HISTORICALEIGH - Leigh Is The Place To Be

January 20, 2015 by Carole Mulroney

For all those people's, who desire is to move to Leigh, it is interesting to look back at how our ancestors viewed the town and the desire to live here.

In an early 20th Century ‘Complimentary Brochure of Leigh-on-Sea – the garden town on the Thames Estuary’ was an article is entitled ‘Important Points for Prospective Residents’

Annual mean temperature: 52.3 degrees – fair
Rainfall: For the past twelve years the average local rainfall has been only 20.49 inches.
Sunshine: With a daily average of approximately 4 ½ hours of bright sunshine Southend’s annual returns figure high amongst the meteorological stations in Britain. The sun shelters on the cliffs are filled with vita-glass, and artificial sunlight is available for sun-bathing treatment.

Railway facilities: LMS route to Fenchurch Street, Broad Street or St Pancras; LNE (Southend) to Liverpool Street.
Shortest rail route; 33 ¼ mile to Fenchurch Street
Fares: Leigh and Fenchurch Street – 1st – 11/6; 3rd – 7/- return. Day returns, 1st – 5/3, 3rd – 3/6. Period returns (available for return anytime) 1st – 7/3, 3rd – 4/9.
Season ticket rates; One week – 1st - £1.10s.9d; 3rd – 19/6. Two weeks – 1st - £2.13s.4d; 3rd - £1.12s.10d; One month – 1st £3.11s.3d, 3rd - £2.3s.9d. Three months – 1st - £9.13s.9d, 3rd - £5.18s.9d.The annual travel card to London is now over £4000!!!

Rates; 10/5 in the £. Water: 10% on gross rateable value. Gas: 4/2 per 1000cubic feet. Electricity: Lighting 5d per unit, heating 1 1/4d per unit; and other rates available upon application. Altitude: 110 feet. Early closing day: Wednesday.
Chief Post Office – Rectory Grove.

This article is by Carole Mulroney