Photos From My Childhood

Jonathan Cowley

Karen Close Area

Jonathan Cowley and his family lived in Karen Close from 1961 to 1978 and his father worked for Fords as a photographer.

These four photos were taken in the mid 1960s.

The first one shows The Hoy and The Crown, before it was re-named The Half Crown.

The second photo is possibly the old Yacht Club and may well have been taken by Jonathan as it shows his father, brother and sister.

The third photo is of Jonathan’s sister, standing in Karen Close near the junction with School Lane. The area  in the background is now the station car park.

The fourth photo is the view looking down towards the war memorial.  On the right the electricity sub station is just being built, possibly about 1965?

Jonathan Cowley
Clock House Cafe,War Memorial & Anchor Pub
Jonathan Cowley

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  • I don’t know if you remember it but that’s what happened. A lorry took the exposed corner off. After it was repaired the then landlord, Jim Tillet, re-named it. Us oldies still call it The Crown, though.

    By Steven Heath (24/02/2014)
  • Do I remember a lorry crashing into the Crown pub after which it was renamed the Half Crown?

    By Paul Johnson (23/02/2014)
  • The second photo is definitely the scout hut as it has the same veranda as the photos on this site under the 1st/2nd Sea Scouts. Also Benfleet Yacht Club didn’t have a building as a club house until about 1984/5. Before this the club house was a boat. 

    By Melanie Graham (19/02/2014)
  • I think that the building in the second picture is the old 1st/2nd South Benfleet Sea Scout Hut.

    By Steven Heath (18/02/2014)

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