Welcome — Judy Lea With the recent balmy weather, unlike last year, we have not had to cancel a meeting due to icy conditions, and have consequently been able to enjoy some exceptional speakers, two of whom spoke without notes or visual aids and yet managed to keep us enthralled - amazing performances from people passionate about their field of interest.

I relish the fact we too can be passionate - about the heritage of the place where we have chosen to live, either by being born here and not moving away or, like me, having deliberately chosen to come here. As a

Society, we can be proud that we are alert in keeping our built heritage protected, helping get unsuitable developments such as Friary East turned down.

Equally essential is keeping the important history of that built heritage accessible to current generations, through both spoken words and pictures, which we achieve by gathering our oral histories and by guardianship of our pictorial archives. It is very pleasing that both archives have been swelling since last autumn. Now, we are beginning to explore ways in which young people can be more directly involved, specifically so that our heritage is actively passed on.

All of this is thanks to the combined efforts of the committee which is deeply appreciated, both by me and the membership as a whole. I am delighted David Wilkin has recently decided to join us. We extend a big welcome to him and hope he enjoys getting more involved with what the Society does.

You will be aware that membership fees are due for renewal on 1st April, and, as endorsed by the AGM in 2018, are being increased by £2 to £10 for a single person and £16 per couple. This follows 11 years without an increase and we hope you will agree still represents excellent value. We look forward to your continuing membership.

Oral History and the Listening Station — Wendy Howell I’m sure that you all know that the Listening Station was officially launched last November. It was certainly a good reason for a celebration, following a lot of commitment from all committee members. It also gave us an opportunity to thank our guests who had generously sponsored us, and the Maeldune Trust for agreeing to give the Listening Station a home! Have you been to see and listen to it yet?

It is in the Maeldune Heritage Centre (below the Plume Library) and is very easy to use. You have a choice of 15 buttons to press; each one accesses a voice of someone we have recorded. These ‘extracts’ of interviews last between 2 to 5 minutes each and cover a wide range of memories of Maldon life in the last 70 years. People who have tried out the Listening Station have been giving us good feedback. Do let any committee members know what you think.

The Oral History interviews continue — we have just completed our 40th one. Judy and I feel very privileged that we have met so many delightful people from Maldon; and in the process, we have learned a lot about this unique town’s history. Please let us know about anyone who has interesting memories of their younger days in Maldon and would be willing to be recorded. Thank you.

The Maldon Society NEWSLETTERSPRING 2019

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John Whiskin — Peter Holmes Elsewhere in this newsletter you will see Wendy’s report on the new Oral History Listening Station. We

now have quite a collection of recordings ready to use, one of which was made recently by Society member

John Whiskin.

John was born and bred in Maldon and his talk gives us a fascinating insight

into life in Maldon during the 1950s and 60s. He spent his early years in

Mundon Road and John describes an idyllic childhood with few cars where he

was free to roam the quiet streets and to pedal around in his red pedal car!

In the days before supermarkets and shopping arcades, there was an abundance

of small specialist shops, not just in the High Street but extending down

Fambridge Road, Spital Road and Wantz Road. In those days, John

remembers, it was possible to obtain everything you might need in Maldon

with no need to travel further afield. A special treat was going to the Embassy

cinema with his friends to watch cartoons and cowboy films.

On moving to Orchard Road, John lived close to the, by then closed, Maldon to Woodham Ferrers railway

line and Maldon West station. Despite being warned of the dangers, John used to explore the deserted

railway buildings and play in the adjacent tunnel. John remembers the rails being taken up in 1958 with the

track eventually being used for the Maldon bypass. John’s visits to Maldon West gave him a lifelong

interest in railways and, in particular, in steam trains.

Over the years, he has built up an extensive collection of old railway photographs and he has kindly

allowed the Society to take digital copies of his Maldon station photos for our archive. Next time you are in

the Maeldune Heritage Centre, do have a look. They are available to see on the monitor in our display area;

just ask one of the volunteers to select them on the media centre. Soon an extract from John’s Oral History

recording will also be available for you to hear at the Listening Station. In the meantime, you can also find

it on the ‘Memories of Maldon’ page of our website www.maldonsoc.org

Our 2019 Annual General Meeting – Wendy Howell The Maldon Society AGM will be held on Thursday 2nd May 2019. This short, but legally required,

meeting will be at 7.15pm and will probably last about fifteen minutes. After this, there will be a glass of

wine or soft drink for everyone, plus a few nibbles.

Members – please do come and support your committee.

According to our constitution, we must give all members a chance to nominate someone for the committee,

where they will be MOST welcome. If you wish to send in a nomination, please email us via the website,

or ring Wendy on 01621 857054 and you will be sent the relevant form.

If you would be kind enough to nominate the committee for re-election, it’s the same contact. We are all

standing for re-election and do need to be re-elected each year. These nominations should be with us by

mid-April.

If you would like to see the minutes of the last meeting, please let us know. After the AGM and

refreshments, there will be a presentation by the committee on ‘The Riverside’ using some of our Archive

photos and drawings; also listening to some Memories of Maldon Oral History voices on that subject.

If you do not wish to come to the AGM, then please do come along for the talk at 7.45pm.

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Planning—Judy Lea Just when you think things are settling down with no more than the odd domestic porch or extension, along

come several highly significant applications.

The one that made all the news, as it involved a listed building, in its original grounds on layers of

Maldon’s very early history, in a conservation area (!!) was of course the refused proposal by the county

for 28 ugly and unsympathetic dwellings at Friary East - one of two Georgian houses behind the library.

The consultant was obviously focussed on the need for the County to find a place for some special housing

for vulnerable adults, but he certainly chose the wrong spot on which to make his case. I have already

queried with senior members why public money was wasted on over 2 years of fees, and fervently hope the

County has the sense to sell rather than appeal.

Just after that, the full District Council refused detailed applications in both the intended North and South

garden suburbs. The Heybridge Countryside one for 1138 dwellings (plus a ring road, primary school, GP

centre etc) was refused partly on the need for more corroboration that the new flood protection was

sufficient. Similarly, the council felt they needed more details for the Savills’ proposal for 200 dwellings

filling part of the patch between the railway opposite Morrisons and Fambridge Road.

It remains to be seen what the next chapter on these significant sites will be. At least for the moment the 5-

year land supply is not affected, still holding the gate shut against speculative schemes, especially as the

District Council seems to be in a bullish mood at present and is holding to the Local Development Plan.

At the time of writing, the highly visible plot by Fullbridge with

the rusting tall mill on it has an application in for 11 dwellings and

5 commercial units, all approached from Station Road besides Lidl.

The architect has mimicked the height of the existing building and

outbuildings, so it may get approval, but the fact they are claiming

that affordable housing will be impossible may yet rule it out.

Interesting!

Meanwhile lots of varied schemes are regularly put forward for

developments just behind the High Street shops. So no chance of

taking one’s eye off the ball!

Illustration of how the old mill near

Fullbridge might look.

(application 19/00080).

Left—the front of Friary East

which faces Longfields across

its grounds, by Charles Grigg

Tait.

Right—The fine detail typical

of the Friary East buildings.

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What’s happening in the High Street—Lindsey Wright In September the High Street was resurfaced.

Starting with the even numbers: Supernatural was for sale for a long time. There were no takers, but

Katy has decided to carry on.

The barber Harry Green moved to Bright’s Path, and has been replaced by an estate agent, Temme

English.

A nail bar ‘Kate’ has opened in the old Thai restaurant, but already has plans to move to the old

Avanti photographic shop.

The Cloakroom, which carried out clothes repairs, has closed and is currently being converted into

yet another estate agent, Home Local.

The former Chameleon jewellers on the corner of Edwards Walk, is now Maldon Coffee Shop,

selling a vast array of coffees.

An Escape Room is up and running from the back of Edwards Walk.

Upstairs Downstairs has closed half the shop.

We have a new fish restaurant, ‘Dante’s Brasserie’, in the King’s Head Centre.

In the King’s Head Centre courtyard is a new gift shop, Coast & Country, selling a vast array of

recycled goods, including recycled rubber flip-flops. Well worth a look.

Just Fabrics has closed and is replaced by an ice-cream and desserts parlour, Gelato.

There were many rumours about Peacocks as the building was up for sale, but it survives another

day.

The Vape & Gizmoes, a mobile phone accessory shop, moved into the discount shop a few doors up,

only to be replaced by another mobile accessory shop, ‘Maldon Gadgets’.

The old Farleigh Hospice charity shop has been sold and replaced with the nail bar relocating from

next to Ansells – a substantially larger shop.

The Hart & Hamm art shop became a kitchen shop for a very short spell and is now a barber's,

Scoundrels & Scallywags.

At 136 is a beautician’s, Image & Beauty, that never seems to be open.

At 138, The Flower Patch florist has moved to Heybridge. For a short while, the premises were

occupied by a plant hire company, but are now replaced by another beautician’s and a hairdresser’s.

My Castle is a little gift shop in the former Banyards taxi office.

Further up, the pet shop has closed due to new regulations on animal sales. This has been quickly

replaced by a lovely furniture shop selling handmade tables, ‘Styles Furniture’.

There is a new gift shop in Quest Place, Willow & Fox. I hope it’s not too tucked away.

The toy shop was empty for a while, but work is now underway converting it.

The Emporium is having a move round, trying to reduce its floor space.

Profound Barbers, the former Harry Greens, is in Bright’s path, but is on the move again to Edwards

Walk.

Salty Dogs was back for another Christmas run, but there is some local controversy as they only

appear for one month of the year paying minimal overheads.

Avanti Photographers closed and the building is currently being renovated by Mark Salisbury. The

retail area will be occupied by ‘Kate’ the nail bar from number 16, while upstairs will be flats

retaining lots of very old features.

And still the old Post Office remains empty.

Thomas Cook closed last spring. The building has now been sold, so there are hopes for a new

occupant soon.

Lunar Gifts has also closed.

The Fig Tree restaurant has become a Brazilian restaurant.

A new jeweller’s, Jewellery Design Workshop, occupies the empty sandwich bar.

Berefords estate agent has taken over the neighbouring shop to double in size.

Almost at the top, a hairdresser’s fills the gap where the nail bar moved to the former Farleigh

Hospice shop.

The old Police Station is still empty, but, according to Rightmove, is ‘under offer’.

Away from the High Street, a new village shop has opened in Washington Road. The Pine Shop on the Causeway has closed. I shall miss that.

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Maldon Society Talks — May to November 2019

All talks take place in the Cygnet Room at the back of the Swan Hotel and start at 7.45pm; doors open at

7.15pm. Drinks may be purchased at the Swan bar and brought through to the Cygnet Room. Talks and

questions usually finish around 9.15pm.

May 2nd AGM at 7.15pm 7.45pm – Committee presentation, using our Archive and Oral History material on ‘The

Riverside’.

June 6th Karl Lumbers FNI Master Mariner – ‘The Trinity House Story’.

July 4th Julian Harrap – ‘On the waterfront – an introduction to the culture and architectural

conservation in Maldon’.

August NO MEETING

September 5th Adrian Wright – ‘Great Eastern Branch lines, including the branch line to Maldon’.

October 3rd Jane Pearson – ‘Women’s Suffrage’.

November 7th Tony Tuckwell – ‘The only coastal way is Essex’.

December NO MEETING.

Keep in contact with The Maldon Society Does the Society have your email address? It would help us to get in touch with you about future

events and news. Please contact us via the website to give us your details. Thank you.

Website: www.maldonsoc.org