Description

This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 2 February 2026 to amend details in the description and to reformat text to current standards

TQ 78 NW
717/6/10008

BASILDON
EAST SQUARE
Retaining walls, ramp, steps, staircases, bench and raised paving

GV
II

Townscape designed in conjunction with Brooke House, 1962, Architect Anthony B Davies, chief architect and planner to Basildon Development Corporation; Sir Basil Spence, consultant adviser on the town centre. Sunken square designed to complement Brooke House. Broad flight of steps to lower level along west side, curved ramp with cobble clad retaining walls and concrete coping to parapet, in front of steps, and upper ramp, also with cobble cladding to retaining walls, with painted steel railings and hardwood handrail above.

The following features were included in the List entry dated 1998, but were demolished, with Listed Building Consent, in 2018:East side has double 'row' shops at ground and first floor (part of Freedom House and not included in listing), with projecting 'L' plan reinforced concrete staircase, with precast treads on cranked r.c. carriage beam and with painted steel railings, with hardwood handrail, above. At foot of staircase is purpose-designed bench with vertical slats of teak fixed to a light tubular steel framework.

Part of a group with Brooke House (qv) which it is designed to complement.

(Architectural Review: Browne K: A new look at Basildon Town Centre, November 1962: 332- 335; Planning for Man and Motor, London: Ritter P: Basildon New Town Main Centre: Pergamon Press: 1964-: 221; Architects Journal: Shops and flats at Basildon, 10 December 1962: 1962-,: 1381- 9; Architect and Building News, 13 February 1963: Tower block, Basildon: 1963-: 239-43).

Listing NGR: TQ7054688609

External Links

• Wikidata Q26561442

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Georgian Style and Design for Contemporary Living
• 
  Norfolk 1: Norwich and North-East: Norwich and North-east v. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Lancashire: Liverpool and the South-West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Dorset (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  The green guide for historic buildings: how to improve the environmental performance of listed and historic buildings
• 
  Pioneers of Modern Design: From William Morris to Walter Gropius (Penguin Art & Architecture)