SOUTHEND ON SEA

CLIFFS PAVILLION

SOUTHEND PIER

WHAT’S ON IN SOUTHEND

PRITTLEWELL PRIORY

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Originally the "South End" of the village of Prittlewell, Southend was originally home to a few poor fisherman huts and farms that lay at the southern extremity of Prittlewell Priory land. In the 1790s landowner Daniel Scratton sold off land either side of what was to become the High Street, and the Grand Hotel (now Royal Hotel) and Grove Terrace (now Royal Terrace) were completed by 1794, and stage coaches from London made it accessible. Due to the bad transportation links between Southend and London, there was not rapid development during the Georgian era like Brighton. It was the coming of the railways in the 19th Century and the visit of Princess Caroline that Southend's status of a Seaside resort grew. During the 19th century Southend's pier was first constructed and the Clifftown development built, attracting many tourists in the summer months to its seven miles of beaches and bathing in the sea. Good rail connections and proximity to London mean that much of the economy has been based on tourism, and that Southend has been a dormitory town for city workers ever since. Southend Pier is the world's longest pleasure pier at 1.34 mi (2.16 km). It has suffered fires and ship collisions.In October 2005, but the basic pier structure has been repaired after each event. There has been significant loss of pier-head facilities since the major fire which took place in 1976.

Rochford Lofts Community

The award winning Grade 2 Listed Boiler House Conversion.

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