Victoria Road

One of the first of these land sales took place on 16th August 1869 at the Auction Mart Tokenhouse Yard London and was conducted by Messrs Beadel.

The land in question comprised fields on the north side of King Street and called Watch House Piece; Barn Close; Pound Field; Long Mead; and Leg of Mutton Field totalling some 21 acres and formerly belonging to Ann Nelson. The Kings Head Hotel and its grounds already existed and were excluded from the sale. The land was divided into 51 separate plots that were offered for sale to the highest bidder and were intended for housing or shops.

A new road was proposed running in an arc from London Road to a junction with Southend Road and the frontage of most of the plots was facing this new road. When first constructed as an unmade occupation road in the 1870s it was known simply as New Road but in honour of Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee in 1887 it was renamed Victoria Road and of course remains an important thoroughfare to this day.

The following photographs taken in and around Victoria Road are from the early years of the 20th Century and show everyday scenes from the area. Although many of the small shops have been converted to dwellings or demolished, most of these scenes are still quite familiar today. The old cattle market has been replaced by flats and the Thomas Allen transport depot by the houses and flats of Bell-Reeves Close and Ellie Close.

No.4 Egmont Terrace was the original base of two local midwives Margaret Grist and Maggie Finn. In 1929 they were joined by Doreen Ager and relocated to a house called The Cottage in Scratton Road

Stanford Cattle Market was located in Victoria Road where Gentry Close is now and was opened on Tuesday 14th May 1907 jointly by Mr.Offin and Mr.Rumsey who were well known auctioneers inthe area

John Coates was a keen cricketer who played for Stanford Cricket Club. He was captain from 1907 until 1910 and President from 1947 until his death at the age of 89 in 1969.