THURROCK LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY (From Thurrock Gazette)

THURROCK LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY

2:31pm Wednesday 25th April 2012 in Club Call

AT the March meeting, members and visitors enjoyed an interesting talk by William Tyler on the growth of the popularity of the seaside, entitled With My Little Stick of Southend Rock.

At first, in the 18th century, sea water was drunk because it was deemed to be good for your health.

There were separate times for the gentlemen and ladies to bathe, although onlookers with telescopes tried to get a glimpse of the ladies.

Southend was famous for its pier, the longest in the world, and the Kursaal with its sprung dance floor. Holidaymakers came by bicycle, rail and steamer to enjoy the seaside on the estuary of the Thames, even though there was only mud there until sand was imported.

During the 1920s, Frinton passed a by-law forbidding amputees of WWI from going on to the beach because the sight was putting holidaymakers off.

The first seaside rock was made in 1887, the year of Queen Victoria’s golden jubilee, and reached its heyday in the 1950s.

The next meeting is the AGM at the Adult Community College, Richmond Road, Grays, on Friday, April 20, at 7.30pm. There will be a talk on the History of Essex Smuggling by Brian Billings. Visitors are welcome.