Southend-on-sea

Wooded Cliffs With the exception of one other resort in Great Britain, Southend is the only seaside town where the sea-front consists of beautifully wooded cliffs, which is on the west of the Pier, slope in an easy gradient from a height of 120 feet to the beach. This area is known the West Cliffs, and the grasslands, trees and shrubs which flourish on these slopes have been allowed to remain, as far as possible, in their natural state, Winding paths, walk, lawns, flower-beds and shelters have been constructed, and seats placed at various points of vantage for the comfort of residents and visitors, with the result that the sea- front at Southend, and in the Leigh area of the town where similar conditions prevail, is one of the most natural and charming in Europe. These natural advantages, which so few coastal resorts posses, afford a means of rest and quietude together with shelter if desired, from the heat of the sun. They offer striking contrast to the barren hardness and the monotonous artificiality of concrete or asphalt promenades, which is the predominant feature of the sea-fronts in most seaside towns. Health “Without health life is not life, life is lifeless.” – Ariphron, 550 B. C. “Be careful of your health.” –Cicero, 156 B.C. “He is not poor who has enough for his needs. If it is well with your stomach, your lungs and your feet, royal wealth can add nothing more.” –Horace, 65 B.C. “O blessed health! With thee the pleasant Spring blooms in its beauty; Without thee no one is happy.” – Ovid 43, B.C. “Life is not to be alive, but to be well.” – Martial, 38 B.C. “Keep well while you are well. He who has health is rich and does not know it.” – Italian proverb. From the time when man had his habitation in caves, the instinctive consideration of human beings of every race and tribe, has been the maintenance of health, and those who, like Hippocrates (460 B.C.), the famous Greek physician and priest, had skill of knowledge to cure sickness or disease, where sought after and honoured amongst their fellows. At the temple of Aesculapius, on the island of Cos in the Aegean Sea, he taught that the use of pure water, air, light and food, were a primary necessity for health. The principles which he then established have remained the fundamental basis of sanitation and cleanliness in force through successive aged, and still hold good in this more enlightened age. What data is available of the ancient races indicates that they exercised considerable care in sanitation and the purity of their water supply. They recognised that this was essential whatever the climatic or other conditions under which they lived. In biblical and historic records of all the periods, there are constant references to the fact that in times of sickness men travelled considerable distances at immense discomfort, when travel was slow, difficult and dangerous, to consult physicians and doctors whose fame had far beyond their own areas. As is borne out by the quotations at the head of these comments, writers and thinkers emphasised the incalculable value of health. On the principle that the farthest pastures are always the greenest, it is a human failing to overlook that which is comparatively close, Southend-on-Sea, which is so easy of access from London and all parts of Great Britain, is one of the healthiest places in the world. Each year doctors send here from every part of the country hundreds of patients who have been or suffering from various ailments, or whose constitution is weakened by long and serious illness, and large numbers of these have returned to their homes restored to health and strength by reason of the health-giving and strengthening climate and environment of this resort. Mr Clarkson Rose, the famous seaside entertainer, actor and pantomime dame, writing in The Stage, says: “There are many many more highly publicised health resorts than Southend, but I doubt if there are many resorts in Europe so healthy in ozone and tonic properties as this borough on the edge of the Thames Estuary. Amongst its chief assets are the tonic properties of its vitalising seaside air, its foreshore and its seaweed. In 1917 I came to Westcliff a thin, emaciated man with serious chest trouble. In two years I was given a clean bill of health and my weight had increased from ten to twelve stone. When the tide was out it was my practice to walk along the foreshore and inhale the ozone.” The public are beginning to realise that the foreshore saltings, for which the term “mud” is generally used are by reason of their wonderful health giving properties of incalculable value to the community, and are the town’s greatest asset. Curative Properties of the Foreshore The shore fronting the town at low water is exposed for many square miles, giving off a highly beneficial form of oxygen. The mud of the Thames Estuary has, for over one hundred years, been famous for it wonderful health-giving properties. By reason of this advantage, Southend is much more invigorating than the ordinary seaside resort. Patients from all parts of the British Isles avail themselves of this natural adjunct, for cures in cases of anaemia, debility, lung trouble, tuberculosis, and kindred complaints. Six hardways are constructed on the foreshore, and large numbers of people have been greatly strengthened and benefited by making use of these. The great curative properties of Southend were well known to medical practitioners of the eighteenth century, and in 1801 Princess Charlotte of Wales, daughter of the Prince Regent, afterwards George IV, was sent here by her medical attendants and derived much benefit. Two years later, her mother, the Princess Caroline of Brunswick, Princess of Wales, lived three months at Southend in Royal Terrace, adjoining the Pier. Sea-Air, Sunlight, Ozone, Pure Air, Light and Water The continual presence of fogs and clouds are factors prejudicial to health. The ancient peoples of the earth were fully aware of the life and health-giving propertied of sunlight, and sun worship held a prominent place in the religious ceremonies of the Assyrians, Babylonians, Indians, Chinese, Greeks and Arabs. Pure sunlight of the ordinary intensity raises the antiseptic power of the blood and kills the germs of tuberculosis in ten minutes, while such germs will survive in the dark for a period of two years. The building up of a tired body or mind is greatly helped by sea-air, which contains a highly beneficial form of oxygen in the shape of ozone, which is life-giving and strengthening. It is better than the air of country places, is cleaner than the air in towns, and is free from contamination, which allows free passage of the ultra-violet rays of the natural sunshine. The restoration of health and virility impaired by illness, overwork, physical or mental strain, can be accomplished by sea-air and sea-water (either open-air bathing or by warm sea-water baths). Southend posses all these advantages. By reason of its geographical situation and climate conditions, Great Britain is blessed with the finest sea-air in the world, and, owing to its bracing qualities, the air on the East Coast is the finest in Great Britain. Not only is it as bracing as the Alps, but it has greater sunshine and less rainfall. Because Southend is on the East Coast the air is invigorating, and suitable for patients suffering from repository diseases. A famous medical and eugenicist (M.D., F.R.C.S., F.Z.S.), speaking of the healing properties of pure air, pure light and pure water, stated that the curative properties of light are definitely higher along the south and south-east coasts than anywhere else in the country, and that the corner of England in which Southend is situate is the best climate in our island, and one of the very best in the whole world. Indications Southend and district is very convenient of access. It is good for delicate children, tuberculous or otherwise. But it is also very good, especially in the winter, for tired Londoners who need a few days’ rest in invigorating air, especially after attack of catarrh or influenza, also for those suffering from chronic fatigue and insomnia. Southend is further recommended by local opinion for cases of chronic or arrested pulmonary tuberculosis, if not associated with much catarrh. The majority of cases of asthma find relief. Patients with rheumatism and rheumatoid arthritis often derive benefit from mud or seaweed baths, but not those who are liable to acute attacks. Other contra-indications are acute catarrhs, bronchitis and emphysema. There are two convalescent homes for cripples. Ozone Iodized Baths These baths can be taken at any temperature, and thousands of persons have benefited largely thereby. For gout, rheumatism and liver derangements 90° to 100° Fahrenheit is most desirable, but apart from those who suffer by the irregular and imperfect secretions of an unhealthy skin, these baths are being largely taken as an ordinary sanitary bath. The lower temperatures are recommended to regulate the secretions of the skin, invigorate the nerve power, and give tone the general health. As a rule the bath should taken every other day, before meals, but at least an hour should elapse after eating. They contain all the alkaline and saline properties of the celebrated Carlsbad springs, and correct and remove acid secretions, attendant evils of gouty and rheumatic conditions of the blood. The bath also removes all fatty and saline matters deposited on the skin by perspiration, and unhealthy or obstructive deposits excreted from the blood. The skin is able to absorb considerable quantities of ozone, iodine and bromine, and other properties from the bath, which causes the blood to throw out acrid and gouty matter and other impurities. These are removed from the skin by the next bath, and so on towards recovery. Persons who suffer from overload or inactive liver which charges the blood with bile, and causes strain on all other organs, will experience a sensation of buoyancy and comfort after using the bath. Invalids and persons who are not strong enough to take a proper bath can use a foot bath only with great benefit. The advantage of keeping the skin of the feet in a healthy state is not properly realised.

One of the private bathrooms replete with every convenience, ultra violet, shower, etc

A corner of one of the sun lounges and rest rooms, all south facing

Introduction In days past Southend was advertised as a health resort, and for some, was a place to visit to relieve symptoms of illness. We are all aware inner city living was very different then, and standards of living have improved over the years, a visit to Southend then would definitely of been like a breath of fresh air. Advancement in medicine and the understanding of good health both physical and mental has come a long way since then too. One date which is notable was in 1928 when the true antibiotic ‘Penicillin’ was discovered by Alexander Flemming, Professor of Bacteriology at St Mary’s Hospital in London, although going further back in time the ancient Egyptians would apply mouldy bread to infected wounds, the antibiotic compound produced by the bacteria and fungus was capable of killing competing microbial species. Another notable date is the 5th July 1948, this was the day the National Health Service was formed. Below is information from various past advertised articles promoting the health benefits of visiting Southend.