please empty your brain below
What a journey, thanks for all that. Good to know there is at least one bookshop remaining in Leigh. It was once a used book Mecca. Memories of steam loco pulling us from Hornchurch station to Leigh in grimier days.

Herbof | 13.11.21 - 8:52 a.m. | #

These posts are like the Billy Bragg song, backwards - 'If you ever, 'ave to go, to Shoeburyness' :-)

I am sorry to hear the Grand Hotel is closed. 30 years ago I went to see the Famous Potatoes there (singer Richard Baxter is probably still a local artist / potter) and staggered back to the (distant) station, where I rolled my mate down the stairs and dragged him onto the train, hoping he wouldn't puke all over the floor. Happy days.

mark addy | 13.11.21 - 8:54 a.m. | #

More childhood memories jogged today. Watching County Cricket in Chalkwell Park, spending hours in the Library and also Grimleys, the bookshop in the High Street which had a wonderful smell of new books. A small Pork Butcher's shop at the top of Church Hill which made and sold their own pies and faggots. It's a shame that the long awaited elevation to City status has happened so shortly after the relegation of Southend United from the Football League.

Actondave | 13.11.21 - 9:39 a.m. | #

Fascinating insights to an area that I am unlikely ever to explore. Don't be discouraged by fewer comments than usual.
Your observational visits are refreshingly different.

Petras409 | 13.11.21 - 9:44 a.m. | #

Really interesting. I've only ever walked along the coast to Leigh, rather than exploring inland

Mikey C | 13.11.21 - 10:39 a.m. | #

A trip on the open top bus this summer revealed the delights of Leigh's retail heart, far better than what I had expected.

The abundance of Edwardian and inter-war architecture was a pleasant surprise too.

Man of Kent | 13.11.21 - 12:26 p.m. | #

TrueLeigh Scrumptious (and those from yesterday) - Tick & smart ding of a bell.

Iveagh Hall - X & harsh buzzer sound. How utterly cringeworthy!

Cornish Cockney | 13.11.21 - 1:41 p.m. | #

Fascinating - like most others I've only visited the area for the "on-sea" bit.

Caroline | 13.11.21 - 8:54 p.m. | #

If you'd continued along the Greenway until near the Westcliff High Schools, you would have got very close to my house!

But, glad that you enjoyed your walk across the newest City in the UK!

John Simmons | 13.11.21 - 11:30 p.m. | #











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