Through Time
2 total works
Hornchurch is often recognised as a World War II front line RAF Airfield, but the town has a long and varied history dating back to the last Ice Age. Hornchurch Through Time brings together a colourful collection of old and modern pictures and postcards of the area. The popularization of photography in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries reveals a village centre filled with interesting buildings many centuries old in Essex vernacular style. Drawn from family albums, local collections and professional photographers, they show the way things were and how they have changed. Every photograph is captioned, revealing historical and anecdotal detail and giving life to the scenes and personalities captured through the camera lens. Bringing together all aspects of daily life the collection should inspire memories, as well as serve as an introduction to visitors.
The ancient market town of Romford has developed out of all recognition. Once a quiet country town which mainly came alive on market days it is now a busy shopping centre, with dozens of coffee shops and restaurants. In the 1930s South Street changed from a largely residential route into a shopping mecca known as the Golden Mile. This became thronged by potential buyers from all over the London region and going to Romford became almost a tourist trip. In the town many distinctive, local businesses were replaced by the big multiple outlet enterprises. Once occupied by back gardens and the rear of properties on the Market Place, Western Road and South Street, this became The Liberty mall development. In this book we revisit the old scenes such as the live Cattle Market, the Laurie Hall, and the Charity School, which made the former town an intriguing mix of ancient and modern.