Southend-On-Sea, Essex

Days at Southend

I remember travelling to Southend with my family on a steam train from London.  My sister and I use to put our heads out of the windows.  More often than not when we sat down our faces would be black with soot from the smoke of the train and our mum would try to wipe us clean with her hanky.
When... [more]

The Kursal

We moved from Kent to Eastwood near Leigh-on-Sea when I was 11 which was in 1960.
Every Sunday we would get the bus (dad didn't drive then) to Leigh. We'd walk from where the cockle sheds were (dad always had some or whelks maybe but I wouldn't try them!) along the front to Southend Pier. We'd walk down the pier then... [more]

Southend-on-Sea

Southend-on-Sea is a beautiful place, where I hope to go one day, so many places to go.

Southend Beach

My Great Uncle and Great Aunt (Joe and Rose) both passed away recently, so I decided to share their memory here. I am their Great Niece's daughter.

As far as I am aware, they met about aged  17 or 18 on a "Beano" on Southend beach one year, about 60 years ago during the summer. Joe fell for Rose immediately,... [more]

Southend Airport

I worked for British Air Ferries in the early seventies as a post room assistant and remember so vividly the sight and sounds of those lumbering great Carvairs and the clouds of bluish smoke and coughing engines.  I was also an Air Cadet with the 1812 squadron.  I remember marching up the road behind Aviation Traders and sitting on the grass... [more]

Motor Racing for the Young at Southend On Sea.

I remember this little track so well, it's just at the foot of the pier and has been there for as long as I can remember. My parents often took me to Southend for a day's outing, we had family friends at Thorpe Bay and quite often my dad and uncle and I would leave my mum and auntie to catch... [more]

This used to be the highlight of our day out.

As a child in the early 1950's I can remember that the best part of our day out was the boat rides on this lake. I can still remember the smell from the engines.

I grew up in Hornchurch and if I remember correctly we bought our first car in the early 50's and 3 or 4 times in... [more]

Airport characters

Does anyone remember Clive and Terry Wren ladi marmol(ads aerial), the great Freddy Laker, Jack Jones. Mike Abbot to name a very few? We had some great times then, flying was fun and a lot less restricted than it is now.

Southend Pocket Album

Moving closer to the main town of Southend-on-Sea, The Westward Ho! Boarding Establishment dominates this scene. It went on to become one of the premier hotels of the town. Now the name is used by a new tower block which stands on the site.A horse-drawn carriage can be seen close to the shelter, the only form of transport in sight.

Southend Photographic Memories

The clay cliffs at Southend have always been prone to slipping. Frequently, over the years, notices have been erected closing the threatened areas. Here we see railings lying at a very strange angle, probably as a result of this problem. The little girl, in her large hat, may have looked smart, but such clothes were certainly not designed for play. F r a n c i s F r i t h ' s... [more]

Southend Pocket Album

Although there are well-defined paths, the cliff gardens have yet to be laid out in a formal way.The pier and Pavilion can be seen on the right with many boats close by. A walker on the right is protected from the weather by an umbrella or sunshade.