Frederick Hester : A brief history in pictures - Page 9 : The Winter Gardens
The photo below shows the same Winter Gardens building (far right) that was later extended up to Central Avenue and housed Powells / Corner House / Lunns Stores. The children are standing next to a Post Box that I believe could be the same one shown at the entrance to the Tower. I remember Lunns Stores as a child but it was demolished around the 1980's. Houses now stand here but a new Post Office is just round the corner.
The (same?) Post Box far left outside Lunns
Store
Behind the building in the early 1900's the Winter Gardens ran for two miles featuring electric light even before Canvey had mains electricity. In heated green houses rivalling Kew Gardens you had fish ponds, fountains, bazaars, grottos, exotic plants, cafes, restaurants manned by 'Dutch' waiters and a Poet's Corner featuring busts and statues. It is said Hester's Winter Gardens sold produce to Covent garden.
This rare Winter Gardens photo from c1908 was taken by H.G.Axtell