as far as Chrissie as she went on to join some ballet group called the ...see more
I too remember our bus service in and around Tarpots, as I recall one that ran out of the bus station on the left going in to Hadleigh just after the turn off to Dawes Heath and Rayleigh, was it called the Benfleet bus company,they seemed to concentrate on that area and into Benfleet but not Canvey which seemed to have another service, you had to walk from the War Memorial to the station and over the crossing and along ...see more
in the event that God wants the church to be re-established in the area, is there anyone that would be able to offer assistance?
I remember, in what must have been June 1944, when myself and our neighbours the Brays were watching what seemed like an endless stream of lorries loaded with soldiers coming down the hill (High Road) and on to somewhere, with hindsight probably Tilbury or some other port, for embarkation to the D Day landing beaches. We kids were jumping up and down and shouting and waving and the soldiers were waving and shouting ...see more
I remember the north side of the London road much as has been described by others with some differences, the last shop before the garage was Jones the butchers, owned by Mr Jones and run by his three sons, Roy, Owen and the third one whose name escapes me, Owen is still living in Paignton. On the other side on the east side of Hatley Gardens was a cafe known as the Busy Bee, owned or run by an Indian family. Next to ...see more
Born & bred 'Tarpotion'. The shops? The best I can remember, starting (1) Junc/Rushbottom Lane/London Rd - NAT, parcels & goods service (later Essex Carriers, Atlas Express), now the bank, cycle shop. (2) - Pie shop (Mrs Copphing). (3) - Fish Shop (Mr Davy) (3) Green grocer (Mr Roberts, later his son-in-law Mr Stovel). (4) - ?Tarpots Hall, Dance to Les Allen and his Band, and HQ of our brave Air ...see more
I remember when I first moved to Tarpots that we had proper shops. We had a butchers, greengrocer, baker, newsagent, and post office. You could get all you wanted without having to catch a bus to another town. Now most of the shops have gone only to be replaced by fast food outlets. There is fish and chips, KFC, Wimpy, in fact any hot food outlet you can think of. I also learn that another shop at ...see more