Lesney’s
Lesney Products was named after its two founders Leslie and Rodney Smith. (they were unrelated) The company was started as an industrial die casting company in 1947.
Lesneys took over the old Ekco buildings on the Sweynes Estate, Ashingdon Road, Rochford. The factory was working all day and night, special busses brought workers from Shoebury, Southend and Rayleigh’. Many women were able to take part time shift work to supplement their income.
At one time the company employed over 2000 people. The company wanted to build a road around the estate but locals complained, they did not want huge lorries lumbering passed their houses.
When business began to wane the company changed the name to Matchbox cars. These cars became hugely popular, but the company was again in trouble, many people lost their jobs when the company finally took their business to China.
Until the early 80s Lesneys was one of the most important employers in the area. Sadly the factory was forced to close and a housing estate was built on the site.