The 'Barge'

circa 1922

This evocative image of The Barge Old Inn from around 1922 captures a quintessential English public house at the heart of rural Essex, during a time of slow but steady transition from horse-drawn to motorized transport. A horse and cart stands patiently at the kerbside, its driver likely stopping in for a pint or a chat—this was a time when the village pub was a social anchor, a meeting place for locals and travellers alike.

The inn's architecture is simple and robust, typical of early 19th-century English pubs: low-pitched roof, prominent chimneys, and multi-paned sash windows. The adjacent building, possibly a stables or lodging house, completes the small cluster that would have served the needs of a largely working-class community.

Located in what was then a sparsely populated corner of Essex, Basildon had yet to undergo the sweeping post-war redevelopment that would transform it into a major New Town in the mid-20th century. In this photo, we catch a final glimpse of the old pastoral Basildon, rooted in tradition and quiet industry.

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Barge Old Inn Basildon, historic Essex pub 1920s, Basildon vintage photo, horse cart outside English pub, early 20th century inns England, rural Essex heritage, Basildon before New Town, British pub history, Oldpik Essex photo archive, UK countryside life 1922.