Essex history enquiry?

Question

Although i now live in Australia i spent my 1st 13 years in Southend, Essex. I'm now going into the history of the town. Can anybody tell me what happened to the C and A's store and Keddies? Thanks

Answer 1

Bet it got sold for housing developments.

Answer 2

From http://www.sarfend.co.uk/info.html

"Victoria Circus Shopping Centre - This is located at the other end of the High Street, close to the Odeon Cinema, Sainsburys and Southend Victoria Railway station. Stores in this older shopping centre include Argos, Wilkinsons and a number of specialist stores. One of the large pulls for the centre, C&A, ceased trading in the centre in the late 1990s.

This shopping centre started in the in 1940's, and in 1964, the council accepted an offer for the site to be converted into a multi-level shopping centre with a multi-story car park and an office block (now used by HSBC for credit card operations)

Keddies - Southend's most well-known department store had a history stretching back over 100 years, and closed its doors in the mid 1990s.

The Keddies building in Chicester Road was built on the site of one of Southend's early picture houses. The building, Maitland House, is now home to a Travelodge hotel, Nat West, and a new nightclub, Mayhem.

In 1981, owner David Keddie was instrumental in forming Essex Radio, and was the station's Chairman for many years."

Hope this is what your are looking for.