please empty your brain below
Yet there is no official mention of Depeche Mode (not even a blue plaque) - clearly the wrong type of heritage.

Still Anon | 04.06.18 - 7:31 a.m. | #

The Pussywillow III clock was more impressive in its original location in front of what is the Asda now. That area of the shopping centre was wider before the redeveloped it some years ago. I'm sure it used to move more then as well.

Also for history there is also the Holly Cross church in Church Road. That dates from the 14th century I believe.

Barry | 04.06.18 - 8:06 a.m. | #

If oddball town centres are your thing, may I commend South Woodham Ferrers to you? I visited for the first time last week and, outside of a theme park’s shopping street, have never seen anything like it. A ‘fine’ example of what was going through a town planners mind of a shopping centr circa 1980.

Marc | 04.06.18 - 8:38 a.m. | #

I went to Basildon recently for a meeting at the church next to the Bell Tower. But I first needed to go a branch of NatWest. I hadn't been to the shopping area of Basildon before.

I walked from the station towards the Centre the neighbouring Church and found them OK, but then had to ask 3 people before a PCSO could tell me where the bank was.

As it happens, it is right down the other end of the pedestrianised and very bleak main shopping "street" (with a closed M&S and several other empty units), and there are no maps!

Although almost as bleak, at least Southend High Street has some maps.

John Simmons | 04.06.18 - 9:01 a.m. | #

It really shows my age that I can look at all the town centre stuff and think "That was The Future, once". :)

Chz | 04.06.18 - 9:45 a.m. | #

When dg visits your town...

A very good writeup. Things not mentioned on the Trail leaflet: the fact that the bell tower was built and opened by the Queen, but it turned out that the vicar hadn't told the church PCC that there wasn't any money to pay the 800k bill.

Places that are a little too far out for the Trail: the A127 'Basildon' sign, Bas Vegas, and some excellent nature reserves.

Dave Walker | Homepage | 04.06.18 - 11:20 a.m. | #

All that sunshine makes your photos look like John Hinde postcards. Which is no bad thing in my view.

Basildon at its best.

Imagine the same shots on a wet Wednesday in February. Actually don't, who needs that in their life.

drD | Homepage | 04.06.18 - 12:28 p.m. | #

The Emmet clock is by no means unique. Some 12 years prior, in Nottingham, Emmet was commissioned by the owners of the newly-built Victoria Centre to build a 'water-powered' clock in his typical style. The result was the 'Aqua Horological Tintinnabulator'; which played a Rameau harpsichord piece on the hour.

Eddie Willers | 04.06.18 - 12:45 p.m. | #

I thought that's posh for Basildon: a sushi van. Then I looked a bit closer and realised it said 'SLUSH'.

My parents used to love Basildon town centre back in the 70s because all the shops were in one place and there was no traffic to worry about. The trouble was though, the town square had a tendency to create a wind tunnel effect which was especially uncomfortable in the winter time.

milliem | 04.06.18 - 2:44 p.m. | #

The "Ceramic Tile Panel" at the bus station is not the original one I remember from my 60s Basildon childhood. That had some vivid colours and an abstract pattern.

The Francis Frith collection has several pictures of this original, piece, designed by William Gordon. The Tile Gazetteer - Essex page suggests that since the new mural shows the railway station which opened in the late 70s, it probably dates from the early 80s, and might even be just placed over the top of the old one.
http://tilesoc.org.uk/tile-gazetteer/essex.html

| 04.06.18 - 2:59 p.m. | #

Basildon station opened 25 Nov 1974.

Paul | 04.06.18 - 7:31 p.m. | #











TridentScan v2.10.0 | Privacy Policy