Basildon town centre circa 1963

The Early days of Basildon town centre before there was a railway station, just a bus station and no hospital. In early 1960s the new town comprised ten neighbourhoods. These being: Pitsea, Laindon, Langdon Hills, Vange, Lee Chapel South and North, Fryerns, Ghyllgrove, Barstable and Kingswood.
Recreational and leisure facilities within the town were also addressed during the decade, with the Mecca run 'Locarno' dance hall opening in 1961, followed by a 26 lane bowling alley at Southernhay in 1962. A temporary Arts Centre theatre opened in 1967, and in 1968 the town's new championship size swimming pool at Gloucester Park was completed.
Shops around the town had greatly increased, with Lee Chapel North and South now both having their own neighbourhood centre, and as the 1960s drew to a close work on the shopping centre at Laindon was at an advanced stage.
The population census for Basildon in 1961 was 48,047 and within ten years this had reached more than 80,000 of which nearly 38,000 had come from London.

[@howardbowen-RC-Pilot]

You'd cry to see it today.

[@yesthen2704]

It were beautiful back then. What happened to my England 😢

[@mehran7394]

We took over 👍🏻

[@basildonhistory6054]

This looks to be sometime before October 1963 as the empty shop unit at 54-56 Town Square next to Littlewoods became a 'Marilyn of London' ladies fashion store when it opened on 5th October that year.

[@mackenzierough]

I wonder if was 1962 then?

[@chazzas3469]

Hi What did the shop which is now Cash Mart used to be?

[@smarzyciel]

No PRIMARK yet.... And where are cash converters and pound stretchers??? Also no mums with 3 toddlers in pram and 15 Wilko bags attached to it.... :). Oh sweet memories of Basildump.

[@manugahan1965]

Dave Gahan era un bimbo di 1 anno...! 😍

[@charlotteengland1624]

Hi Ian, did you shoot this? Is it possible to use it in a non commercial video? can discuss more - drop me a message

[@bulldog1066jpd]

Someone was rich back then, did ya see the new ford anglia in the car park opposite the fire station.... cost £600 back in them days.

[@sophiemakes3361]

I’m in town RIGHT NOW!

[@xxxxxx-hf8mg]

Hercules

[@neilbillybob3065]

Basildon is like africa Now Progress eh... i was born & bred here. like most towns in britain now its overcrowded and feels like another third world country or middle eastern place.... its sad to say that the only way to be free
of it is go to the Moon. ENGLANDS GREEN AND PLEASANT LAND IS LONG GONE... AS THE YEARS PASS IT WILL GET WORSE, ITS LOSING ITS CULTURE AND WAY OF LIFE ENGLISH PEOPLE ARE BECOMING RARE THATS THE DOWNWARD SPIRALL ONCE A CULTURE & ITS PEOPLE ARE LOST ITS LOST FOREVER. thats what mass immigration has done across europe its Raped europe.
THIS IS JUST THE TRUTH ABOUT BRITAIN TODAY... I SEE IT EACH DAY & ITS GETTING WORSE.

[@colindant3410]

Douglas Murray has written a book on this subject called 'The strange death of Europe'

[@pendragcn]

you really went on a whole racist rant, with hints of white supremacy, on a video of Basildon from 1963. you crazy intolerant fuck.

[@staypress]

what a shitole now as is most of the new towns and the old come to think of it.

[@UnknownPersononGoogle]

today basildon is more like africa

[@georgeleech7135]

Its not that bad...

[@mrdunnepoetryreallifetvuk1934]

🙄

[@pureboxofscartcables]

Tell that to the weather bro.

[@unalignedtwo]

you should see it now