St Neots, High Street From The Cross c.1965

Photo ref: S37070

More about this scene

As elsewhere, the late 1920s and early 1930s were often difficult ones economically. Nowhere was this effect felt more strongly that at the paper mills, where a severe downturn in the industry caused grave problems. The noted firm of Wiggins, Teape & Co of Dover took over the business in 1930 but closed it down two years later. Another loss in the 1930s was the facility for river bathing from the sheds at Eynesbury and St Neots. There had been concerns about the deteriorating quality of the river water for some years and the analysis taken in June 1939 showed that it was no longer safe, so the sheds were closed and later demolished. At the time this was the least of people's concerns, as preparations for war were increasing rapidly.