In 2012 Mike Jones released his latest DVD titled ‘Undiscovered Hornchurch’ as the follow up to his previous DVD ‘Undiscovered Upminster’. As with Undiscovered Upminster, Undiscovered Hornchurch covered a wide range of Hornchurch and and it’s history, even going as far back to the actual formation of the landscape of Hornchurch in the last ice age.
It really gave me a lot to think about for example it’s thought that Hornchurch may not have been named for the reason you may think.
Some amazing events are included such as the Jimmy Woods holdup of the royal mail coach, the use of grey towers for a military purpose, the formation of Emerson park and of course the selection of Hornchurch for the use as an airfield.
It also tells the well known story of Sargent Saunders Draper crashing his plane rather then hit what is now known as Saunders Draper School
As well as focusing on some of the sites you are probably aware of, St Andrews Church, the White Hart, it covers some buildings we have now lost such as Hornchurch brewery, Hornchurch post mill and Hornchurch Hall
The film take a look inside the Tower theatre site when it stood as Mecca bingo, and I really found myself wishing it was still there as a cinema . From the photos and descriptions given, I personally think it would look a lot better as a cinema then a bingo hall
Mike Jones has learnt a lot from his previous project and the sound and video quality has increased dramatically, as has the content. Using historical footage and sound clips as well as that shot but Mike Jones himself.
I really enjoyed this DVD and hope this is not the last of the Mike Jones Undiscovered series
You can purchase ‘Undiscovered Hornchurch’ and ‘Undiscovered Upminster’ for £13.99 each or purchase both of them for £25.
Undiscovered Upminster and Hornchurch are now both available over the Internet.
To get the movies contact Mike Jones on Facebook or via email