THURROCK LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY (From Thurrock Gazette)

THURROCK LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY

3:17pm Thursday 10th December 2009

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AT the November meeting, Joan James, of the Bata Reminiscence and Resource Centre, gave a detailed account of life on the Bata estate at East Tilbury.

A short film was shown as an introduction to Tomas Bata and his shoe manufacturing empire, which started at Zlin in Czechoslovakia, in 1894, and spread to many countries in the world.

The land at East Tilbury was bought from Mr W Wilson and the first factory was opened in 1933.

Tragically Tomas Bata died in a flying accident in 1932. The layout of the housing estate and factory, all with flat roofs, is based on the original buildings in Zlin.

Tomas Bata believed in caring for the health and welfare of his workers who were housed on the estate at a reasonable rent and provided with the means to keep fit and occupied after working hours.

There were football, netball and tennis teams, a thriving Sunday school and many social activities.

Bata Primary School opened in 1943 and in 1955 a war memorial and a statue of Tomas Bata were unveiled.

Although the cinema closed in 1965, the school in 1972 and in the 1980s the houses were sold to tenants at discounted prices, the estate and factory were designated a conservation area.

In 2003 Bata celebrated 70 years in East Tilbury. British Bata closed down in 2006.

The next meeting is the Christmas party at the Adult Community College, Richmond Road, Grays, on Friday, December 11, at 8pm. Visitors are welcome.

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