It would be perhaps wrong to describe this as a "visit," when really it was only a "walk through..."
I've been to Southend-on-Sea many times, as it's easily accessible from London as a day trip. We often walk down a mile or so to the seafront at Westcliff-on-Sea, which has a plethora of fish and chip restaurants, which I affectionately refer to as "grease dens." Rather than take the rather prosaic road beside these, it's much more interesting to walk between the Victorian villas at the top of the cliffs, and through the pretty gardens.
I've also created a YouTube vlog, link here:-
Here you can see the l-o-n-g arm that is Southend Pier. I do like the little Ferris wheel flowerpot feature at this entrance to the gardens.💜
The theme park is called Adventure Island, and was very much closed on the day we went.
Southend Cliff Railway, or Southend Cliff Lift, was constructed and opened in 1912...
It can hold 12 passengers, although climbing these stairs is great if you want to keep fit...
Possibly my favourite photograph of the day, featuring the calm sea, the pier and the angle downwards.
Piece of useless information- there was once a very impressive Only Fools and Horses exhibition held at the end of the pier in their Royal Pavilion (a rather nasty looking modern building, developed in 2000, which also houses their café- they used to have a rustic-looking bar at the end, and I much preferred that!)
They moved the exhibition to the pier head, and this photo of Dean by Del Boy's van was taken three years ago...
You don't see many old red telephone boxes in the UK, so when you do, they just have to be photographed!😊
Queen Victoria to the left...
This was presented to the town by Mayor Bernard Wiltshire Tolhurst, to mark the 1897 Diamond Jubilee.
The clock at the entrance to Prittlewell Square was donated by local philanthropist and jeweller Robert Arthur Jones, and was repaired and restored to its original glory in 2019.
The beautiful pond and gentle fountain. This park is deemed the oldest in Southend, but I'm damned if I can find any information regarding its opening date! I do, however, know that Southend sprung out of what was the south end of Prittlewell in the 1790s.
Could I live in the big houses to the left? I had to give it some thought, as they seem to get a lot of shade but yes, I probably could...
Cloud formations over a peaceful sea...
Looking back towards the pier...
A bucolic exit...
The Southend War Memorial was designed by architect Sir Edwin Lutyens...
This cenotaph was unveiled in 1921...
The bright sunlight is making this section look almost tropical!
These curved hedges give a kind of amphitheatre feel to the gardens as they descend onto the road...
The gardens have their own pavilion/ seating area...
It looked quite elegant, and the obligatory winos who frequent such places appeared to be absent on this day...
Picturesque descent...
On the pavement, and looking upwards to the Westcliff Hotel, the white building juxtaposing the sky...
Cliffs Pavilion theatre is the Art Deco building up high, and the aforementioned Westcliff "grease dens" are to the left of the photo, barely discernible at ground level.
A few years back we actually alighted from the train at Westcliff and ate first before venturing down to Southend. This included a little wander into the charity shops, and here's a beautiful pair of mules I found for something like £4.50...
We found the restaurants surprisingly crowded for a Wednesday so, disappointed, turned and walked back to Southend. After calamari 'n' chips, we took ourselves off down the pier.
Southend Pier is the longest pleasure pier in the world, at 1.33 miles (2.14km) long, and its first stone was laid in 1829, on 25th July (my birthday. ) An iron pier, replacing the original timber pier was opened to the public in 1889. In that time it has suffered its fair share of tragedy, including several fires and a boat crashing into it. Really? It's hardly as if the pier is easy to miss!
Southend's status as a seaside resort grew after Princess Caroline of Brunswick (the estranged wife of the Prince Regent- later George IV) visited in the 19th century, followed by the coming of the railways. The town declined as a holiday destination during the 1960s.
This panorama was taken by the SuperDean- do you prefer his photo or mine?
We walked all the way down the pair, and sat and relaxed down the end. It wasn't overcrowded with people and was quite a pleasant respite. Here's a boat navigating its lonely way along the Thames Estuary.
We often take the pier train back, but chose to walk instead. After a few months in lockdown, spent glued to my computer completing my MA, I needed the exercise!
I will return to Southend as it's so easy for me to reach by train. Until then...
TTFN
The Miss Elaineous
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