This Day in Basildon's HistoryShowing all results for Thursday, March 28, 2024 - 1930 The Broadway cinema in High Road, Pitsea opened. It was designed by architects, A. J. Varndell and L. A. Green and funded by local businessman Harold George Howard (owner of Howard's Dairies). With seating for 700 and a cafe and tea room it proved very popular with the public. In 1955 its name was changed to Century and continued to show films and other leisure events through to 1970 when owners Granada Theatres Ltd. closed it in favour of operating as a bingo hall. In 1991 it was renamed Gala but was finally closed in July 2009. The building then remained empty where its condition deteriorated and was even subjected to an arson attack. As of 2023 the building is now being demolished to be replaced with a residential apartment block with associated parking.
- 1913 An explosion at the British Explosives Syndicate factory at Pitsea kills three men and injures others. All three men were buried in the churchyard of nearby St. Michael's in graves overlooking the direction of the factory. The factory and associated buildings stood on land that now forms the council run Wat Tyler Country Park.
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