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Fodderwick
The block comprising the single shop unit on the eastern side of Fodderwick was completed in
1958. It is part of the same rectangular shaped three-storey structure that forms Town Square
(numbers 2-76 even), Market Square (all) and Market Pavement (numbers 2-12 even). The entire block named M, N & O was financed by Ravenseft
Properties Limited in partnership with the development corporation.
The first buildings on the western side of Fodderwick were constructed in 1964 for use by Basildon
Urban District Council and Essex County Council. These were of a temporary demountable type and
placed at the southern end onwards in a short single row facing the road. The end and tallest
of these became the first Basildon Central Library, opened in April 1964. Other temporary
demountables were later added, and these were located behind the original row and also from around
1967 onwards in a second row set back from Fodderwick and accessed from a council car park. In
1970 or early 1971 the central library moved into a temporary detached wooden building on a vacant
plot adjacent to the Towngate/Fodderwick junction. It remained here until moving in 1989 to a permanent
home in the newly constructed Basildon Centre.
In the 1990s the entire western side of Fodderwick
was cleared of buildings in preparation for the Westgate Shopping Park development which was completed
in 1999.
Nether Priors
From the creation of the town centre development the road Nether Priors began from a junction off Southernhay. A
short row of 5 shop units, officially called Block B1 and odd numbered 1 - 9, were completed, part of which is joined to the Block C shopping parade which
faces Southernhay. These were financed by Ravenseft Properties Limited in partnership with the Development Corporation. Directly opposite the 5 units was a large site reserved for the future Basildon railway station though this would later be resited and the
area became a lorry park. Occupation of these units began in 1960 when T.J. Aston opened a grocery store at No.5. Six residential maisonettes were also
built (matching those above the Southernhay shops), with 5 of them directly above each shop unit.
In the late 1970s when a short section of Nether Priors and the lorry park was developed all 5 shop units were incorporated into Phase I of the Eastgate
Shopping Centre, which was completed in 1980.
Text researched and written by William Cox, 2012.
Copyright © 2012, B. Cox - Basildon History Online. All rights reserved. | 
