New look Ashford starts growing trend

Development in suburban Ashford has almost quadrupled in recent times, and with the town labelled one of the South-East’s key development areas, the trend is destined to continue. Potential was seen in a number of areas surrounding the town such as Kennington and Willesborough during the post-war years of the 1950s and 60s, seeing housing estates with local amenities such as convenience stores and takeaways spring up around the town.

Quaint old Ashford quickly became expanding new Ashford and people began to move here from the capital. The London Overspill Agreement of 1959 saw many families relocate here town alongside many businesses where members of and often whole families would work. Those relocated newcomers were often the first to move into many of these new homes. Planners realised though that the ‘convenience store’ would be a much needed addition to these huge new housing areas.

Many traditional streets of yesteryear had a corner shop at the end of the street or within a stone’s throw of where you lived. One idea of the 1960s for instance was to have such amenities within the heart of the housing development.

This week Remember When looks back at the 1950s and through to the start of the 1970s, a period which saw a change of direction for the local convenience store.

Do you have any photographs or slides that you would be willing to lend me, to enable them to be scanned and featured in the Kentish Express? Write to me, Steve Salter, Kentish Express Remember When, 34-36 North Street, Ashford TN24 8JR, email me at rememberwhen_kmash@ hotmail.co.uk or follow me on Twitter @SteveKMAshford. You can also leave a telephone message for me with brief details by calling 01