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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

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.

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Nether Priors Fodderwick
Unit NumberShop Name BusinessOpen
approx
Closed
approx
1-3A. Elsey & Son
Foster's
Peter Dominic
Jackson's Warehouse
George's
Club Key West Kids
Subway
Reopened under new franchise
Wine Merchants
Wine Merchants
Off Licence
Kids Fashionwear, Ist Floor Schoolwear
Kids Fashionwear, Ist Floor Schoolwear
Kids Fashionwear, Ist Floor Schoolwear
Restaurant and take-away
As above
/05/1959
1967
c.1970
1985
--
--
c.2010
/06/2012
--
c./06/1970
--
1998
--
/05/2005
/04/2011
c.2018
Temporary
Attached
Building
Basildon Central Library (1)
(relocated: Fodderwick)
Basildon Council use
Essex County Council Public Library
Basildon Council use
/04/1964
c.1970
c.1970
1990s
Temporary
Detached
Building
Basildon Central Library (2)
(relocated: Basildon Centre)
Unknown use
Essex County Council Public Library
Unknown use
c.1970
1990
05/12/1989
1990s
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FodderwickNether Priors
Unit NumberShop Name BusinessOpen
approx
Closed
approx
1Singer (Sewing Centre)Sewing equipment /08/1961c.1978
3Lynvale
Basildon Sports Ltd. (relocated: 57 Southernhay)
Charles Fishing Tackle (Charles E. Thorn) (Bill Thorn)
Babywear
Sports Clothing & Equipment
Fishing Equipment
1961
1963
1966
1962
1966
--
5T.J. Aston
Basildon Home Centre
R.A. Butt
Phelps & Butt
Phelps & Partners (relocated: 75 Southernhay)
Quirk & Partners (now Quirk & Deakin 51 Southernhay)
Groceries
Wallpaper, Paint, Carpets
Insurance Brokers
Estate Agents
Estate Agents
Estate Agents
c.1961
/01/1963
/02/1964
/08/1967
1970s
--
c.1962
c.1964
1970s
--
--
7Pet Shop (Hyland) (from 1970 also at 83 Southernhay)Pet & Aquatic Shop 18/08/19621970s
9R.H. Blois
C.E. Wignall (relocated: 17-19 Market Square)
Bookmaker, Turf Accountants
Bookmaker
Pre /06/1960
--
--
--
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Page added: 2002
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* The 5 units that comprised Nether Priors were later incorporated within phase one of the Eastgate Shopping Centre which opened in 1980. They were then renumbered 2-6 Eastgate Centre.
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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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