Even in recent timeframes the local area has changed significantly and one example is Orchard Street. I believe land was retained to allow for a bypass to be built avoiding the centre of Rainham but when this plan was cancelled the land was then redeveloped.

The photo below from 2001 looking towards Rainham shows the old Lukehurst warehouse with the green wall and corrugated tin roof and car sales yard before the site was cleared to build the new flats

Looking up Orchard Street towards Thames Avenue, 2001

 

Below: Looking towards Rainham with the cleared site after Lukehursts warehouse demolished showing view through to church and Millennium centre

Looking towards Rainham with the cleared site after Lukehursts warehouse demolished showing view through to church and Millennium centr

Below: Site after Lukehursts warehouse demolished showing view through to church and Millennium centre

Site after Lukehursts warehouse demolished showing view through to church and Millennium centre

 Below: Orchard Street Car sales site looking towards school

 Orchard Street Car sales site looking towards school

Below: Same location photo of new houses built on Orchard Car sales site, 2003

Same location photo of new houses built on Orchard Car sales site, 2003

 

Providence Chapel Orchard Street, 2001

Orchard Street outside St Margarets School, 2001

New houses, 2003

Former Church Hall site, now flats on Hurst Close/Orchard Street

 

These photos of Orchard Street Rainham were taken in around 2002 before the bypass land was released and the new housing was built on the former Orchard Street Car Sales and Lukehursts green warehouse

Old Photos of Orchard Street Rainham Old Photos of Orchard Street Rainham Old Photos of Orchard Street Rainham

Photos below of Orchard Street during winter of 1987 kindly provided by Darren H

 

 

Rainham Photos by Decade

  • Old Photographs of Rainham, Kent from 1900s

    Old Photographs of Rainham, Kent from 1900s

    Photographs of Rainham, Kent This collection of photos are of Rainham Kent from the 1900s to around 1910 showing life in Rainham around that time with pictures of local shops and trams in the High Street.   Broad Walk, Rainham(Photo:Paul Stevens)   Aerial view of Rainham, 1930 (from Action Forum) Berengrave Lane 1947(Action Forum) Station Road, RainhamApprox 1995(Photo: Eddy Newport)   Station Road, Rainham(Now Caversham Close)Approx 1995(Photo: Eddy Newport) Berengrave Lane 1980Construction of new railway bridge(Photo: Eddy Newport)             National School, Rainham,prior to 1878(Action Forum)   Rainham Church watercolour, approx 1800(Action Forum)   Berengrave House, approx 1920(Action Forum) Watts Chemist, High Street, 1984(Action Forum) Aerial View of Rainham Centre, May 1930(Action Forum) Hops arriving at the oast(Action Forum) Dene Hole discovered during construction of The Goldings, off Marshall Road, approx 1980Photo : Andrew James Dene Hole, The Goldings, off Marshall Road, approx 1980See Articles page for more detailsPhoto : Andrew James Dene Hole discovered in The Goldings, off Marshall Road, approx 1980 Photo : Andrew James       Manor Farm restaurant, Maidstone Road/A2 junction. Originally built as a gas showroom in 1926, converted approx 20 years ago to pub restaurant and recently refurbished.(Action Forum)  
  • Old Photographs of Rainham, Kent - 1950s

    Old Historical Photographs of Rainham, Kent from the 1950s Belisha Beacon pub, now Domino's Pizza at Rainham Mark   Rainham High Street looking towards Barclays Bank Rainham Mark looking towards Rainham The Cricketers Pub Rainham Tudor Grove Coronation party 1953 Rainham station with Oast in the distance Rainham High Street looking towards church Street party in Herbert Road in 1953 for Queen Elizabeth II coronation
  • Old Historical Photographs of Rainham - 1920s and 1930s

    Old Photos of Rainham Kent from the 1920s and 1930s Historical Photographs of Rainham, Kent: Gallery Three The Edwards family fruit picking at Walnut Tree Farm, Lower Rainham Road. The 1907 Victoria plum harvest is proudly shown. (Action Forum July 2004)   Marshall Road , approx 1929 Marshall Road Rainham approx 1932  
  • Old Photos of Rainham in the 1970s

    These photos of Rainham were taken in the 1970s prior to the construction of the shopping centre as you can still see the school at the top of Station Road.  Betabake & International Stores in High Street A2 Rainham. Other photos in this set include White Horse pub, Harris & Bone estate agents, Liptons Supermarket in High Street Rainham, Midland Bank/Hidsons, Natwest Bank, P Duff Opticians, Prestige Launderette, Rainham library, Seeboard, Cricketers pub, Ward & Partner estate agents and Beveridges the chemist .  And these are some photos of the same locations taken in 2014, attempting to get same angles and photo
  • Old Photographs of Rainham, Kent - 1990s

    Photos of Rainham from the 1990s View looking down Station Road towards Childscroft Road and parade of shops on the left
  • Old Photographs of Rainham, Kent - 2000s

    Photos of Rainham in the 2000s
  • Old Photographs of Rainham, Kent - 1960s

    Photos of Rainham from the 1960s. This isn't a decade that is well represented so if you have any photos please email them in Finwell Road in 1967
  • Old Photographs of Rainham, Kent - 1980s

    Photos of Rainham taken in the 1980s    
  • Farm Shop & Bayswater High Street Rainham 1987

    The Farm Shop & Bayswater were located on 164/162 High Street Rainham. This photo was taken in 1987 showing both shops together. These shops are now (2021) occupied by BK Fire and Linehans Hair salon. The same location in 2021