Shopping at Tarpots 1950's

Things were very different

Tarpots shopping area was full of local shops to meet the every day needs of the local people.

The ATC Hall Tarpots allowed social activities.  Also see Childhood Memories

Tarpots Hall at Tarpots date unknown
Alice Chafer
Tarpots Shops 1950's
The types of Shops at Tarpots, children were sent to collect the shopping, deliveries by local tradesmen

Comments about this page

Add your own comment

  • Small world Colin Taylor

    John Cripps is my father and still here with us, would love some photos of old of family history if you do have some.

    By Dawn Rouse Aka Cripps (06/09/2017)
  • Hi Dulecia, I remember the café very well, went to school with John Cripps who also lived there. I lived in Hatley Gardens before moving to Hall Farm Close by the church, also remember the house boats, church creek was still tidal. Will search family photos to see if I have a photo of house boat Maureen. Would be nice to here from you.

    By Colin Taylor (08/08/2016)
  • My parents, Bryan and Anne Rowe, owned Mac’s Cafe in the late 50’s. Although my mother is sadly deceased my father is very much alive. It was his first business after leaving the navy and was a great success. We then sold up and moved to Devon.

    By Theresa Cornelius (05/03/2016)
  • Yes I remember Mac’s cafe my parent’s had it for a few years until my mother sadly passed away in 1964, I have good and sad memories of that time. 

    By Dulecia King (15/04/2015)
  • Does anyone remember Macs Café at Tarpots during the 60’s ?

    By David Solomons (31/03/2015)
  • I lived in Hatley Gardens for years then West Green, does anybody remember Lipton’s and the chemist, also S T C s on the corner, and not forgetting the Newsbox, newsagents, at the end and I seem to recall an electrical shop called Redifusion.

    By Ann Mintram (25/03/2015)
  • Next to the pub on the A13 was the post office which also sold records, then it was the newagents run by a bald headed man (remember my paper round lugging the Southend Standard on Thursdays). Then it was a butchers, run by Mr Christmas in the 50s but I think he migrated to New Zealand. Further along I recall a grocery shop, pre supermarket of course, where there were wooden drawers and things weighed and sold in paper bags. Even further along was the Co-op. I also remember there being a self serve shop (supermarket) being opened on the opposite side of the A13.

    The Tarpots was for me a place to be wary of because of the tales of what went on there. In summer there were the coaches from London stopping there for a beer before continuing the days outing to Southend

    By Allan Billham (25/06/2014)
  • Just a  comment on the photo above. Route 2A ex Westcliff on Sea was replaced by the 15/A/B on 13/9/59. The Bristol Lodekka on the 2A was new after  1954.

    The coach appears to be PTW 641 – a Dennis Lancet dating from 1950 that Eastern National acquired from Gidea Park Coaches of Romford in 1954 and numbered 140. This coach was sold in April 1959 and scrapped in February 1964. 

    This dates the photo to between 1954 & 1959.

    By Pete Renaut (06/05/2014)
  • Does anyone remember my mum and dad, James and Mil Mackenzie? They owned a cafe on the corner of Tarpots opposite ATC Hall, The Tarpots Hotel. They catered for the dances in the Hall.

    By Susan Hemi Nee Mackenzie (03/05/2014)
  • Next to Tarpots Hall was a shop and alleyway, at the bottom of the alley was a snooker hall where my father used to play snooker and once he came home with a bunch of bananas he had won. Also shops next to the hall included Roberts fish shop, the daughter went to Benfleet school I think, her name was Connie. On the corner of Rushbottom Lane was a yard and I think it was called Essex Carriers and going up the High Road towards Cemetery Corner on the right hand side was Palmers, a grain store, I believe it was run by brothers. There was a shop called Mendoza’s along the London Road going towards Hadleigh at the end of the parade of shops on the right hand side. Also I remember Cammidge the greengrocers. There was also a double fronted shop at the end of the parade which sold everything such as clothes and bedding.

    By Alice Chafer 'nee Wade (01/07/2013)

Add a comment about this page

Your email address will not be published.