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RECOLLECTIONS
HARRY WRIGHT
Mr. & Mrs. Giles lived in Wharf House, on the west side of Ferry Road, from 1923 until 1927, when it was bought by Mr. & Mrs. Wallaker. Throughout every summer
Mr. & Mrs Wallaker would have London children down for a two week holiday.
Mr. Wallaker would go back and forth to and from Rayleigh station to take a cart load of children who had finished their holiday and to bring a fresh lot down. These children had never been in the country
before.
The Wallakers also bought the barn next to Wharf House and converted it into a dance hall which they named the Pavilion. Strict Tempo and Old Time dances were held every Saturday evening. These dances
were arranged under the supervision of a lady named Mrs. Hawkes. Concerts were also held in the Pavilion. Local people would tell of their life adventures. One of these was a former Canadian Mounted Policeman
who used to tell of his duties when patrolling Indian territory. The older people would recount tales of years gone by when coal was brought up the river by sailing barge and put in the barn.
The Anchor Cottages shop was occupied by Mr. & Mrs. Key and family. They sold sweets, soft drinks, cigarettes and a limited supply of groceries. Mr. Key was also a hay cutter. With a large hay knife
he would cut large trusses of hay which were then put close to the haystacks ready for transport by lorry to various destinations.
Montague House was occupied by William Smith who also owned Rose Cottage and Shell Cottage. He had been Rayleigh station master for a great number of years. Montague House was later sold to people who
converted it to the Wayfarers Cafe.
Shell Cottage was rented by George Gibson a former brickfield worker. He used to sharpen all sorts of knives and repair all kinds of kitchen and garden equipment. He was a jolly and very happy man with
a white beard and was well liked by the villagers.
Hullbridge is now very fortunate to have a fine variety of shops selling groceries and bread and practically everything needed for the home. Another good thing for the village is the Medical Centre
and chemist shop in the village. When I was a young man there were no doctors in the village and people had to travel to Hockley and Rayleigh for prescriptions.
But the old miss the country walks and seeing the sailing barges which used to come into the Anchor Inn Wharf and others going up the river to Battlesbridge Mill. Walking along Ferry Road from the river
used to be a pleasant journey but not now, with the great increase in the number of cars which pollute the air.
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