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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. The west front has fine brickwork with a large rounded archway, m a circular window above, and an asymmetrical bellcote; otherwise the exterior is not. You enter first a narthex, which was enclosed in 1981, and there are wonderful perspectives as you walk around, especially from the west gallery. Interesting 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; a
St Barnabas Hall, of brick but with dormers, 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 pleasing 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. Habitat of interest focuses on the relatively herb-rich grassland, which is 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 20thFebruary 1945. 40 people lay injured. The usual shocked silence pervaded the scene afterwards, broken by the activity of rescue teams under floodlights, the WVS quietly attending to distraught requests for information, and the coming and going of ambulances. The wagging tails of Alsatian search dogs brought over from Lewisham showed that they alone pursued their task with a happy eagerness.
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 20thFebruary 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 20thFebruary 1945. Nellie French aged 41, and her children, Michael, 7, and Kenneth, 14 months, were also killed.
Moorside Road
Nubia Way, An interesting 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, form a very attractive group.
Downham Woodland Walk, a linear park which runs through the estate, with fine mature trees.
Shroffields Road
For Shroffields Farm
Downha