MISS ELAINEOUS VISITS NEVER NEVER LAND...

 No, Never Never Land is nothing to do with Michael Jackson- his gaff was called Neverland.  Rather, it's a small attraction in Southend-on-Sea, Essex.

We've been to Southend many times before but strangely enough I'd never really noticed this section- then I spotted details about it online, so Miss Nosey Parker just had to come and investigate...

I've also created a YouTube vlog, link:-

https://youtu.be/MKwrpPb3E20

Standing on the Royal Terrace and I couldn't help but be impressed by the façade of this monolithic hotel, which is called the Park Inn by Radisson Palace.  Again, it's something I've never paid much attention to before (mainly because I'm usually walking underneath it, and am therefore at too close a proximity to take in its authentic, days-of-yore seaside charm.)  Built in 1901 and originally known as The Palace Hotel, Laurel and Hardy stayed here in 1932.

I've blogged about Southend Cliff Gardens- which this little fairytale section is a part of- before.  This is the link:-

http://elainerockett.blogspot.com/2020/10/miss-elaineous-visits-southend-cliff.html

Here I'm peering down the gardens towards the sea- can you make out the big, stone face lying sideways in the grass?  More about him later...

The Observation Tower, which opened in 2005, is in the background...

Originally in a part of the gardens known as "The Shrubbery," Never Never Land was opened in 1935, and in the 1950s people would queue for hours to see this part of the park.  It once contained smoke-breathing dragons, goblins, cartoon characters, fairies in magical castles, thousands of lights and a model railway.  Apparently, the railway had three carriages; called First Class, Second Class and No Class!  

The public's change in requirements from sedate entertainment to white knuckle rides and foreign holidays meant that popularity dropped, and the park was closed in 1972.  The decorations were all scrapped and the park returned to being a quiet place to sit and contemplate.

In 1987 visitor numbers to the town were rising, and Never Never Land re-opened, with enchanted castles and new figures being built.  But a decline in interest and vandalism meant that the attraction closed in 2001, with the creatures of the mystical forest donated to local primary schools.  But the castles- which could each hold up to 20 people- were destroyed.

Some elements of Never Never Land still survive; like this fairy castle and small, bubbling waterfall, which were painted and properly restored by Southend artist David Taylor.

 Sometimes it's just possible to take a wonderful photo, which requires no tweaking- like this one...💜

This is the sleeping giant I could see from high up on the Royal Terrace.  He was first revealed at the opening of the last restoration (May 2019).

In the background you can just about make out the Three Shells Beach Lagoon, which is a swimming pool the size of a football pitch.  Opened in 2016 and 1.1 metres at its deepest points, it's a man made construction, and sheets of welded metal inside rock walls contain the water.

Swaying palm trees, and you can also make out Adventure Island theme park in the background, in the shape of a helter-skelter and rollercoaster.  I wanted to go on the Archelon (a swing chair ride which takes on the shape of a giant turtle) but the queues were too long.

Southend pier is the world's longest pleasure pier, and extends 1.33 miles (2.14km) into the Thames Estuary.  Construction of it started in 1829, although that wooden pier was replaced by an iron version, which opened to the public in 1889.  The pier is a Grade II listed building.

English poet Sir John Betjeman said: "The pier is Southend, Southend is the pier."  One of the pier trains is named after him.  The other is named after Sir William Heygate- a member of parliament, he led the public campaign to create Southend Pier.

I zoomed in, purely because I liked the way that stark patch of bright cloud lit up the area...

The little pier train runs at intervals of 15 minutes (during peak season- it's every 30 minutes during off-season.)  We decided to walk both ways as we needed the exercise.

 Row of wrought iron benches, and their designs consist of four different nautical/ seaside themes...

Ships' sails...

Traditional beach scene with a cute donkey, and the magnificent pier in the background...

This appeared to be dedicated to trawler fishing...

Ships' wheels...

Approaching the pierhead and if you peer (😉) you can just about make out the train sitting at the station, to the left of the photo.  This is another photo which came out just perfect.😀

That's all for now, but I'm sure we will be back.

TTFN

The Miss Elaineous

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