Timeline

1880 Development begins. Southend's development started apace in 1880, particularly the Milton area north of the railway, the next 30 years would see the area build up its residential housing stock and this area in particular is now a key conservation area in the town. The Plough. The junction of London Road and West Road features on many a historic map, and one of the original through-ways of the area. It would be a natural location therefore to place a hostelry. In 1880 building plans were submitted for then The Plough Hotel, naturally the farm filled views at this time is very different to the one that can be seen today, a urban Westcliff hub of traffic and activity. The Hotel was built almost alone with maybe an odd cottage here and there, and due to its then remoteness it was very much a key staging point for the horse traffic of the day. Take a walk round the back of the Plough today and you will still see the iron rings in the wall that horses were tied to as well as an original coaching building. Mr. W. Jefferies, an auctioneer, advertised “A capital Post Windmill, driving two pairs of stones; in good repair. Good residence with oven and bakehouse attached, stables, coach house, piggeries and ten acres of arable and meadow land.” This was the windmill which stood at the end of the lane which is now Milton Road. Mr C. W. Jarvis provided the first concerts in the pavilion of the new iron pier, but in 1880 when his tender for further concerts was not accepted by the Board, they gave him permission to erect a concert tent on top of the cliffs. August. A camera obscura (A camera obscura is a darkened room or box or tent with a small hole or lens at one side through which an image is projected onto the wall opposite the hole.) opened on Pier Hill, and became a popular attraction for a great many years. September. A few members of the Community of Sisters of Nazareth whose mother house was at Hammersmith opened the former Milton Hall as Nazareth House. The sisters had no funds and depended entirely upon voluntary subscriptions. October. Southend Liberal Association was formed with Mr. J. Farley Leith, Q. C., of Prittlewell Priory, as first president. Board Schools, London Road, were erected. 1881 The Cemetery, in North Road, four acres in extent, opens under the control of the Corporation. Steps were taken for the formation of a cottage hospital. Rev. F. Thackeray presided at a meeting at the Royal Hotel when Dr. Deeping said if a hospital was started, the medical men would give there services gratuitously. It was decided to start a hospital, but the foundation stone of Victoria Hospital was not laid until 1887 - the scheme promoted six years previously was not well supported. Southend gets larger. The 1881 census shows the population of Southend as 7,979, although improvements to the rail system would certainly accelerate the rate of increase. In 1892 the population went over 12,000. Warrior Square develops. At the corner of the High Street and Southchurch Road a 13 acre field was divided into lots and auctioned off for the speculative development of shops and houses. A central park had already been laid out and would remain in place for the benefit of the residents, on payment of an annual fee of 1 guinea. Southend Park sold. Mr Steward who owned Southend Park decided to sell up this year, it sold privately for £2,800. The land continued as a park for a short while, however, the longer term intention of purchase started to take form with houses springing up, as to where it was find the Park Tavern on London Road and consider the land behind it and the roads that form a natural perimeter. The park situated south of London Road gained an added bonus during the winter of 1881 as the lake in the park froze over adequately enough ice skating was permitted. This activity captured the imagination that by mid January lights had sprung up around the lake to allow evening skating, and small fires were lit around to keep those watching warm. Pier Train closes. Southend Pier was served well up until 1881 with the horse drawn railway which provided passengers and easier way of connecting with the steamers waiting for them over a mile away. The railway in an electric format would not open again until 1890. 1882 A Year of planning. 1882 was a year of discussion and dialogue through the Local Board. The original pier was becoming a hazard, and inspections were taking place revealing that the structure was becoming increasingly dangerous. Talks were happening to have a new iron built pier put in its place, and finding the right contractor and financier to make this happen was an ongoing process. A new rail line to link Southend with the rest Essex was under discussion and getting closer to reality. Electrification of the street lighting across the town was being posted as happening at the end of the year. Indeed at the Leigh Industrial Exhibition one of the most popular stands was one exhibiting the amazing electric light. The route between the Cricketers and Prittlewell was especially picked out as needing urgent lighting to prevent people falling into ditches. Southend Regatta took place bringing throngs of visitors into the town. A whole host of yachting and boating races took place, as well as land based activities. The Southend Regatta this year was considered to be a tremendous success by the organisers and a celebratory lunch took place in the autumn. Garon a famous name with catering and retail businesses much later in Southend's future, was becoming known around the town but in this year mainly as an Estate Agent. The Police force in the town amounted to four constables, and there was growing concern over the rough nature of Southchurch and how dangerous it was for females walking through the area. The one and only mode of transport was a bicycle owned personally by one of the constables. The force was trying hard to push through recommendations that Essex Police invest in more bicycles (that would of course only be used only for official business), but the public were concerned, as they knew on regular occasions dispatches needed to be taken to Chelmsford and the only way of doing this was through a two hour bike ride. Could the town cope while this peeler was making his way through the wilds of Essex, particularly the females of Southchurch. The Local Board came under a lot of criticism during the year over the building of Queen's Road. The general members of the board were very upset that they were being presented with a done deal before they had the chance to discuss it. Heated discussions occurred which at one meeting led to it being stopped halfway through. There was lots of talk about the provision of water to Prittlewell and the objection of the Prittlelite residents there fearing there properties would then have a higher value, and attract more taxes. It was agreed to provide this modern utility to only those that wanted it. Water was a key conversation in 1882, including the installation of a drinking fountain outside Trinity Church, although this facility was really wanted by visitors and locals alike, a home-owner objected to its placement more or less outside his house, but this was finally approved, much to the relief of the thirsty hoards. Clarence Road Baptist Church formed in May 1882 by Rev. J. G. Wilson and 45 members, all of whom had split from Southend Baptist Tabernacle. Services were held in the Public Hall in Alexandra Street until 1883 when an iron building was erected in Clarence Street. A permanent building opened on 17 May 1889 adjoining the iron building which was thereafter used as a lecture hall. The church was demolished in 1981 and new premises were erected c1982. 1883 The Local Board acquired Western Esplanade. A railway bridge was constructed across the High Street, for the extension of the London to Southend railway line to Shoebury. New Court House built. With Southend building as a fashionable place to visit, so with it came crime. To cope with these issues and to maintain order in this respectable town, a courthouse was built to the rear of the new Police Station in Alexandra Street. Unfortunately the facility was so well used it needed renewing in 1892. Banking in Southend. Financial institutions in the town were few and far between, in 1883 the first formalised bank was established in the town, the Essex Bank. The town has seen many banks come and go and the main shopping streets now have empty but typically designed such buildings dotted around. 1884 January. The first petty sessions are held in Southend. 22nd April, Earthquake. The earth shook all the way down the eastern counties to Southend at 9.20 am on 22nd April 1884. Across the town as people stood shocked at this totally new experience, the bells in the church towers rang, buildings shook and a little damage was incurred across the town. All aboard. The train expansion just continued on and on with Shoeburyness finally achieving the accolade of 'end of the line'. With a direct line between Barking and Pitsea installed later on the journey from London to Southend was increasingly shortened in length and time, the main centre of disturbance was in Colchester. Westward Ho! Charles Tilleard Natusch a renowned architect put his mark on Southend seafront with the building of the Westward Ho! Hotel a tall dominant building on Western Esplanade. 1885 The Cliffs in front of the Cliff Town Estate is purchased from Mr. Brassey by the Local Board. Southend's First Parliamentary Election. A keenly contested battle ensued at the ballot box as well as on the streets of Southend. The country returned a Liberal but Southend, new to this electoral system, set its future course with a Conservative. Pier Toll House. With the pier in place and becoming an attraction in it's own right it seemed fitting for it to have a grand entrance, in 1885 a magnificent toll house was opened, and proved very fitting for the pier of its day. Within the design of the toll house were ornate garlands and fish. When the structure had served its purpose it was dismantled in 1931 and the fish elements of it were transferred to the Olde Worlde garden in Priory Park. Tragic accident. Shoebury Garrison was rocked by an accident which would claim seven lives, on Thursday 26th February at 3.30pm, a 6-inch shell detonated while being prepared for firing, just east of the old battery (today the Heavy Quick Firing Battery). The Southend Standard wrote of the event two days later'...The gloom over Shoeburyness is intense. Such deep grief has never over shadowed it before... perhaps it will never be paralleled again. The blow has struck all ranks, from the humblest to the highest. The men as well as the officers were held in esteem and kindly regard.' The firm of H. Garon Ltd., owners of food shops, restaurants, a hotel, bakery, cinema, etc, came into existence with the opening of a shop at 64 High Street in 1885 (This was soon followed by other shops, and in 1890 the first of Garon's ten café's and restaurants was opened). 8th October. The Theadore and Herbert lifeboat was presented to Southend by the R.N.L.I. through a legacy bequeathed by Mrs F. S. Smith, of County Cork. The town was decorated and a procession was included. The Lifeboat was on a trolley drawn by six horses and was taken to Vandervord’s Hard where a service was conducted. 1886 All Saints Church was built in 1886 and extended in 1934, is a fine example of Gothic Revival Architecture. All Saints is a town church built to cater for the rapidly expanding population of Southend. It was designed by the well-known Victorian church architect James Brooks and is a good example of the simple early Gothic style. For a number of years the children of Shoebury were educated in a large single roomed building at the bottom of Hinguar Street, now the site of St Peter's Church. By 1886 the number of children needing schooling had increased, so a little east of the original site a new school opened, Hinguar School. Initially as an infants but with additional building the site reached its current compliment and received junior children in 1903. Train trip to Southend. The cost of taking a new form of transport to the seaside was very much promoted from Fenchurch Street station, but it did work and passengers would fork out three shillings for the novelty of taking a train on the London, Tilbury and Southend line. Throw in an extra thruppence and you could go all the way to Shoeburyness. Criterion Palace of Varieties, 16 Marine Parade Southend-on-Sea. Opened c1886 offering ales, stout and fine wines with variety entertainment every evening. Southend’s motion picture history started here in 1898 when the first moving pictures in the town were projected, newsreels of the Boer War. 1887 March. The Southend Liberal club was formed, with headquarters at the Public Hall. The club building was later opened in December 1889. June. The town was well decorated for Queen Victoria’s Jubilee. A party for old people of Southend was held in the Albert Hall, a corrugated iron structure for 700 people at the rear of the Ship Hotel. Southend invaded. Some 25,000 people took advantage of the new train link to Southend on the August Bank Holiday, and invaded this youthful seaside resort; enjoying their experience so much a huge number of them missed their trains back to London forcing an amazing mass beach sleepover, the scale of which has never been seen since. This year saw the arrival of an important milestone in Southend's history; an act of parliament arrived decreeing the right for an iron pier to be built into the Thames Estuary. Royal Yachting. The Alexandra Yacht Club based along the Western Esplanade was responsible for a number of the town's key yachting races. In 1887, Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee, word had spread about Southend's ability in this field that the Prince of Wales attended. Prittlewell was described as "An ancient and agreeable village, consisting of two streets and right angles to one another." August. The foundation stone is laid by Lady Brooke for the new Victoria Hospital, Warrior Square. The Victoria Hospital opened in 1887. Adequate for the time but as the town expanded in size and became an increasingly popular seaside resort so the need was for more. This hospital existed in Warrior Square. Salvation Army. This religious movement has a large movement in Southend; it built its first 'barracks' in Clarence Street in 1887, only ten years after the foundation of the Salvation Army. In 1890 it acquired 3,000 acres of farming land in Hadleigh. Town Centre expands. The streets between the railway station and Alexandra Street, ie, Clarence Street, Weston Road, and Clarence Road, were completed in 1887. John Farley Leith QC M.P., an interesting character in the nation's politics, who died on 4th April 1887. He is represented in the National Portrait Gallery with this caricature. He lived in the Priory in Prittlewell, and was well known for being the MP for Aberdeen. This bit of text refers to his time there, Aberdeen was represented in Parliament by a Liberal, John Farley Leith. He was an English barrister who on one occasion took the chair at the AGM of Bon Accord Swimming Club. He was by no means renowned as an orator, but on that occasion it is reported that he brought the house down by reciting the Shakespearean passage in which Cassius recalls how his swimming prowess saved the life of Julius Caesar. Brewery Controversy. The Luker Brewery was quite an iconic building in Southend's Whitegate Road, later to become the extension of the High Street. This year saw some issues when raw sewage washed off the street became mixed with the beer making process. Doing the reputation of the brewery which fed a majority of the pubs in the town no good at all, lets say the Special Brew this year was not one to be taken down lightly. 1888 The Victoria Hospital located in far east extremity of Warrior Square was formally opened on 30th May by Mrs Carne Rasch wife of the local MP. For the size of the population of Southend and the swelling of numbers by the visitors this 8 bed sanatorium was woefully inadequate, but at least it was a start, providing the town with more than it had before. The cost of building the hospital and equipping it out came under the planned budget of £2,500. At a time long before the NHS came into being the hospital needed to survive, through fund-raising and pledges of those good willed citizens in the community. As the hospital established itself within the community it not only provided a 22 bed ward and a children's ward (in 1906) but also provided nursing services into the community. It was comforting to see that the hospital built on its starting budget, managed to secure funding in full to keep it going for many years. In 1900 during the Boer War three beds were put at the disposal of the Mayor for the use of wounded troops or those invalided out of the military, fortunately this offer was never taken up. It was quickly realised the Victoria Hospital would become a key bequeathment from beneficiaries of the hospital's services, as well as those that worked tirelessly within the facility. Building plans were submitted to the Local Board for the Blue Boar Public House on the junction of North Road/West Street. Followed by a further submission to include stabling for those customers who might end up a little too inebriated to ride their steed home. Roots Hall. An old house in Prittlewell was having its land broken up as its grounds were cut in to make way for North Road (to become Victoria Ave). After the house was finally demolished the land became a football ground for Southend United pre World War One. Railway washed away. 1888 saw disaster as heavy rains caused the sea walls to collapse and the L.M.S. Railway was closed for several days, due to the track ballast being swept away. New Doctor arrives in old Leigh. Dr James Murie something of a celebrity, as a well known explorer who had helped in the expedition to find the source of the Nile, came to live in Old Leigh this year. He was not a nice man and had wanted and desired solitude as he had many a falling out with his medical peers. Old Leigh seemed the ideal dwelling and although he managed to haul himself up, he still found himself being recruited to the Kent and Essex Fisheries Committee where his other expertise on natural life was called upon to put together a comprehensive study of the ecology in the Thames Estuary. This job did not go without issue as this well educated man found it difficult to work with the local Old Leigh fishermen and as a result his promise of two volumes came to only one, a significant piece of work still noted for its quality today, he lived to the ripe old age of 94 and died in 1925. HIGGS fur, leather & sheepskin business is established. 1889 Victoria Avenue completed to Prittlewell. William Heddle opens his Cash Clothing Stores. The Iron Pier opens. It took two years to build the pier enough for it to be formally opened to the public; there would be another two years of ongoing construction before final completion. This massive project would replace the old wooden pier which demonstrated the need for a link to the low water, it fell into a bad state of repair and became particularly dangerous to venture on as discovered by government inspectors in 1882. The new iron pier provided a new longer term future that proved resistant to fires and damage caused by ships ploughing into it. At last this structure would be home to many years of seaside entertainment and provide a suitable berth for the steam boats that would take visitors as far as France. Prittlewell Linked to Southend by Road. Victoria Avenue was formally opened on 1st June. Prittlewell was being forced into a union with it's much younger sibling on the coast the South End. Originally entering Prittlewell you would come in from North Road and the take either East or West Road. There was no South Road. Buildings stood in the way including the original Blue Boar Pub. Victoria Avenue would provide a direct link to the coast and with a bit of demolition and the rebuilding of the pub onto the west side of the new Victoria Avenue, a route was born. North Road too lost it's name and Victoria Avenue took on the mantle right through to Cuckoo Corner. October G.E.R to Southend. Second railway to Southend, from London to Victoria opens. Southend as a genuine visitor venue became a reality when London was formally linked to Southend Victoria. For Southend it was important, so much so a grand opening of Southend Victoria station was held on 1st October 1889. The London Tilbury Southend line was already in operation, so Great Eastern Railways would become major competition. The Central Station building of the LTS as we know it today was also opened in 1889, replacing earlier versions. Clarence Road Baptist Church formed in May 1882 by Rev. J. G. Wilson and 45 members, all of whom had split from Southend Baptist Tabernacle. Services were held in the Public Hall in Alexandra Street until 1883 when an iron building was erected in Clarence Street. A permanent building opened on 17th May 1889 adjoining the iron building which was thereafter used as a lecture hall. The church was demolished in 1981 and new premises were erected c1982. 1889-1891. A new loading pier was built opposite the Ship Hotel. When the original passenger pier was replaced by the present iron structure. 1890 R. A. Jones opened his Jewellers in the High Street. The Essex Yacht Club. Naturally the coastline along Southend would be home to a number of yacht and motorboat clubs through the years. This year 1890 would see the birth of one of the most enduring clubs, the Essex Yacht Club. Situated along the walkway between Chalkwell beach and Old Leigh. Although it started in a bungalow at the base of Leigh Cliff the first Headquarters would be accommodated aboard a boat called Gypsy. This would be the beginning of the clubs long relationship with retired boats that became home. Today a former naval boat called the Wilton has the honour. The new Steel/iron Structure of the pier was complete. Temperance Hotel built, an addition to the town's skyline was built in 1890. The West Cliff hotel arrived and retains the record of being the longest surviving hotel in the town. SODS founded. Southend-on-Sea Operatic and Dramatic Society (the SODS) was founded in 1890 and research concludes that only six societies in the whole of the country came into existence before that year and still survive. October. The skeleton of a man believed to be one of the mutineers of Admiral Duncan’s fleet at the Nore in 1797, was found at Shoebury. 1891 The West Cliff Hotel was built. The Southend Conservative and Unionist Club Limited, Clarence Street, was almost entirely rebuilt. August. A whale 26ft long, nearly ten tons got stranded on Nore sands. The whale was killed by John Johnson of Leigh and towed to Tomlin’s wharf at Leigh by fishermen. Thomas William Ingram, who had brought the first floating swimming baths to Southend, and had been a member of the local board died. New College for Westcliff. The Lindisfarne College was founded in this year and accommodated in Valkyrie Road. The building was large and covered a fair site including playing fields. Today the College is no more but the building still exists although the playing fields are very much built over. 1892 Thomas Dowsett becomes Southend’s first Mayor. Schofield and Martin open their first store. New College for the Town. Alexandra College opened its doors this year, a Higher Education facility designed solely for girls and probably the match needed for the St John's College for boys. Alexandra College built up a solid reputation as an educational facility and would grow in size both pupil and facilities, gaining a reputation as one of the foremost colleges outside London. The college had the ability to take day and boarding students. Soccer League born. Sport has always been important through Southend's being; so it is no surprise that in the early years of the town's development sport factored keenly, not least this year with the inception of the Southend and District School's Football League. September. Edison’s phonograph is exhibited for the first time in the town at the British School. Severe Fire in Old Leigh, 2nd October 1892. The original Peter Boat pub along with a string of original cottages some dating back to Tudor times went up in flames one January night. The Landlord and his brother-in-law were staggering down some stairs in the tavern well oiled from the night before. One carrying a lamp, he stumbled and fell, the resulting crash led to flames engulfing the one wall, and being timber framed buildings it did not take long for the fire to take hold. Fishermen were dragged from their beds to form a chain to bring water onto the fire but to no avail. Not only did the fire destroy a significant amount of Old Leigh heritage but it also uncovered the smugglers cellar which lay underneath the pub's cellar. Incorporation of the Borough. Local Board replaced by Town Council. Town now called Southend-on-Sea. Population 13,000, rateable valuable £82,000. A significant year in the history of Southend. The town becoming recognised as a authority in it's own right. Spectacular scenes were seen across the town when Borough status was proclaimed. The Lord Mayor of London led a parade along the pier to the Pier Pavilion in celebration. Brewery Road School was built in 1892 to cope with the demands of the growing population to the east of the town. 1893 G. J. Keddie opened its First Shop. For many years Keddies became the flagship department store of the town and instrumental in changing the way people went about shopping. The first show by Southend Operatic and Dramatic Society, was an operetta called “Robin Hood” at the Public Hall. Pier Hill Fairground. On Pier Hill, on the site where the Palace Hotel was later built, was the Pier Hill Fairground. Here were more roundabouts, swings, scenic railway, Roly Poly ride, fortune tellers, boxing booths and other amusements. In 1893 the local father and son partnership of Alfred and Bernard Wiltshire Tolhurst, solicitors, had decided to buy up land at the east end of the town for the creation of a new park, for both residents and trippers. This was to be the Marine Park and Gardens. A small, four acre, annexe was to reserved for amusements, such as a scenic railway and dancing platform. George & Sons Ltd. A confectioners started business in Hartington Road this year by Mr George Isaacs was the founder who died in 1943. The factory moved to the High Street in 1899, and then moved between Salisbury Road and North Road in 1913. New Name. In June the Council formally agreed to change the name of the town to Southend-on-Sea, intentionally to market it towards it being a major seaside resort. Leigh Road Baptist Church. The Baptist movement in Leigh was started by Arthur Sidey who visited the area in 1893 at the age of 19. An iron chapel was erected on land in Sea View Road given by William Beecroft (a Billingsgate fish salesman and a Congregationalist) in 1893, with Sidey as the first pastor (Sidey left in 1898 to serve Westcliff Baptist Church). When the Sea View Road site was sold in 1899, because of restrictions on the land, services were held in a marquee and the pastor's house until a new site was acquired at the corner of Leigh Road and Marguerite Drive in 1900. A new iron chapel was erected and called the Baptist Tabernacle, Leigh, the first service being held there in November 1900. Further plots of land were purchased to enlarge the site. A school chapel was built in 1908, and in 1928 a new church was erected, the old iron building being demolished the following year. Mission churches were opened in Eastwood (1911) and London Road in Leigh (1913). 1894 Prittlewell Murder. Police Sergeant Marden assisted in the investigation into the murder of Florence Dennis, who was found shot in the head in Gainsborough Drive, Prittlewell. The enquiry, which was conducted by Marden and Detective Inspector Baker of the Metropolitan Police, found that Florence Dennis was pregnant, and the mistress of James Canham Read, a cashier in the Royal Albert Docks. After the murder Read went on the run, and wanted posters were circulated with his description. He was eventually arrested at the home of another one of his mistresses, tried at the Essex Assizes and hanged at Chelmsford prison in December 1894. On Monday, June 24, 1894 Florence went to Prittlewell, and was met by a man. They walked through some woodland park, at dusk. When in an isolated spot Read asked Florence if she had mentioned that they were meeting. Knowing what he wanted to hear she said "No". When her back was turned he shot her in the head. He hoped to catch a train from Prittlewell back to London, and missed it. He could not afford to wait for the next train. To rent a wagon would have been to invite questions that would lead to his identity. So Read decided to walk the many miles back to Stepney. It took him all night. In the course of it, he had to stop several people for directions, and with typical luck he stopped a smart constable among them. Still he continued walking most of the night, and got back to his home. Westcliff Station was built in 1894, bringing a boom in housing in the Westcliff area. At the foot of Hamlet Court Road and just across from the famous Queen's Hotel this station was ideally placed for visitors wanting to take advantage of the Westcliff beaches or the exclusive shopping in Hamlet Court Road. 1895 January. The Alexandra Theatre (formerly the Public Hall) in Alexandra Street, was destroyed by fire. Westcliff Railway Station opens. The Council accept the gift of Southchurch Park from Messrs. Baxter, Dowsett and Ingram. The Park was presented to the town in 1895 from three landowners, Messrs. Baxter, Dowsett, and Ingram, and has continued to develop, combining formal and informal areas. Relaxing gardens, recreational facilities including, sports and play equipment keep the Park popular with all who visit. Throughout the year the gardens are awash with colour as the bedding plants, herbaceous perennials and shrubs mark the changes in the season, providing joy to those who visit. Bowls, Tennis, Croquet, Football and Cricket all play a part in the yearly sporting calendar. New School. One of the first secondary schools for boys and girls was opened in Clarence Street, adjoining the Municipal offices. this continued as a school until 1902 until it moved to larger surroundings in Victoria Circus. Westcliff Station opens. The station was requested by developers to enhance the building projects emerging in the area which was rising as an upmarket area, so much so the name for Westcliff at this time was being considered as Kensington-on-Sea. Fortunately it stayed as Westcliff. The station today has changed little with the prestigiously styled buildings on both sides of the platform. Empire Theatre destroyed 6th January 1895. Formerly the Public Hall, Empire Theatre in 1895 was completely destroyed by fire. Situated in Alexandra Street, and when rebuilt would become once again a popular venue known under many names including the Rivoli, ABC and the New Empire Theatre. The building has been demolished. Earl's Hall Estate develops. Over the way from Priory Park and across the fields towards the Bell Pub, the first houses of the Earls Hall estate started to emerge this year. Not completing until around 1930. The proud Earl's Hall today is no more demolished in the 1960s and duly replaced by a tower block. Treasure Trove. Towards the end of 1895, whilst digging in the brick field near the old Manor House in Shoebury, some labourers unearthed an almost perfect Roman Pot Kiln. The discovery of some coins also fixed the date of its antiquity almost beyond doubt as 250AD to 300AD. As the Romans who were in possession of Britain at that date had a large camp at Colchester it is probable that there was an encampment at South Shoebury on the site of this discovery. A Town on the move. From a map of 1895 Southend was full of green spaces which now would be full of houses and development. Key features from that map show the area the Kursaal Amusement park was to occupy was then simply called Marine Park, which within an oval area housed cricket and football facilities, which would bode well for Southend United many years later as this area would become there home ground for a while. Along Marine Parade and Eastern Esplanade the following pubs are named: Castle Public House, Britannia Public House, Minerva Hotel, Ship Hotel, Hope Hotel. At the top of Pier Hill, the Palace (Metropole) Hotel is yet to be built, although St John the Baptist's Church stands out proud and would have been a key icon for the town at the time. The High Street, as we know it today was only called this name from Pier Hill to the railway bridge. There on it was named Whitegate Road, and in this area just north of the bridge sits predominately the Middleton Hotel and the Brewery (Luker) today the Starbucks and the University building would occupy this area. First Telephone in town. From the Maplin Pile Lighthouse to the Southend Coastguard. Ran the very first telephone in the town, connected for the sole purpose of saving life. December. The foundation stone of the new Empire Theatre was laid on the site of Alexandra Theatre (formerly the Public Hall), Alexandra Street, by Major F. Carne Rasch, M.P. 1896 Southend’s first General Post Office opens in Weston Road. c1896 William Sharpe and J.T.S. Dyer start St Ann’s builders’ merchants. Gas lighting was introduced on the pier in 1896. 25th May. Empire Theatre opened, rebuilt on the site of the Alexandra Theatre/Public Hall, Alexandra Street. Empire Theatre was built on the site of the old town hall on Alexandra Street. Liquor License for the Carlton Pub. The Carlton has existed in Leigh-on-Sea, on the Broadway, as a hostelry for many years, even back maybe to Elizabethan times, but it wasn't until August 1896 it was granted it's first Liquor License. Designed with the same intentions as the Plough in Westcliff, built in 1880, as a coaching house. The rear of The Carlton has extensive stabling accommodation, and no doubt served as a hotel too. Westcliff Baptist Church was founded in 1896 by Rev.William Frith, on the south side of Station Road, Westcliff. In 1902 the church moved to a new building in Valkyrie Road, but after only a few months "there was a split there". The church in Valkyrie Road was put up for sale; it became occupied by Westcliff Free Evangelical Church, much later to become the HARP homeless centre. For a time after leaving Valkyrie Road, services were held in the home of Mrs Binstead of Oakhurst, Crowstone Road, Westcliff, and on 20th May 1903 Westcliff Park Tabernacle was opened in an iron building on the north side of London Road opposite Crowstone Road. A plot of land on the S. side of London Road [the present site] was purchased from the Chalkwell Hall Trust in 1914 for the erection of a permanent church building. 1897 Jubilee Celebrations in Southend. Southchurch incorporated into the Borough. Population of the Borough 23,000. Rateable value £122,911. Leigh Council formed. Leigh's importance was formalised in 1897 with the arrival of Leigh Urban District Council. The first Chairman was Mr T. J. Watson. The Council's seal was a boat mounted on a shell. St Clement's Church. The most prominent church in Leigh received an extension this year with the addition of the South Aisle. This growing hub of the community kept expanding with Lady Chapel being added in 1913. Ravens arrives. One of today's key retailers in the town centre arrived in 1897. Like today, the 1890s was a decade of regeneration and boom for Southend, which represented a great opportunity for entrepreneurs, such as the young Percy Raven. Although he was only in his early 20s when he opened the first Ravens store at number 48 High Street in 1897, he had already created a name for himself as a quality draper. In 1900 he expanded the Ravens empire by purchasing an old tea-bar at number 90 High Street, which he would soon redevelop to create Southend’s first department store. The Queen Vic arrives. The statue of Queen Victoria, a monumental work by Mr. Joseph William Swynnerton (1848-1910), of the great monarch which created quite a sensation in art circles, was presented by Mayor Bernard Wiltshire Tolhurst, to the town to mark the Queen's diamond jubilee in 1897. It was produced in studios in Rome and was erected on the occasion of the queen's diamond jubilee. the pedestal and steps, also of marble, were designed by Mr. Edward Goldie; the whole memorial is about 20 feet in height. It was unveiled by Lady Rayleigh, wife of the Lord Lieutenant of Essex. It was originally situated at the top of Pier Hill, in 1962 it was moved to its present position in Clifftown Parade. The statue and pedestal, made of Carrara marble, have an overall height of twenty feet. The queen, seated on a Gothic chair, holds the royal sceptre in her left hand and with her right points to the sea. Residents joked that in her original position she pointed to the gent's toilets! In the early 1980's the Borough council had to beat off advances from British Columbia in Canada as they wished to purchase it to sit outside there government offices in Victoria. Wesley Methodist Church built. On Elm Road a significant place of worship was completed and opened in 1897 by Mrs Osborne the wife of John Osborne of New Road church who donated the land for this latest project. Also the Mayor's wife, Mrs Beecroft, was on hand to assist on 28th October. New School. A new school was built called Leigh Road School initially later to be known as Hamlet Court County School, on the junction of Hamlet Court Road and Leigh/London Road. Today this school has gone replaced by part housing and a car park. Middleton Hotel planned. Plans were well on the way towards the building of the Middleton Hotel right next door to the Luker Brewery in the High Street. 1898 National School, Southchurch are enlarged this year. Count Antonia de la Rosa, an Italian aged 87 died in Nazareth House. A man of magnificent stature, he was a general in the army of the last King of Naples and a right hand man of the assassinated Emperor of Mexico. He was leader of the bodyguard of Pope Pius IX on his flight to Galta and a friend of the Queen of Spain. He was buried in the crypt of Nazareth House. January. The foundation and memorial stones of Pleasant Road Primitive Methodist chapel and school room were laid by Major Carne Rasche M.P. Cost of the building and land was £2,800. St. George’s Presbyterian Church of England, Park Road, was erected. 17th June. The foundation stone of the the church of St. Alban the Martyr was laid by the Bishop of St. Albans. Designed by Sir Charles Nicholson, it consisted of a chancel, nave, south aisle and tower. The register dates from the year 1902. August. The Warwick Revolving Tower opens on Marine Parade. It was 125ft 8½ inches high and cost £8,000. The lift had room for 200 people but only 150 were allowed to ascend at one time. It was hauled up by 4 inch steel ropes and tested to 40 tons. There was a slight mishap at the opening and some councillors and other were frightened to use the lift, but Councillor Prevost rallied them and after a time they made a safe ascent and descent. Since 1895 the Warwick Revolving Tower began to shoot up around England's coastal towns. Scarborough had the accolade of having the first one completed, followed not long after by Southend in 1898. Very timely considering the need for more than just sea, sun and sand for the many visitors pouring into the town. The Revolving Tower was located where the Kursaal park was due to be built and became a significant landmark in many a postcard image for a number of years. Westcliff-on-Sea becomes ecclesiastical parish from Prittlewell. War of the Worlds. H. G. Wells the famous science fiction writer penned his novel 'the War of the Worlds' in it and as part of the story he refers to Southend and Shoeburyness: 'Had the Martians aimed only at destruction, they might on Monday have annihilated the entire population of London, as it spread it self through the home counties. Not only along the road through Barnet, but also through Edgeware and Waltham Abbey, and along the roads eastwards to Southend and Shoeburyness, and south of the Thames to Deal and Broadstairs, poured the same frantic rout.' Pier damaged. The new pier structure would start it's long history of problems when a ketch slammed into it during a storm. 1899 June. The Queen’s Hotel, Westcliff-on-Sea opened, building costs about £26,000. July. Southend receives a bigger lifeboat, the James Stevens No.9, which could hold 90 People. South Essex College was founded, as an art school, renamed later the Junior Day Technical School. Southchurch Esplanade and road were constructed. New Hotel for Town Centre. The Hotel Victoria was a majestic building that dominated the junction, situated on the corner of the High Street and Southchurch Road. It opened in 1899, and had 100 rooms, each of which had electric lighting and steam radiators. Councillor E. J. Bowmaker who started the skating rink in Alexandra Street and manager of the Victoria coffee palace for twenty years, dies in November. New Hotel for Leigh-on-Sea. By 1899 Leigh-on-Sea was expanding East and becoming a cosmopolitan town, enhanced further by the building of the iconic Grand Hotel by Henry Choppin; originally named the "Leigh-on-Sea Family and Commercial Hotel." Located in a thriving area, and rumoured to be haunted! Partially now listed, this is an impressive four storey building. Unfortunately the 2009 credit crunch saw the building vacant. Recently the Grand had new owners and scaffolding was erected in March 2020, hopefully we can see this old building returned to its former glory. 30 people were imprisoned on the Warwick Revolving Tower on Marine Parade for five hours in mid-air during a thunderstorm. Hotel for Shoeburyness. Hotels were popping up a plenty across the Borough. Outside the Garrisons gates the Shoeburyness Hotel was complete replacing a previous tavern which existed on the same footprint of land. The hotel was built in an Arts and Crafts style and became famous for being a training base for boxers attached to the Garrison, such as Bombardier Wells.