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Downderry Road
Steel houses built in 1920s
by London County Council
Downham
Residential area developed from the 1920s, named after
Lord Downham, William Hayes Fisher,chairman of the London County Council from
1919-20. The estate was begun in 1924 on former farmland, and largely completed
by 1930, though the section to the north of Whitefoot Lane was not completed
until 1939. A cottage estate (over 7000 dwellings), with small groups and
longer terraces, in traditional brick design, laid out along curving and
intersecting roads. Laid out on a area previously known as Seven Fields. Roads
are named after the old fields.
Downham Way
Winds its way through the estate. Here is the estate's
main shopping centre
St Barnabas. A
brick building by Sir Charles Nicholson of 1929. TInteresting features a include the old organ of 1854, which
was originally in The Hall, Southend, was moved in 1922 to the old chapel at St
Johns Southend, and was placed here in 1931 the original stone font, wooden
pulpit, and painted reredos
St Barnabas Hall, brick also by Nicholson, 1926, used as the church before
St Barnabas was built.
Downham Community Centre, was originally Downham Methodist
Church of 1929, and became a community centre c1978; it is of plain harmony
with the estate.
Downham Fields,
a oblong of grass on a sloping site which undulates and gives good
views to the west. Public open space on
a gentle hill slope. Downham Estate was built on open land belonging to the old
Shroffold's Farm whose name derives from an ancient manor in the area. herb-rich grassland, dominated by species
such as common bent, Yorkshire fog and red fescue. The grassland is regularly
mown by the Borough throughout spring and summer.
4 V2 attack 20th
February 1945. 40 people lay injured.
Downham Lifestyle Centre. Replacing Downham baths and library.
Downham Tavern. Was in the Guiness Book of Records Britain’s
biggest pub. LCC built it in 1930 to hold 1,000 customers. Demolished and
became a petrol station.
Moordown
1 V2 attack 20th
February 1945. Just that day Clare Farrell, aged 26, and her three children,
David, 6, Anthony, 5, and Elizabeth 3, had moved in. Now they were dead.
64-74 V2 attack
20th February 1945. A dozen people died
70, V2 attack 20th
February 1945. Nellie French aged 41, and her children, Michael, 7, and
Kenneth, 14 months, were also killed.
Moorside Road
Nubia Way, close of 13 self-build houses
1997, based on the Walter Segal concept and supervised by Jon Broome of
Architect. The detached timber-framed houses in a staggered pattern, upper
floors weather boarded in brown pine,
Downham Woodland Walk, a linear park which runs through
the estate, with fine mature trees.
Shroffields Road
For Shroffields Farm
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