Basildon in south Essex had a population of just 1,159 in 1931. It became a designated New Town under the 1946 New Towns Act, which aimed to rehouse people from poor or bomb-damaged homes after WW2 and to create new jobs. The first residents arrived in 1951, and rapid growth followed as nearby settlements were absorbed. By 1961, the population had risen to over 87,000. The town was just 50 minutes by train from the Foyles in Stratford that I had just visited, so I decided to go to the Waterstones, which is located in the Eastgate Shopping Centre. The centre opened in 1985 and at the time was the largest covered shopping centre in Europe. The centre had a refresh in 2007 and the Waterstones felt light and modern.
The Mother and Child Fountain
This Grade II listed bronze sculpture by Maurice Lambert was unveiled in 1962. It portrays a woman and child bathing in a large stone pool and symbolises the birth and growth of Basildon.
I didn’t have time to explore further as I wanted to go back to my hotel to read for a while before dinner.
Janet's Adventures in Waterstones 