Onlinefocus reader Mark Lydford has found an interesting website with lots of press reports about Hullbridge and the surrounding area.
A report about the opening of the Hambro Parade shops in 1964 is particularly interesting:
“August 12th 1964 – With the opening this week of the remaining shops in Hambro Parade, the residents of the Rawreth Lane / Hullbridge Road area now have a brand-new shopping centre right on their doorstep.”
It seems that the original shops were:
VG Selfservice (supermarket)
Hambro Wine
S.J. How (butcher)
Hambro Hardware
R S Giibons (newsagent)
The Bonanza (baby clothes, wool and dry cleaning)
Another clipping from 1964 has a photo of Councillor E W Long officiating at the opening of Hullbridge Swimming Pool….