Basildon Town Centre - East Walk shop closures and changes

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Shop Closures and Changes in Basildon Town Centre

Town Centre Locations
Town Square	East Walk	Market Square	Eastgate
East Square	South Walk	Market Pavement	Westgate
Nether Priors	South Gunnels	Fodderwick	Southernhay
Great Oaks North Gunnels High Pavement

East Walk

The first shop units in East Walk were completed in 1958. These were blocks E1 and E2. One of the first shops to open in November was a High Road, Vange business called Stewards, selling electrical goods and toys. This was at No.47 in a block built for the Freedom Development Company.

A large block numbered 2-20 (Block I) was under construction during 1960 and when completed was named Waterloo House. Barclays Bank were an early occupant moving in in April 1961 and remaining there until August 2012. The western side of the Waterloo House block was numbered 1 - 7 (odd) and called South Gunnels. The remaining block, known as Block F1 and numbered 28 to 62, was completed in early 1962 with Leaders Fashions being one of the first to open in March.

Sometime in the early 2000s units 1 and 3, which were half the width of the other units, were merged to form a single unit numbered 1-3. In 2014 following the relocation of Shoe Zone to 78/80 Town Square, unit 6 was merged with units 2-4 (formerly Barclays Bank) to form the new address of Metro Bank. Earlier in 2011 units 8-12 were merged with unit 14 to form one large unit comprising the Poundworld business. Unfortunately this business closed in August 2018 and the units have remained empty ever since.

In the 2010s Basildon Council acquired Freedom House (East Square and units 1-27 (odd) East Walk) as a regeneration project to include shops, residential properties and a cinema. During 2019 work to demolish the East Square shop units along with units 1-27 (odd) East Walk was begun and completed (with the exception of the former main Crown post office which was partially demolished at the close of 2019). The remainder of East Walk (units 29 - 47) were not part of this regeneration.

Text researched and written by William Cox, 2020.
Copyright © 2012,2020, B. Cox - Basildon History Online. All rights reserved.

East Walk
Unit Number	Shop Name	Business	Open approx	Closed approx
1	Achille Serre (relocated: 58 East Walk) The Card Centre Dollond & Aitchison (D&A The Opticians) (relocated: 25 Town Square within Boots) Mr Simms Olde Sweet Shoppe Grace - Hair & Beauty (relocated: 43 East Walk)	Dry Cleaners Greetings Cards Opticians (unit merged with No.3) Sweet shop (unit merged with No.3) Hairdresser	Pre /06/1959 1969 -- 2011 2010s	Pre /06/1967 -- 22/11/2010 2015 c.2019 Demolished 2019
3	J.W. Adams Hudson Verity Wigmores Dollond & Aitchison (D&A The Opticians) (relocated: 25 Town Square within Boots) Mr Simms Olde Sweet Shoppe Grace - Hair & Beauty (relocated: 43 East Walk)	Opticians Opticians Dispencing Opticians Opticians (unit merged with No.1) Sweet shop (unit merged with No.3) Hairdresser	/01/1960 /03/1969 1970s -- 2011 2010s	/03/1969 -- 1980s 22/11/2010 2015 c.2019 Demolished 2019
5	Stone-Dri - Direct Raincoat Co. Havecards Ltd. Cheltenham & Gloucester (C&G) Cash Converters	Male/Female/Children's Fashionwear Greetings cards Building Society Buy & Sell Goods	23/12/1960 1980s -- c.2008	-- -- c.2011 2019 Demolished 2019
7	Gaiety Fashions Levy's of Stratford Bankrupt Stock Clearance Byrite (relocated: 33-34 Eastgate Centre as Mister Byrite) Papertalk Better Choice	Ladies Fashionwear Clothes General goods Menswear Gift Shop Household Goods	Pre /06/1960 /08/1962 1960s c./04/1969 -- 2010s	-- -- -- c.1985 2010s c.2018 Demolished 2019
9	Nigels Stores Stylo (Barratt) Cancer Research Uk	Teenage & Children's Fashion Shop Shoes Charity Shop	/06/1960 -- c.2010s	-- -- 2019 Demolished 2019
11	Austin The Tailor Percy Ingle Fragz R Us	Tailor Bakers Coffee & Tea shop	/02/1959 c.2000s c.2018	-- c.2018 2019 Demolished 2019
13	Lloyds Lloyds TSB (relocated: 10-20 Town Square) Bet Fred	Bank Bank Bookmakers	/03/1959 1980s 2010s	1980s -- 2019 Demolished 2019
15	Amber (of Oxford Street) Rumbelows Dowdall & Jordan Gallery Gifts	Ladies Fashionware, Gowns Radio & Television Furniture Discount Warehouse Gift shop	Pre /06/1960 1965 1970s 1986	c.1965 1970s -- -- /06/2018 Demolished 2019
17-19	Wrights (S.L. Wright) Neils Furnishers H.W. Stone Discount Master Simply 4 Home Art Clubbers (not for profit organisation)	Furniture Stockists Furniture & Carpets Domestic Appliances Home Furnishings Household Goods Activities, workshops & exhibitions	1959 1970 1970s 1980s c.1990s c./12/2018	-- 1970s c.1980s 1990s 2018 2019 Demolished 2019
21	Freeman Hardy Willis Scott Taylor Ltd. Salvation Army	Shoe Shop Jewellers Charity Shop	/03/1959 1990s c.2010s	-- 2010s c.2019 Demolished 2019
23	Burney's Maytime Sharps P.D.S.A. (People's Dispensary for Sick Animals)	Household Linen & Soft Furnishing Household Linen & Soft Furnishing Fitted Bedrooms Charity Shop	/04/1959 1970s 1980s c.2010s	1970s 1980s -- c.2019 Demolished 2019
25	Barringtons Dixons (relocated: 19 Town Square) Soundzone Records (relocated: 32 Southernhay) A.W. Rust Chitter Chatter Basildon Mind (relocated: 37 East Walk)	Tailor T.V. & Hi.Fi Records Leatherware Mobile Phone Supplier Charity Shop	27/02/1959 c.1974 -- -- /01/2012 c.2010s	-- 1980s -- -- /12/2013 c.2018 Demolished 2019
27	Edmund R. Goodrich (relocated: 58 East Walk)	Domestic Stores	/02/1961 c.2010s	/03/1970 c.2019 Demolished 2019
29	Keith Royle Westminster Bank (Merged with National Provincial Bank 1/1/1970 becoming National Westminster Bank)	Carpets & Lino Bank	15/01/1959 1960s	-- 31/12/1969
31	Harry Fenton	Menswear	/08/1959	--
33	Harry Fenton Godfrey Photographics (relocated: 28-32 East Walk) Basildon Hearing Aid Centre (relocated: 28 East Walk) K Shoe Shop The Fabric Factory	Menswear Photography, Studio 33 From 1969 Hearing Aids Shoe Shop Wools/Fabrics	/08/1959 /11/1967 -- 13/04/1973 --	-- /11/1972 /11/1972 -- 2000s
35	M.D. Godfrey The Chemist (relocated: 28-32 East Walk) K Shoe Shop Branded Shoe Shop The Fabric Factory	Chemist, 1st Floor Photographics Shoe Shop Shoe Shop Wools/Fabrics	/10/1960 13/04/1973 c.1980s --	/11/1972 -- -- 2000s
37	Gowers & Son Barton's Tooks Alliance & Leicester (rebranded: Santander (2010)) Santander	Baker & Restaurant Bakery Bakers Building Society (Bank from 1997) Bank	/06/1960 1963 1980s -- 28/05/2010	-- 1980s 1980s 28/05/2010 2014
39	John Manson Weston Opticians	Butchers & Poultry Opticians	1961 --	c.1970 2015
41	Raymond Warr Seafare (& at 16 South Walk)	Greengrocer, Fruiterer & Florist Restaurant & Fish Bar	/02/1960 c./11/1966	1966 c.1990s
43	Garons Moores Stores Superdrug (relocated: 30 Town Square & 10 Eastgate Centre) Home Curtains & Bedding	Caterers & Upper Restaurant Supermarket Drugstore Curtains and Bedding	18/02/1960 c. /10/1975 /11/1977 --	1975 c. /10/1977 -- 2013
45	Garons Moores Stores Superdrug (relocated: 30 Town Square & 10 Eastgate Centre) Home Curtains & Bedding	Bakers & Upper Restaurant Supermarket Drugstore Curtains and Bedding	18/02/1960 c. /10/1975 /11/1977 --	1975 c. /10/1977 -- 2013
47	Stewards Mothercare (relocated: 21 Eastgate Centre) The Bike Shop Abbey National Abbey (rebranded: Santander (2010))	Prams, toys, t.v., records, tape rec., radio Babycare Cycles Building Society Bank	26/11/1958 /06/1965 c.1984 c.1988 /09/2003	1965 c.1980 c.1987 /09/2003 10/01/2010
2	Barclays Bank (relocated: 19 Town Square - 06/08/2012)	Bank	17/04/1961	03/08/2012
4	Shepherd's Restaurant Red Lion How Wah Barclays Bank	Restaurant Licensed Chinese Restaurant Licensed Chinese Restaurant Bank	1961 /12/1963 1964 1970s	1963 1964 1970s 03/08/2012
6	Timpson Shoes Shoe Zone (relocated: 78-80 Town Square)	Shoe Shop Shoe Shop	1961 --	-- ??/03/2014
8-10	Alex Super Stores Charles Phillips Foodtown Tesco (relocated: Great Oaks) The Carpet Warehouse Topshop Topman - closed briefly, reopened Premiere Music (relocated: East Walk) Topshop Topman (relocated: 24-25 Eastgate Centre) Poundworld (more choice, more savings)	Supermarket Supermarket Supermarket Carpets Clothes DVDs, CDs & Books Clothes Cut price general goods and food	/01/1961 c.1963 /07/1965 -- -- 2000s -- 2011	c.1963 c.1965 /11/1971 -- 05/08/2000 2000s 2011 10/08/2018
12	Civic Stores Ltd. The Oven Door Friars Coffee Lounge Gamestation Poundworld (more choice, more savings)	T.V. Radio & Electrical Bakers Diner Video games Cut price general goods and food	1961 c.1975 -- -- 2011	c.1975 2000s -- 2010s 10/08/2018
14-20	Bermans - The Children's Store Wimpy Bar Burger King Poundworld (more choice, more savings)	Clothes & 1st Floor Toyshop, Scalextric & Triang-Hornby dealer Counter service unit Restaurant & take-away Cut price general goods and food	/12/1961 c.1982 -- 2011	c.1982 -- 2011 10/08/2018
28	Leaders Fashions (A Debenham Store) L.F. Stone & Sons T/A: Stones Taylors Furnishing Stores (relocated: 3-5 Town Square) Godfrey The Chemist/Photographics Basildon Hearing Aid Centre Christmas Store (Temporary)	Ladies Fashionwear Ladies Fashionwear Furniture Chemist/Hi-fi/1st Floor Studio 33, Video Hire Hearing Aids Xmas decorations, lights, trees	22/03/1962 /07/1964 /07/1966 /11/1972 /11/1972 1990s	-- -- c./08/1972 1990s -- 1990s
30	Leaders Fashions (A Debenham Store) Taylors Furnishing Stores (relocated: 3-5 Town Square) Godfrey The Chemist/Photographics Christmas Store (Temporary)	Ladies Fashionwear Furniture Chemist/Hi-fi/1st Floor Studio 33, Video Hire Xmas decorations, lights, trees	22/03/1962 /07/1966 /11/1972 1990s	-- c./08/1972 1990s 1990s
32	Leaders Fashions (A Debenham Store) Taylors Furnishing Stores (relocated: 3-5 Town Square) Godfrey The Chemist/Photographics Christmas Store (Temporary)	Ladies Fashionwear Furniture Chemist/Hi-fi/1st Floor Studio 33, Video Hire Xmas decorations, lights, trees	22/03/1962 /07/1966 /11/1972 1990s	-- c./08/1972 1990s 1990s
34	Manfield Mayflower Wools	Shoe Shop Wool	c./10/1963 --	-- /12/1985
36	National Provincial Bank National Westminster Bank Leeds Permanent (Merged with Halifax Building Society at 26-32 East Walk)	Bank (Merged with Westminster Bank in 1970) Bank Building Society	1960s 01/01/1970 --	31/12/1969 -- --
38	Rediffusion Granada (rebranded: Box Clever & Granada) (relocated: 60 Eastgate Centre) Travelcare (rebranded: Co-operative Travel (2007)) Co-operative Travel	T.V. Rentals & Sales T.V. Rentals & Sales Travel Agency Travel Agency	/07/1964 1985 -- 2007	1985 -- 2007 /05/2012
40	Eastern Carpet Stores Friars Coffee Lounge Zenith Windows	Carpets Diner Window specialists	/07/1964 c.1983 1990s	1970s -- --2000s
42	Foster Brothers Zenith Windows	Menswear Window specialists	1964 1990s	-- 2000s
44	Clarks (Peter Lord) (relocated: 30 & 62 Eastgate Centre)	Shoe Shop	1965	c./09/1985
46	Hepworths (rebranded: Next 1985) (relocated: 78-80 Town Square) Bernard Chapman Jane Marie Florists	Tailors Florist Florist	1960s 1990s 2000s	1985 2000s 2000s
48	Bellmans Wools Harry Fenton Lunn Poly Thomson	Wools/Schoolwear Menswear Travel Agency Travel Agency	c./9/1968 -- -- --	1970s -- -- 2000s
50	Hadlands (acquired by J.H. Sankey) Sankeys Bambers The Price Slasher Rosebys	Paints, Wallpapers Paints, Wallpapers Fashion Store Discount furniture Soft furnishings	1964 c.1969 c.1979 /04/1984 --	c.1969 1979 -- -- --
52	Sketchley Cleaners Bambers The Price Slasher Rosebys	Dry Cleaners Fashion Stores Discount Furniture Soft furnishings	-- c.1979 /04/1984 --	1970s -- --
54	Willerby Top Footwear For Men Rug World Empty unit	Tailors Shoe Shop Rugs --	-- 1980s -- 2006	-- -- 2006 2012
56	Lillie and Skinner Sweetie H.F.C. Bank Household Bank Beneficial Finance	Shoe Shop Newsagents/Sweets/Tobacconist Bank Bank Financial services	Pre /06/1967 /11/1985 -- -- --	-- -- -- -- c.2010
58	Achille Serre E.R. Goodrich Vernon Collard - added 60 East Walk Home Cinema Stores	Cleaners & Dyers Hardwear Stores Electrical goods & Hi-Fi Electrical goods, Sony Euronics centre	Pre /06/1967 c.1970 1990s 2000s	c.1970 c.1970 -- 2012
60	Starr Fashions Godfrey Harris Vernon Collard Home Cinema Stores	Ladies' & Children's Clothing Jewellers Jewellers Electrical goods & Hi-Fi Electrical goods, Sony Euronics centre	/12/1964 /03/1970 -- -- 2000s	-- -- -- -- 2012
62	Derwent Bennetts	T.V. Rentals, 1980s-Video Hire T.V., Hi-Fi	/12/1965 --	c.1985 --

Page added: 2002

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