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History of Rochford
MARKET SQUARE
Having walked past all these buildings, perhaps visualising the hustle and bustle there in years gone by, one arrives at Market Square, the true centre of the town. Here has been conducted, since 1257 by Royal Charter, a weekly market. Cattle and other livestock sales ceased in 1959, though a vibrant general goods market has been held here on Tuesdays since 1977. On three sides virtually all the buildings have long-term associations with the town’s trade. On the site of an inn, The Vernon’s Head, The Corn Exchange was built in 1866; it had other functions around the time of WW1 – a garage, printers, laundry - now owned and run by Rochford Women’s Institute. Next door, Barclays Bank goes back to 1853, though Barclays themselves did not take over until 1866.
The Kings Head had two particular claims to fame in the 18th/19th centuries. It was from here that one boarded the stage-coach to London. They had stabling facilities behind. Also the annual Whispering Post (Lawless Court) ceremonies started and ended here. The east side of The Square is the result of over-enthusiastic redevelopment in the 1960’s. Before that, where the Spar supermarket now stands, was Soper’s greengrocery and, next door, a grocery, where a Mr. Shelley was the proprietor a century ago. Further along a bakery that became tearooms in later years.
Many of the shops on the north side were badly damaged by fire in 1884, so we are looking today at, largely, late 19th century replacements. Connaught House, built as an elegant dwelling in 1770 survives in all its beauty. Beside it was a little cottage, Fernbank, that was replaced, sadly, by the Natwest branch.
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