History of Lakeside Thurrock Essex

History of Lakeside Thurrock Essex
When the Tunnel Cement Works at West Thurrock in Essex closed in 1976, it left a 1,000 acre legacy of partly worked quarries and heavy industrial buildings and plant. This is the story of how, by a combined effort of the landowners and local authorities, that land was transformed into the site of the largest concentrations of shopping in the UK, alongside a major industrial and distribution estate. RTZ Estate and Pearson Group owned the land. Essex County Council provided the highway links. Thurrock Borough Council co-ordinated the overall design. The landowners invested heavily in the infrastructure and Thurrock supported their marketing efforts. Within 10 years, 1,500 permeant new jobs have been created. Hundreds of major new businesses have been attracted to the area.The groundwork stage has been completed but the teamwork continues.

[@mattwebb6056]

0:16 nice to see that clock/temperature sign actually working. Been broken for about 30 years!

[@Andy-qo6rq]

My grandad was a train driver in the old chalk quarry my dad and I helped build the second dartford tunnel and also helped build lakeside shopping centre. Once this had all stopped I worked in lakeside shopping centre. Brings back good memories.

[@weekendwet1]

As a young teenager I used to go fishing in 'the quarries'. These were the disused chalk quarries that eventually became Lakeside. Lots of perch, roach and rudd there and the occasional pike. I remember them building the Dartford Tunnel. My friend and I walked through it as 13 year olds before it was opened.

[@Backs4more]

So did I. First met Eddie Turner there when he was catching massive pike. Some good shots of the lakes in his book.

[@CARLIN4737]

nice

[@grahambarber2766]

I escaped Thurrock in '86, joined the Royal Marines, live in Devon now with Dartmoor on my doorstep, no comparison.

[@georgeparker7838]

I left a few years before that. Joined the Royal Navy. Ended up in Scotland. Still there today. As you say, no comparison.

[@barrylewinton9271]

Thurrock has changed dramatically, not all for the better. Far too crowded and crime has shot up in the last ten years!

[@ClivClav]

And now the Arena Essex Raceway next door to Lakeside has been (for all intents and purposes) compulsory purchased and closed, they intend to build 2500 homes on it! That has destroyed local entertainment with motocross, stock cars and go-karts all going to be lost. Not to mention the fantastic speedway team which had raced their for 35 years! More homes will mean even more traffic, pollution and crime in the area with no community stadium to enjoy ourselves at. Lots more homes coming along the A13 and other areas of Thurrock too :(

[@MrStreetboy80]

I know a lot of original Thurrock residents who have moved out of Thurrock when they’ve retired because they don’t like how busy it now is. Iv only lived here for 15 years and even in that short amount of time it’s got really crowded.

[@austinstonecold4943]

Putting people on top of people not a good thing.and government wonder why mental health is getting bad

[@cmplord1657]

its a very colourful area now, the two go hand in hand.

[@CARLIN4737]

yep across the country not just Thurrock mate.

[@paulpaul5606]

Liked it a lot better when I could ride my mx bike over there. They were the days

[@richardhumphreys8662]

It was great to grow up in Thurrock in the fifties and sixties. I don't think I'd recognize any of it now.

[@georgeparker7838]

You wouldnt understand any of the language being spoken there these days.

[@wutang6020]

I remember watching this in school back in the 80's lol Aveley comp ✌️️ the clock tower was the only thing there for years now I don't even know if that's even still there as I moved away in the 90's

[@dj24sevenDnB]

It's still there but hasn't worked for about 20 years its a phone mast tower these days

[@DJdefcon4]

Its an eye sore that tower. Very dated and needs pulling down.

[@greenegg6010]

@@DJdefcon4 its not that it needs pulling down, it just needs to do its job and work. a refurbishment on it couldnt hurt though

[@mixtapesfrommylatepartner]

@@DJdefcon4 It has historical value

[@brainsmith3931]

Lakeside is very new about 30 years old and full of Londoners nowadays .

[@JakeSpeed69]

wasn't called the "Thurrock Bridge" for very long, it's the "Dartford Bridge" now not Thurrock or QE2 lol

[@barrylewinton9271]

There are two tunnels named after Dartford so it's only fair to call the bridge Thurrock bridge. I still call it Thurrock bridge and always will so that the name doesn't get forgotten.

[@mixtapesfrommylatepartner]

You're wrong there Kev. It's always been called Thurrock Bridge.

[@yokennedy3610]

Glad I left when I did..I left in about 1986/7

[@thekerryman]

worked on this job in 1987 for main contractor Birse

[@SoloBeing1]

My dad made me watch this actually he told me about this vid

[@danwoodhouse9290]

was this before the Lakeside with Debenhams etc was built

[@TheOldgit64]

Yes it was a Cement pit called Tunnel Cement for many Years

[@DoggyFoolinOffical]

Wow pretty old

[@trollface1994]

i like the music in this :) 18:42
Good innit ?

[@royarn100]

Thanks Roy Arnold, one of the 2 composer musicians for this video.

[@LeeFall]

The birth of capitalism