Shoeburyness, Essex

The name of the pleasure boats

There were two pleasure boats operating from the west beach, 'The Prince of Wales' and another, whose name eludes me at the moment.  I think it may have been 'The Queen Mary', but will have to confirm this later.  Up until recently, when they were deemed to be a risk, the manual winches were rusting on the top of the beach near the Uncle Tom's Cabin entrance from between the beach huts.  I moved to the area, in 1953 at age 3, and have recall of many pleasant days spent on the mud, often walking as far as the Mulberry harbour, the beach, and in the caravan site, including many visits to the shop.  At the time, my part of Shoebury then called Thorpe Dene, was mostly unmade roads and lanes, then the closest developement to the sea, barring Percy Garons 'Sea View Homes' for the orphans of Southend.  I have seen the developement of Shoeburyness for the worse, and miss the places where I played as a child, now mostly Housing Association, and Council properties.  Brick production being the mainstay of Shoebury's and Wakerings' early history, and of course the Garrison.  There were Victorian rubbish dumps, that I have dug in the past, and a grey and old coastguards' complex long since gone, near the site of the current Yacht Club.

West Beach 1948 - 1966

This beach was the one we used to make our way to on a regular basis when we were staying at Shoebury Hall Farm campsite. We used to take the boat trip out to the Mulberry Harbour. Cannot for the life of me remember the name of the boat now. Seem to recall there were two operating at the same time.

Uncle Toms cabin

Behind these beach huts was, and as far as I know still is, Uncle Tom's Cabin.   Here you could get cups of tea and so on.  The original was constructed mainly of wood, an old brown colour.  It was replaced I think in the 60's by the glass and brick one that was still there on my last visit a few years ago.  How it got its name I know not.
Me and my mate Johny Horne often walked along this prom especially in the early to mid sixties looking for girls.  That shelter could tell some stories.

The boating pool

The boating pool at Shoebury Common was a must visit every weekend I was there.  In later years they had canoes and we used to sit up on the top of the canoe at the back and not in the cockpit.  Never fell in though.  Would not be allowed nowadays in this health and safety culture.  Just at the back of the pool was the putting green.  You can see the hut where you used to pay and get your clubs and balls from on the right hand side of the photo.  Think it had 9 holes but we neve got round without racking up a huge score.  I think this area has now been landscaped.   

Southend Photographic Memories

Camping was a popular, cheap way of spending a family holiday by the sea. The tent in the foreground has a large awning, a useful way of extending the living area. This site is close to a sand and shingle beach. Roof racks were frequently used to carry extra camping

Down the Thames Photographic Memories

East of Southend, the Thames meets the North Sea at Shoeburyness and its long journey ends. Here, on a sunny 1950s summer’s day, the shingle West Beach is crowded; in the distance is Southend and its pier. The view is now changed, with 1960s tower blocks of flats on the skyline. Shoeburyness is now the eastern part of a ‘Greater Southend’.

Essex Pocket Album

An evocative view of the seaside, with deckchairs and pleasure craft on this low headland jutting out into the Thames estuary towards Kent. The coast swings away westwards along the Southend front.