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An Historical Photographic Archive of National Importance

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Nostalgic memories of South Benfleet's local history

Share your own memories of South Benfleet 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.

Add a Memory!

It's easy to add your own memories and reconnect with your shared local history. Search for your favourite places and look for the 'Add Your Memory' buttons to begin

Add Your Memory for South Benfleet

Displaying Memories 11 - 18 of 18 in total

Early Memories
I was thinking of my early days in Tarpots and I had one of those memory flashes, I'm not sure exactly how old I was but it concerned my first "pocket money" sixpence a week as it turned out, the first issue was a Saturday and with this coin in my pocket I went a got my friend Austin and we walked down to the main road and along the parade of shops and walked along to the Cafe, at that time not run by Ben ...see more
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Added 07 July 2010

Florries Stores
As a child my family moved from Leytonstone, London to Church Lane in South Benfleet. Memories are sketchey but I remember clearly living in what were called at the time a 'bungalow stores', it was a pre-war pebbledash type building, I can remember my parents extending the bungalow and improving the layout of the shop, and also giving it a new title of 'Florrie's Store's, aptly named after my mother ...see more
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Added 30 May 2010

Hopes Green
This looks very much like Hopes Green Parade to me. On the left, next to Burnetts the Chemist, there was a hairdresser's shop which looked as if it were stuck in a 1930's time-warp. It was there until about the 1970's.
South Benfleet, the Parade c1955
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Added 01 April 2010

The Crown Ph
I remember that accident happening - I think it was in the late 60's. My Dad had the sweetshop in the High Road opp the Police Station - and I remember my uncle coming in and telling us. We were quite amused by the name change. I also remember the old jellied eel stand nearly opposite the Crown, which has recently been revamped. I used to play on the marshes as a child, and remeber seeing sticklebacks in ...see more
South Benfleet, the High Street c1960
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Added 01 April 2010

Aggies
This is looking down Station Road, the station is at the bottom of the hill. To the right centre can be seen the smoke and steam of a train rising above the trees. I remember walking up here as a boy when it was still unmade. The large square building at the bottom of the hill was a kind of general store that sold all kinds of things as I remember. It was an off licence too and was run by an old lady during the 1970's known locally as 'Aggie'. Of course the road is now all made up.
South Benfleet, view from the Downs c1955
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Added 06 March 2009

Benfleet Yacht Club
The building shown on the right of this photo was Benfleet Yacht Club's boatshed. The clubship is the large, dark boat moored near it. When I was a child, we used to swim in the Creek from the slipway at the Yacht Club. We could swim whilst the tide was coming in, but had to get out as the tide turned before the stuff from the sewage outfall got washed downstream to the Yacht Club!!!!
South Benfleet, the Creek looking West c1960
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Added 25 July 2007

Crown Or Half Crown?
The pub on the right of the road shown in this photo used to be called 'The Crown'. In the late 1960s/early 1970s a lorry driving down this hill jack-knifed and demolished the front of the pub. After the building was repaired, the name of the pub was changed to 'The Half Crown'.
South Benfleet, the High Street c1960
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Added 25 July 2007

The Old Bridge To Canvey Island
The bridge that this photo was taken from used to open so that boats could get through it to the Yacht club. The Yacht club had to be moved downstream of the bridge before the new, non-opening bridge was built.
South Benfleet, the Creek from Canvey Bridge c1960
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Added 25 July 2007