Purfleet, Botany Cottages c.1955

Photo ref: P148003

I was born in Purfleet in 1947 and lived in Riverview Flats opposite Thames Board Mills until leaving for University in 1966. The flats were owned by Esso where my Dad, Herbie Jarvis, was a manager. He worked there for 46 years from age 14 (pushing barrels) until retirement at 60. The flats are still there but now all privately owned. I remember all the people others have referred to and can add my ...see more

Hi I used to work for Monks and Sons in the 1970's, it was a very nice place to work. There was Dennis Monk and Jack Monk who used to run the business. They repaired Fords steel pallets and made 14ft dia by 400ft long steel chimney stacks for oil refineries for other countries. They were made in 50ft sections for transport. In the 1960's they made barges and launched them from the yard. The two square buildings were ...see more

I lived in Mill Road during the war years until I was about 18 years old. We used to walk to Purfleet Primary School every day which was quite a stretch. I seem to remember that the infant teacher was a Miss Pond who I believe later became Mrs Paige. I remember Mr Springham was a head master at one time. We used to go down Tank Lane to collect leaves to take back to class to draw and paint. I was a paper boy at ...see more

Wrongly assigned to Kent - always in Essex Many thanks for letting us know about this glitch - now corrected. Editor