Westcliff Looking East - a photo on Flickriver

Westcliff Looking East

            The Postcard

A postcard that was published by Wilson Bros. of London. The card was posted in Southend-on-Sea, although the stamp has been removed along with the precise date of posting.

The card was sent to:

Mrs. Rolfe,
22, Surbiton Road,
Kingston-on-Thames,
Surrey.

The message on the divided back of the card was as follows:

"17, York Road,
Southend-on-Sea.
Dec. 1914.
Very comfortable.
Lovely weather.
The streets are very
crowded.
Just off to Church.
Love to all from both.
H. & R."

Westcliff-on-Sea

Westcliff-on-Sea is a suburb of Southend-on-Sea and a seaside resort in Essex in south-east England. 

It is situated on the north bank of the Thames Estuary, about 34 miles (55 km) east of London.

The cliffs formed by erosion give views over the Thames Estuary towards the Kent coastline to the south. The coastline has been transformed into sandy beaches through the use of groynes and imported sand. 

The estuary at this point has extensive mud flats. At low tide, the water typically retreats some 600 m from the beach, leaving the mud flats exposed.

Arrival of the Railway

The London, Tilbury and Southend Railway line arrived in the 1880's, connecting the town with London and shortening travel time.

Hamlet Court Road

The main shopping area in Westcliff-on-Sea is Hamlet Court Road, where the department store Havens, established in 1901, remained the anchor store until its closure in 2017.

Hamlet Court Road took its name from a manor house called the Hamlet Court, which stood on land now occupied by Pavarotti's Restaurant and the NatWest Bank, facing towards the sea with sweeping gardens down to the rail line. 

The road later developed into a strong independent retail area, and quickly became famous outside the area as the Bond Street of Essex. There were many haberdashers and specialist shops, and it was not unusual to see chauffeurs waiting for their employers to emerge from the shops.

The economic recessions of the 1980's and 90's saw the area decline. However the road underwent a £1 million regeneration in the early 2000's and a further regeneration in 2010. The street is now known for its large number of restaurants.

   

Taken on: October 24, 2023

Tags:

postcard

old

nostalgia

nostalgic

Westcliff

Sea

Wilson

Bros.

London

Rolfe

Surbiton

Road

Kingston

Thames

York

Southend

church

23WLE38

Surrey « less

Sets appears in: • UK

Stats: 301 views

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