Built close to the former Fryerns Farm that gave the area its name, Fryerns is one of the oldest parts of Basildon New Town, dating back to the 1950's.
Fryerns is a popular neighbourhood with an active community and a surprisingly good amount of local amenities.
There are several local shops dotted about here and there, with 2 main neighbourhood shopping parades, each about 1/3 of the way along Whitmore Way. The set with the Big Q fish bar on the corner and the ones by the Jolly Friar Pub.
The Big Q Fish Bar Shops include a Chemist, 'Nisa' Convenience Store/Supermarket, a long established fish and chip shop, butchers, dry cleaners, bakery/cafe, 'Martins' Newsagent and Basildon Angling Centre.
Jolly Friar's shops further along includes a Chemist, Premier Convenience Store/Supermarket, another long established fish and chip shop and the adjacent Jolly Friar pub.
At the top end of Whitmore Way there is a handy newsagent on Pendle Drive, itself a small stone's throw from the Crane Pub, and on the main road back towards town another newsagent.
Bus stops are a-plenty in the area, getting you easily to the town centre and surrounding areas/towns.
At the top of Whitmore Way is a large roundabout, the other side is The Watermill, a Beefeater Grill Steak Restaurant.
The local Primary School has a 'Good' OFSTED Report and there is also a library by the Big Q set of shops with above the shops, a dentist (very good - use them myself!)
The local Fryerns Community Centre offers private hire for parties etc and also houses a lot of the community activities like Scouts/Guides/Cubs and Brownies, Majorettes, Martial arts, Playgroups, etc.
I first got to know the area in the late 1980's when I lived in the maisonettes above the far shops of the Big Q fish bar parade.
I found it very well situated as one way led down to the town in a couple of minutes, the other way leads to the A127 in 4 minutes.
Many of the older residents had lived there since the beginning and loved it there, which I always thought was a good advert for the area in itself.
Tim Kirkman
~ Henton Kirkman Residential ~
