Basildon Town Centre - Market Square 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

Market Square

The first shop units in Market Square were completed in 1958. This was a joint development between Basildon Development Corporation and Ravensfelt properties.

Henbest & Son, a long established family run business originating from the High Road at Laindon, were the first shop to open at unit number 65-67, not just in Market Square but the town centre as a whole.

On the 5th August 2020 a planning application was submitted by Orwell Real Estate to Basildon Council to regenerate the western end of the Town Centre with a mixture of high rise flats and retail units. The council rejected the application which then went to appeal which was successfully won by the applicants on 17th December 2021. As a result of this all shop units along the entire length of Market Square, along with shop units 2-12 in Market Pavement, 2-76 Town Square and 1-3 Fodderwick will be demolished as part of the project. Even before the result was known many shop units were already empty and other traders including the Moon on the Square public house announced their closure during 2022.

Text researched and written by William Cox, 2012 and 2023.
Copyright © 2012, 2023, B. Cox - Basildon History Online. All rights reserved.

Market Square
Unit Number	Shop Name	Business	Open approx	Closed approx
1-3	Superfare Ltd. Market Stores (Cheapjaks) (relocated: 32 Southernhay) Clark's Bakery The Moon on the Square	Self-service foodstore General dealer discount store Bakery & Cafe Public House	14/03/1959 1960s 1980s 11/01/1996	1960s c.1978 1990s 25/09/2022
5-7	Jeffrey's Hair Fashions (relocated: 11 East Square) Kingstons The Moon on the Square	Hairdressers Butcher Public House	/06/1959 04/09/1970 11/01/1996	c.1969 -- 25/09/2022
9-11	Stitcher's (fine foods) Dewhurst The Moon on the Square	Groceries Butcher Public House	/04/1959 -- 11/01/1996	1970s -- 25/09/2022
13-15	Wall Paper Stores Ltd. (Crown Wallpapers) The Moon on the Square	Wallpaper Stores Public House	Pre /06/1960 11/01/1996	c.1970s 25/09/2022
17-19	Mac Fisheries John Glaister Toybox C.E. Wignall	Fishmonger -- Toys Bookmakers	Pre /06/1960 -- -- --	-- -- -- --
21-23	Pollards	Wool & Haberdashery	1960s	1980s
25-27	Curtess Little Haven Hospice Shop Betster	Shoe Shop Charity Shop Betting shop	1970s 1999 2008	c.1990s 01/03/2008 c.2016
29-31	Forbuoys (2) Whistle & Flute Planet Britelite Windows Cycles UK (relocated: 69/71 Market Square) The Hat Box	Newsagent Men's Suits Kitchens, Bathrooms & Tiles Windows and Doors Bicycles and accessories Hats	/05/1959 -- c./07/1983 c./04/1984 1997 c.2005	-- -- c.1984 -- /06/2003 c.2010
33-35	Matthews St. Lukes Hospice Shop (charity shop)	Butcher Toys and books	/06/1959 2000s	Post /09/1984 15/08/2020
37-39	Barton's Tooks Percy Ingle	Bakers Bakers Bakers	Pre /06/1961 c.1982 c.2000s	1980s -- c.2016
41-43	Sketchley Cleaners Cramphorn Ltd. Lunn Poly Casal Lifestyle Mobility (relocated: 45/47 Market Square)	Dry Cleaners Pet & Garden Centre Holiday bookings Unisex Hairstylists Mobility Scooters	/08/1959 Pre /08/1967 1982 -- c.2010s	c.1964 c.1978 -- -- c.2016
45-47	Littlewoods - (initially 45-51) Argos (relocated: 5 Westgate Shopping Park) K.S. Superstores	Clothes, Foodstore & Restaurant Catalogue Shop Household Goods, Stationary, Tools & Toys	03/03/1960 1990s --	1990s -- 2006
49-51	Littlewoods - (initially 45-51) Argos (relocated: 5 Westgate Shopping Park) K.S. Superstores	Clothes, Foodstore & Restaurant Catalogue Shop Household Goods, Stationary, Tools & Toys	03/03/1960 1990s --	1990s -- 2006
53-55	Kingston's (Kingston Bros. Ltd.) (relocated: 5-7 Market Square) Littlewoods Iceland (relocated: 15-21 Market Pavement)	Butcher Restaurant Foodstore	Pre /06/1961 1970s --	/08/1970 1990s --
57-59	Charsleys (relocated: 8-9 Eastgate Centre) The Outdoors Cash Generator	Shoe Shop Camping equipment, army surplus etc. Cash exchanged for goods to resell	/09/1958 -- c.2000s	c.1980 -- 2017
61-63	Waldorfs Juniors Toy Shop	Prams & Babywear Toyshop	/11/1958 Pre /06/1962	c.1962 --
65-67	Henbest & Son H. Wickison D.E.R. (Domestic Electric Rentals) Robin's Pie & Mash (relocated: 21A Town Square (01/09/2023)	Menswear & Schoolwear Menswear & Suit Hire Domestic T.V. Rentals Food take-away	16/08/1958 1968 17/08/1973 --	1968 1973 -- 19/08/2023
69-71	Killwick's Furnishing Stores Dowdall & Jordan Cycles Uk	Furnishing Store Upholstery, Furniture & Bedding Bicycles and accessories	/11/1958 1980s /06/2003	1980s 2000s 12/08/2017

Page added: 2002

* During 1995 4 units numbered 1-3, 5-7, 9-11 & 13-15 were merged into 1 single unit (numbered 1-15) comprising the Moon on the Square public house, which opened on 11/01/1996.

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