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Shop Closures and Changes in Basildon Town Centre
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Town Centre Locations
Town SquareEast Walk High PavementEastgate
East SquareSouth Walk Market PavementWestgate
Nether PriorsSouth Gunnels Market SquareSouthernhay
Great OaksNorth Gunnels Time SquareFodderwick

East Square

The first shop units in the 4 storey block known as East Square were completed during 1959 and one of the earliest shops to open that year was T.V. rental & sales dealer Robinson Rentals. This block and that of East Walk (unit numbers 1-47 odd) were built on behalf of the Freedom Development Company. Cubitts, a long established building company were involved in its construction.

The shop units, given odd numbers 1-21, are on two levels and the upper two storeys were created for offices and given the name Freedom House after the aforementioned company. Two red K4 telephone kiosks were also positioned to the right of unit 11 against the side wall. The main Basildon Crown Post Office also occupied a place in East Square at No.25-31 in a purpose built building first opened in 1963. The counter service closed in March 2014 when the business was transferred to retailer WH Smith in Town Square.

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

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Lower LevelEast Square
Unit NumberShop Name BusinessOpen
approx
Closed
approx
Upper Level 
1Stewards
Peters Hair Fashions
Partners - Hairdressing For Men (relocated: 30 Southernhay - 15/03/2019)
Cycles, Mopeds & Scooters
Gents Hairdressers
Gents Hairdressers
/12/1959
1963
1978
1963
1978
09/03/2019
3Stewards
Tabwear
Bouquet
Cycles, Mopeds & Scooters
Menswear
Florists
/12/1959
1969
--
--
--
--
5Gay Furnishings Ltd
Stewards Departmental Stores
Harts Self Selection Store
B & W Linen Shops Ltd
Heraldshops
Richardson Fabrics
The Job Centre (relocated: Great Oaks House)
Pizza Hut
Home Furniture
Cycles, Mopeds & Scooters
Sheets & Bedding
Curtains & Linen
Curtains & Linen
Drapers & Fabrics
Employment Agency
Diner
1959
/12/1959
/01/1964
25/03/1968
c./06/1970
1975
1977
--
--
1963
/03/1968
--
1975
c.1977
c.1982
c./01/2013
7Gemmel Ltd.
Gay Furnishings Ltd
Stewards Departmental Stores
Harts Self Selection Store
B & W Linen Shops Ltd
Heraldshops
Richardson Fabrics
The Job Centre (relocated: Great Oaks House)
Pizza Hut
Shoe Repairs & Leather Goods
Home Furnishings
Electrical, China, Cycles
Sheets & Bedding
Curtains & Linen
Curtains & Linen
Drapers & Fabrics
Employment Agency
Diner
23/02/1959
1959
/10/1961
/01/1964
25/03/1968
c./06/1970
1975
1977
--
1959
1961
--
/03/1968
--
1975
c.1977
c.1982
c./01/2013
9Gay Furnishings Ltd
Stewards Departmental Stores
Harts Self Selection Store
B & W Linen Shops Ltd
Heraldshops
Richardson Fabrics
The Job Centre (relocated: Great Oaks House)
Pizza Hut
Home Furniture
Electrical, China, Cycles
Sheets & Bedding
Curtains & Linen
Curtains & Linen
Drapers & Fabrics
Employment Agency
Diner
/02/1959
/10/1961
/01/1964
25/03/1968
c./06/1970
1975
1977
--
1961
--
/03/1968
--
1975
c.1977
c.1982
c./01/2013
Lower Level 
11Jeffrey's Hair Fashions
United Dominions Trust
Nationwide Building Society (relocated: 90 Town Square)
Townsend (Peter Townsend) (relocated: Exterior Westgate Shopping Park)
Hairdresser
Bank
Building Society
Florist
27/03/1961
21/06/1974
/04/1976
1990s
1970s
--
--
--
13Robinson Rentals Ltd
Granada (relocated: 38 East Walk)
Music Makers
Tile Warehouse
Sunny Side Up
The Workhouse
Party Party
T.V. Rentals & Sales
T.V. Rentals & Sales
Musical Instruments & Equipment
Tiles
Tanning Studio
Protective work clothing
Costumes & balloons
/01/1959
c.1970
1985
c.1980s
c.2001
--
--
c.1970
1985
c.1980s
1990s
--
--
2010s
15Forbuoys (1)
Sterling House
Jessops
Newsagent
Cycles & Telephones
Photography
c.1961
1980s
c.2000
--
--
11/01/2013
17Sado and King Ltd Off Licence
Bristol & West Building Society (relocated: 74-76 Town Square)
M.J's Music
Love ur Hair
Wine & Spirit merchant
Building Society
Musical Instruments & Equipment
Unisex hairdressers
c.1961
07/06/1971
1990s
--
--
--
02/08/2008
2019
19ABC Wallpapers
Cold Seal
M.J's Music (relocated: 17 East Square)
Nails

Cartoon Shop (relocated: 109 Eastgate)
Wallpaper
Doors & Windows
Musical Instruments & Equipment
Face Masks, Comics, etc.
Nails and eyelashes
c.1961
--
c.1993
--
--
--
--
1990s
2008
2019
21Post Office (relocated: 25-29 East Square)
H. Toby
Arthur Prince
Megabet
Temporary P.O.
Turf Accountants
Bookmakers
Bookmakers
c.1960
1960s
1980s
--
c.02/07/1963
1980s
1990s
2019
25 - 29Crown Post Office
(relocated: 29 Town Square - 27/03/2014)
Counter service 03/07/196326/03/2014
Demolished 2019
?Scientific & TechnicalElectrical, Calculators 1980s--
Above the Crown Post Office
35Tax OfficeInspector of Taxes 1960s1970s
Demolished 2019
Freedom House
1aBasildon Development Corporation (relocated: Gifford House, Bowers Gifford)Solicitors Department 1960s/10/1971
 A. Glenny & SonEstate Agents 1960s1970s
 Basildon Secretarial Services (relocated: Information Kiosk, Market Pavement)Agency c./09/196801/02/1969
 Elliott, Mortlock, Bland & Co.Solicitors Pre /06/1970--
1aCo-Operative Insurance Society Ltd.Insurance Company c.1970s--
 Mitchell, Caulkett & CoileySolicitors c.1980s--
 MWP Solicitors (Maudsley, Wright & Pearson)
(relocated: Suite 2g, 2nd Floor, Southgate House, Town Square)
Solicitors c.1980sc.2013
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Page added: 2002
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Text researched and written by William Cox, 2002 with revisions and additions 2006-2015.
Copyright © 2002-2015, B. Cox - Basildon History Online. All rights reserved.
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