Old Town High Street Leigh-on-Sea Pt 1

[@williamcorbett6496]

Born in Broadway West in 1947, I remember a lot of Old Leigh. The Peter Boat where I had my first pint, the signal box and the level crossing - not to mention the old metal bridge over the railway. I don’t remember the Mayflower pub though - I am sure that that building was the Beach Shop where we were bought our ice creams and sandcastle flags for our afternoon on Joscelyn’s Beach. The steps down to that beach are familiar in my memory as is “climbing the greasy pole’ competition on the same beach. Thank you for all your hard work in portraying all this.

[@johncochrane2707]

Thanks William for your kind words. The Mayflower originally occupied the left hand side of the building, the right hand part was The Rock Shop and was probably the 'Beach Shop' prior to that. I think the pandemic put the Rock Shop out of business around 2021 and the Mayflower took over the entire building. Thanks again for watching!

[@williamcorbett6496]

@@johncochrane2707 I’ve lived in New Zealand for fifty years now and these videos are the closest I can get to “home” now. I can even see myself quite happily standing on Bell Wharf as a young lad watching the Leigh Regatta before returning home to the flat across from Leigh Library. It can become a bit overwhelming ….

[@burntbananastube]

As someone who has grown up in and around the old town since the 90's and sail from my mooring on the creek, thought I had seen a lot of change! Really appreciate this content mate, fascinating to see how the place has developed and become the beautiful place I wish nobody knew about.

[@leighonseahistory9523]

Thanks very much indeed BB. I hope to get around to doing a video on the large houseboat community that thrived on the creek between the wars and the early 1950s. It was described once as "Water Villas in the Streets of Lost Ships". There were several hundred dwellings there.

[@beverlygannon4141]

I'm thinking of moving there now. I'm in my 60s. So u think it's a good place to, Liv. I've always loved It there❤🙏

[@markohanrahan2961]

Great channel. Do you have any old photos of Hadleigh Road? I’ve looked everywhere can’t find anything.

[@leighonseahistory9523]

Thanks Mark. I haven't come across any old photos of Hadleigh Road either I'm afraid.

[@williamcorbett6496]

Actually I doubt very much has changed in 100 years. St Michael’s School at the London Road end looks exactly like I left it some 70 years ago. The large house at the corner of Hadleigh Road and Grange Road is STILL used for dentists - but I guess the wire drives for the drills have gone and the seat is not as leather- bound and hard.

[@alanrobbo6980]

The Railway made a Right Hatchet Job on the old Town.😢

[@leighonseahistory9523]

Very true Alan.