How one road was changed for good

Elements of Ashford have changed radically over time while others have stayed much the same as they have for the last 100 years.

When comparing the old and the new, it’s quite often astounding at how different things look.

Change has largely occurred within the town’s heart and many would be quite amazed to see just how things once looked.

Many of those people that remember the town of yesteryear hanker after these many lost elements of our market town.

Redevelopment played a key part in these alterations for the future and is responsible for the many incidences of destruction to be found across the town in Ashford over the decades.

Pictures still exist of these capsules of the town that have altered beyond much recognition.

Before the changes, streets were streets and ran in their entirety but development has often fragmented these roads, rerouted them or obliterated them completely where Ashford is concerned, however memories still exist for scores of Ashfordians of the way things used to be.

One such street that underwent alteration and extension is Park Street that over time has been made a culde-sac in part.

From 1974, the street was not only widened, but many properties were obliterated to enable this.

Further alteration took place in 1985 when shopping precinct Park Mall was constructed.

The construction of the shopping centre sealed off the eastern section of Park Street for good.

The purpose of the widening was to create a link service road from Wellesley Road through to the ringway near to the tank.

This week, Remember When takes a trip back to Park Street both prior to and following these alterations.

Email me: rememberwhen_kmash@ hotmail.co.uk

1972 - This view taken at the junction of Park Street and North Street illustrates some of the buildings sacrificed for the widening of Park Street just under two years later. Hogbin’s Estate Agent (centre right) was one of the victims of the widening

1972 - Park Street looking towards North Street and the soon-to-be-demolished Lord Robert’s public house. The picture, which has been taken at the top of Taylor’s Passage, gives a radically different view today

1976 - The end result taken near to the previous picture, left, shows Hogbin’s absent as well as a number of other properties in Park Street sacrificed for the said widening

Cars parked outside Ashford railway station