Twentieth century shopping precint at Market Square, Basildon (EHER 80106)

A mid-20th century shopping precinct, taking the form of a rectangular block with two open service yards. The buildings are of concrete frame construction in a mid-20th century Modern style with glazed windows and pebbledash panels. The first block of shops to be built in Basildon’s new town centre, following the New Towns Act 1946.

June 2024. Heritage Assessment. The recorded buildings were the first block of shops to be built in Basildon’s new town centre. Construction of the shops began in December 1956 following approval in May 1956, and was financed by Ravenseft Properties Limited in partnership with the Development Corporation. The block of shops is believed to have been designed by Lionel H. Frewster and Partners. The first shop opened in August 1958. The buildings form a rectangular block with two open service yards in the West and East creating an 8-shaped footprint. The buildings are of concrete frame construction in a mid-20th century Modern style with glazed windows and pebbledash panels, and an original cantilevered canopy above the shops, which had been removed in some areas. The buildings vary in height, particularly in the service yards, where they range from single storey to up to three or four storeys. The original roofs are flat. The non-public service yards have been subject to the most alteration, with doorways and windows blocked, later extensions added, and fire doors, fire staircases and railings on the flat roofs. The public-facing external elevations form a more coherent design, with shop fronts on the ground floor, sheltered by cantilever canopies and extensive glazing on the floors above. The original window frames are metal, mainly with side hung openings, and were painted white or black depending on their location. To create variation, the North and East elevations have two styles of window arrangement, the South elevation has three styles and the West elevation one style. The frontage wall lines are even, with the exception being the Northern elevation where the Geoffrey Clarke mosaic protrudes from the rest of the line above the ground floor, and the metal gated entrances to the two service yards which are set back from the wall line. The precinct is set to be demolished to facilitate new commercial and domestic redevelopment of the precinct. <1>