This week’s Down Memory Lane looks at Grays in 1910 before the First World War.

We see four views. The first is the junction of London Road and Orsett Road, then we see a view of the High Street north of the railway.

There are still private houses in the middle distance of which only the front garden wall and trees can be seen.

But this photo shows how the street was developing into a shopping centre.

Next we see there are still many shops but national chain stores are beginning to appear. Notice the Lipton’s delivery cart.

Finally, we look from the police station across to the east side of the High Street the Queen’s Hotel on the left with the many more shops appearing, but even that will quickly change by 1920 after the war is finished.