EPW016644 ENGLAND (1926). The Broadway, St Clement's Church and environs, Leigh-on-Sea, 1926

The new Rectory now called Watson House.

Leigh Rectory was built in 1838 by Rev Robert Eden, then rector of St Clements Church. The rectory was put up for sale by Chelmsford Diocesan Parsonages Committee in 1926 it was bought by the owner of Leigh Hall House who sold it onto Southend Corporation one year later who opened it as a library in 1928

Leigh Rectory was built in 1838 by Rev Robert Eden, then rector of St Clements Church. The rectory was put up for sale by Chelmsford Diocesan Parsonages Committee in 1926 it was bought by the owner of Leigh Hall House who sold it onto Southend Corporation one year later who opened it as a library in 1928 after demolishing

Leigh Hall House, built about 1581 it was demolished in 1927, the year after this photograph, which led to the development of Broadway West

Clement's dairy

In March 1926 Edwards Hall Motors obtained a licence to run a bus service from the junction of Elm Rd and Pall Mall to Southend Pier via Pall Mall, Leigham Court Rd, Grand Drive, Grand Parade, The Ridgeway, Chalkwell Av and Western Esplanade. The route in Leigh designed to avoid congestion in the Broadway and competition for the Corporation's trams. By May Westcliff on Sea Motor Services was granted licences for the same route. This is probably a Westcliff bus. 1926 was the peak of competition between the two firms. They merged in March 1927.

Builder HR Bridge started his Edwards Hall Motors Ltd in December 1923 with a route from Rectory Grove, Leigh to Rayleigh & Hockley via the Upper Edwards Hall estate in Eastwood, that Bridge was building out at the time. Three other routes to Rayleigh via Hadleigh and a route to South Benfleet all followed by 1925. Hence 3 buses in Rectory Grove. They had bought 5 Vulcans in 1923/24, a pair of Reos in 1925 and 6 Dennis buses in early 1926 so these were all pretty new at the date of this picture. The company also owned frontage building land in Rectory Grove. The company merged with Westcliff on Sea Motor Services in March 1927

Coliseum Cinema

St Clements Church Hall