The buildings around St. George’s Crossroads all survived the Blitz of Canterbury, but were doomed as soon as the early post-war redevelopment plans were unveiled.

The city’s ring road would replace the crossroads with a large roundabout, with dual carriageways in all directions. However, it would be nearly 25 years before the roundabout was actually built.

The photo below shows a boy scout’s St. George’s Day parade traverse St. George’s Crossroads, on 23rd April 1955. Behind are two of the aforementioned doomed buildings.

Far right is part of the Co-op premises, a former theatre, which received some damage in the 1st June 1942 raid.

Centre, is tobacconist and confectioner, Pettit & Son.

This was the only building in the short St. George’s Gate thoroughfare to survive the bombing.

The picture below dates from September 1968, and things have evidently moved on in the intervening years.

The Co-op premises were demolished in 1961, to be replaced by a small temporary car park.

Note the new development in Burgate Lane beyond and also fronting St. George’s Street. This is part of the Co-op’s new premises.

Also note Bates’ gun shop, trading from a hut erected within the blitzed walls of its former shop.

Pettit’s finally succumbed in 1969, just as the roundabout was being constructed.

Afterwards, they traded, albeit briefly, from a tiny shop in The Parade, next to the Westminster Bank, before disappearing entirely.

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This is Paul Crampton's last article for Kent Online's sister paper, the Gazette.

We'd like to thank him for the many years of interesting and enlightening columns, and wish him all the best for the future.

If you feel you could write nostalgia for the Gazette, and have access to relevant images, email the editor at joewalker@thekmgroup.co.uk

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