|
Laindon Shopping Centre |
 |
Progress on the development of Basildon new town, had until
the early 1960s, been largely concentrated on land within the designated area that required
little upheaval in respect of existing settlements.
Until development began on the first
new housing estate at Laindon in the early to mid 1960s, Laindon had remained relatively
untouched, with the exception of the new Laindon Link direct road to Basildon, which opened in
the late 1950s.
By the late 1960s the Basildon Development Corporation had begun clearing
the area that would become the Five Links housing estate, and were at that time also responsible
for providing amenities to serve the new communities. Considerations for a centralised shopping
centre in Laindon (then referred to as Laindon Main Centre) had been in the pipeline for some
years, with work finally beginning in 1967, and within two years the first shops began opening
in late 1969.
An office block called Clock House was also built as part of the complex,
complete with a clock face and large bell that clangs every quarter. A split level public house
called The Joker and operated by the Truman brewery chain, opened in late 1970, was also provided.
The shopping centre has been in the hands of private owners since being sold by the development
corporation in June 1972.
In 2008 as part of a regeneration of Laindon shopping centre Clock
House and the Library were demolished and the clock (which had not struck for years) was put into storage.
Text written 2006 with revisions 2006-2007,2012.
Copyright © 2006-2007,2012, Basildon History Online. All rights reserved. |
Contact: E-Mail
Copyright
Unless otherwise specified, all photographs appearing on the Basildon History website, are the
sole property of Basildon History Online and are protected by copyrights and laws. You may not
modify, copy, reproduce, upload, transmit, republish, post, publicly display,
prepare derivative works based on, or distribute in any way Basildon History's own material
without first receiving written permission. You may download photographs, images and text
provided it is for your own personal non-commercial home use. |
|