At the High Street end, The left hand photo looks towards the town centre and the ‘Acorn Pharmacy’ shop roughly centre with green ends to the sign, was previously Phyllis Millers with Harts TV and Radio shop above, although it was the whole shop when I was a lad. Beyond that is yet another ‘shops with maisonettes above’ development, although beyond that it remains much as it did in the 40’s.
The centre photo looks towards Northchurch and you can just see the reddish building that is now Woods Garden Centre, but was an ironmongers etc prior to that. Also in that area was a 2nd hand car showroom, Lanes nursery and the watercress beds in St Johns Well Lane.

It’s a strange mix, as the timber built part of the Co-op burnt down and was redeveloped and occupied by Out span (of orange fame), the actual Co-op faded in the 60’s and now houses an assortment of shops and offices. The likes of Timothy, Whites and Tailors, Boots, Mayo's etc. Were demolished in the 60’s and lost under concrete, although the Town Hall survived as do the timber shops on the corner of Lower Kings Road and the High Street. Even the Kings Chambers shops exist to this day, although the flats above are now hard to let offices and a beauty salon.

The two cinemas are now a Tesco supermarket (Court ) and the Rex has been refurbished - sort of!