William Flemons:  "Joyland",  Lincewood Park Drive  Langdon Hills

Information provided by William Flemon’s granddaughter Becky Bridge (nee Beryl Ivy Wright), material compiled by Michael Richard Bridge.
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At some date before 1934 William Flemons had acquired the property known as ‘Joyland’, Lincewood Park Drive and by that year he had moved to Langdon Hills from Selsdon Road, Upton Park with his first wife, Dorothy and their seven children, Thelma, Lily, Ruby, William, Ivy, Harold and Marion.

Whether William bought the land and had his house built or bought it from a previous owner is not known.  William was certainly the owner in 1934 since in that year his daughter, Lily, married and Joyland is mentioned on the wedding certificate. The document also records him as “63 years”, a “Widower”, and a “Cinema Manager”. 

It was at Joyland that William died on 25th March 1956, age 74.   His death certificate records his occupation as “Cinema Manager (Retired)".  Dorothy Flemons had died before 1946.

William's second wife, Olive, continued to live at "Joyland" until it was compulsorily purchased by the Basildon New Town authorities.

 

1.

William Flemons, owner of Joyland; print date-stamped 1928 on reverse

 

  
2.

Dorothy Flemons with one of her granddaughters outside the kitchen extension of "Joyland"

 

3.

William Flemons' daughter, Lily outside the Station Café, Station Approach, Laindon; c.1932/34 

 

  
4.

As previous

 

5.

Lily inside the Station Café, Station Approach, Laindon, c.1932/34; the notices in the background suggest this is the Post Office section. 

 

  
6.

The garden at "Joyland", c.1941-42:   Lily Wright (nee Flemons) with her three children (l to r: Robert, Beryl, Margaret) by the side of the goldfish pond.  The rockery behind them disguises the air raid shelter.