Southend on Sea - London Road numbering

[Stormybay]

Hello
My gt grandfather owned this shop at 138-140 London Road between about 1899 and 1911 in Southend.  I was in Southend in July and tried to find where this may have been located.  But it remains a mystery to me.

In a photo I have, 138 is on the right and 140 on the right.  Currently, 136 is painted bright blue and is on the south side of London Road at the corner of Park Road and there is a Lighting Shop on the opposite corner.

So, it could be that
. 138 and 140 were located where Park Road is currently and have been demolished, or
. the numbers have been all changed - as it would seem that 138 should be closer to the centre of town than 140 and would therefore be on the Left hand side of the image rather than the right, or
. 138 and 140 may have been originally on the north side of London Road - in which case the numbering may have been changed

Is there anyone who can help me understand if there has been a change in the numbering system, or does anyone have another suggestion?
Thank you
back in Canada

[Stormybay]

Sorry, I got muddled as I was trying to load a photo and it did not work.  What I meant to say is #138 is shown on the right side of the picture and #140 on the left - which would be backwards given that the current numbering system has the lower numbers close to the middle of town. 
Hope that makes sense now.

S

[SouthendSue]

Hi Stormybay

Using Google Street View and the local phone book the numbers are as follows
from Southend town centre - Martin & Co Estate Agent, 136 London Road: The Money Shop, 138 London Road: cross over Park Road; Celco Lighting 144 London Road.
Fairmead Upholstery which is numbered 140 London Road on Street View is behind no138 and is actually in Park Road. All very confusing! Not sure where no142 went to though
Park Road was in existence in 1901 so I doubt that it has any bearing on the numbering of London Road.
I hope this helps somehow!

Sue

[Stormybay]

Thank you both for your responses. 

I have looked at the 1897 map and have looked again and again at Google maps.  You have both been very helpful at pointing me to new information. 

I also know that Nazareth House has been across the street for all of this time and so the property was probably at that very location.  The 1901 census indicates that there was a restaurant in the property that is now the electric shop and I think there was a tobacconist next door to the Cade Milliner and Drapery Shop. 

However, the facade is entirely different - the windows now have curved tops and I remain perplexed that #138 is showing on the right side of #140 in my photo. 

So, perhaps the building was partially rebuilt for some reason.  I guess I just need to put my curiosity to rest for now.  Thanks for your help.

[GrahamSimons]

The local council might be able to help: "Council of the Year" - this page of their website looks like a good start point:

http://www.southend.gov.uk/a_to_z/service/76/planning-street_names_and_numbering-statutory_register

[hanes teulu]

Kelly's Directory of Essex 1902
Southend
London Road - Charles Walter Cade, sub postmaster. Letters collected 8 and 10.30 a.m and 1, 2.45, 4, 5.30, 6.30, 7.45 & midnight. Sundays 6.45 pm.

Have had a look at the 1897 map. Wd a sub-post office be marked?  What wd be the symbol?
There's a "P" marked in the road leading from London Road down to Park Place. Do symbols mark the precise spot or the general location (if "P" indicates Post Office?)

regards 

[HeatherLynne]

Thank you both for your responses. 

I have looked at the 1897 map and have looked again and again at Google maps.  You have both been very helpful at pointing me to new information. 

Hi StormyBay,  I spent quite a bit of time yesterday trying to help with this post and thought I'd replied with a suggestion of trying the historical directories site but either I imagined it or my post has been removed - you saying 'thank you both' makes me think that I did post!

Can you stop me thinking I'm going batty and confirm that I did reply?     If there was something wrong with what I wrote could the moderator please tell me what the problem was?  I wouldn't want to transgress again   

Thanks very much 
Heather

[Stormybay]

Hi
Heather, when I responded about two suggestions - one had to do with looking at coordinates on an Old Map and the other had to do with looking at Google Maps and finding that #140 was around the corner on Park Road.  So, I do not think yours was shown.  But now I cannot find the response about the Old Map....so something is amuck.  So I am not sure what mean by the historical directories site.  Are you speaking of Kelly's Directory???

I do know from Kellys 1902, 1906 and 1908 directories that my gt grandfather was a sub-postmaster and that he had a Post Box associated with his shop.  The Post Box can be seen in the photo which I attached.  It does make sense that a "P" might indicate Post Office and your suggestion, Hanes Teulu, may be spot on!

And, I was mistaken - in 1901, there was a bootmaker at #142 (missing now?)...and the restaurant was at #144 (now the Lighting Store) and there was a Greengrocer at #136. 

Thanks again.
S

[HeatherLynne]

Thanks for the reply S!  I think I decided to abort my posting cos it didn't really add anything.  The site I was thinking of is:

http://www.historicaldirectories.org/hd/

Now, if this post disappears I'll know I shouldn't have mentioned it     Tis a free site though and I've found it useful.

Thanks again
Heather