The days of a small shop on the corner of most residential streets are long gone but as these photos show, we still have the memories of how shopping used to be.

Some of the photos here show Albert Jones, a very well known shopkeeper who ran a corner shop in Long Road, Canvey for many years.Long term customer - Canvey baker Jim Pollard is pictured delivering bread and rolls to Ada Dedman of Haven Close, Canvey, in 1976. Jim had been calling on Ada for 13 years.Long term customer - Canvey baker Jim Pollard is pictured delivering bread and rolls to Ada Dedman of Haven Close, Canvey, in 1976. Jim had been calling on Ada for 13 years. (Image: Archive)

The small wooden store had been opened by his father Alfred in 1928 and after his death, Albert took over.

Landmark store - H Mann and Son was a historic shop in Rayleigh. Credit: The Rayleigh Town MuseumLandmark store - H Mann and Son was a historic shop in Rayleigh. Credit: The Rayleigh Town Museum

The shop supplied all manner of sweets and confectionery to the pupils of the nearby and newly built William Read School.

The Canvey Community Archive website says of the store: “Trade was also made from the regular football matches and, they also helped quench the thirst of many of the thousands of cyclists who regularly passed the shop at weekends.

Pleasure to serve - A customer gets first class service at Mann’s grocers in Rayleigh in 1970Pleasure to serve - A customer gets first class service at Mann’s grocers in Rayleigh in 1970 (Image: Archive)“During the summer seasons the store opened till late at night. Sometimes the store was the only place open to get refreshments and something nice to eat. Breakfast, lunch, tea and supper. The store could cater for everybody.

“You could have a pot of tea, a traditional bread, butter and sandwich and to finish off you could have a fresh cake, all for just nine very old pence (9d), which is about four new decimal pence at today’s rate.”

Delivery - Canvey baker Jim Pollard delivers goods to Co-op customers Aubrey Turner of Dyke Crescent, Canvey in the winter of 1976Delivery - Canvey baker Jim Pollard delivers goods to Co-op customers Aubrey Turner of Dyke Crescent, Canvey in the winter of 1976 (Image: Archive)

The shop eventually grew and became a larger general store When the second war came, Mr Jones was called up to the Navy during which time his sister Phyllis Jones carried on the business and dealt with the problems of rationing on the island.

Basket - Women have a chat as Albert Jones rings up their purchases inside his Canvey corner shop in 1981Basket - Women have a chat as Albert Jones rings up their purchases inside his Canvey corner shop in 1981 (Image: Archive)

Today the shop is long gone, but the area is still called ‘Jones Corner’.

In Rayleigh residents had a few convenience stores to choose from including Henry Mann and Son Grocers in the High Street.

There was also Gilson’s store which had traded in the High Street from as early as 1727.