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Central Museum & Planetarium Victoria Avenue, Southend-on-Sea. An Edwardian building, housing major displays of human and natural history of South East Essex with an exciting 'discovery centre'. Also the only planetarium in the south east, outside London. Several presentations are given at set times throughout the day. The Museum Curator is Ken Crowe Telephone: 01702 434449 |
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Central Library Southend-on-Sea Borough Library is one of the busiest library services in the UK , lending more books per head of population than any other library service. It also houses a Records Office with microfilm viewers, a free-use internet section, and cafeteria. Victoria Avenue, Southend-on-Sea. Opening Hours: Mon - Fri 9am - 7pm. Saturdays 9am - 5pm. Telephone: 01702 534100 |
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Priory Museum Priory Park, Victoria Avenue. The Museum is currently closed to the public. It has received funding for refurbishment, and work began in the summer of 2011 with an anticipated re-opening in summer 2012. History in the making! Telephone: 01702 342878 |
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Southchurch Hall Museum Southchurch Hall Close. Set in the tranquil surroundings of Southchurch Hall Park, the Museum is housed in a beautiful half-timbered 14th Century moated house, and is laid out in a series of period rooms. It is an ideal setting for discovering what life was like in medieval, Tudor and Stuart and Victorian times; the great open hall itself reflects life in the later Middle Ages. Telephone: 01702 467671 |
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Southend Pier Western Esplanade, Southend-on-Sea. Opened in August 1890, this iron Pier replaced the original 1830-built wooden pier. It has enjoyed years of fame as 'The Longest Pleasure Pier in the World', stretching one and a third miles into the estuary giving you the walk out over the sea or ride on the unique Pier railway. Voted 'Pier of the Year 2007'. Telephone: 01702 467671 |
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Ekco Sports & Social Club has a thriving membership and is used for Social events, private function hire catering for up to 130 seated, a spacious dance floor, licensed bar, as well as indoor and outdoor sporting activities. The club, founded by E.K. Cole, is open to everyone who worked at the Prittlewell Industrial Estate or lives in the surrounding area. Corporate bodies, local social clubs, local sports club and affiliated clubs are also welcome. Telephone: Jackie or Tracey on 01702 351641 for enquiries and bookings. |
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Adventure Island With so many rides such as 'Rage' and 'Archelon' (and G-Force opening in 2011), Dodgems and Go-Karts; and attractions including numerous places to eat, special events, games and sideshows, Bowling, and Adventure Golf, to name just a few...how can you not love it! It is one of the best value theme parks in the South of England. Free admission to the park with various rates of ride wristbands available for individuals and families. Telephone: 01702 443400 |
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Sea-Life Centre This is the South-East's premier aquatic attraction, with forty fascinating displays, inclusing a Ray Bay, Seahorses and the Jungle Frogs, HMS Sub Tropical, Sea Nursery and Deep Water World. There are demonstrations and talks throughout the day. Situated just east of the Kursaal along Eastern Esplanade on the beach side of the road, there is ample parking available. Telephone: 01702 442200 |
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Beecroft Art Gallery With fine sea views and a varied collection ranging from 17th century Dutch paintings to contemporary works, as well as a fine collection of local views, the Beecroft is well worth a visit . Station Road, Westcliff-on-Sea. Opening Hours: 9.30 - 1pm and 2pm - 5pm Tuesday to Saturday Telephone: 01702 347418 |
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Cliffs Pavilion Opened in 1964, the Cliffs Pavilion provides a wide and varied programme of events ranging from West End musicals to classical concerts through top named vocalists and comedians to children’s shows, pantomime and even rock concerts. The theatre is open all year round with the auditorium closing only for one-two weeks usually in the Summer/early Autumn for maintenance. Tickets available online or at the Booking Office. Station Road, Westcliff-on-Sea. Telephone: 01702 351135 |
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The Leigh Society The Leigh Society was founded in the late 1970s and initially focussed on restoring the Old Smithy in the Old Town to form the Heritage Centre which has been open ever since as a museum of Leigh. It is open most days, especially weekends, but is entirely run by volunteers so it is best to phone first to check opening times (01702 470834). Entry to the Museum and Plumbs Cottage is free, but all donations are welcome. The headquarters of all three arms of the Society are based in the Old Smithy at 13A High Street, Old Leigh SS9 2EN. |
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The Lynn Tait Gallery The Old Foundry, 66 High Street, Old Leigh. The Gallery is packed with a huge selection of original gifts and carries a superb collection of local pictures and items displayed on period memorabilia, as well as nostalgic heritage pieces and soft toys. It also houses a restored Southend Pier Train. Opening Hours: 10am-6pm every day and 10am till dusk in wintertime. Telephone: 01702 471737 |
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The Canvey Point Transport Museum Once a working Bus Depot, this fine old building is home to a large selection of preserved and restored commercial and non-commercial vehicles. The Museum is run and maintained by volunteers, and features many displays, a themed 1940s room, a video room with the archived material, and a large scale model railway layout. The Museum is open on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month until its end of season Open Day in October . 105 Point Road, Canvey Island, Essex SS8 7TD. Telephone: 01268 684272. |
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The Southend Band The Southend Band has its roots back in the early part of last century. Its ancestry can be traced back through Southend United Football Supporters' Club Band, Southend British Legion Band, Southend Ambulance Brigade Band, Southend Civil Defence Band and the Southend Military Band. In 1985 the band was appointed to the honorary position of ‘Official Town Band’ by Southend Borough Council. The Southend Band recently provided a superb concert at the Mayor's official opening of the Priory Park Bandstand, where they are assured to be making regular appearances. |
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'Sarfend' has the finger on the pulse of current events in Southend, and hosts a very popular forum discussing all aspects of the town. There is also a collection of photos of Southend to view, and has links to other Southend-on-Sea websites. |
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A History of the Kursaal - The greens along the seafront, between the road and the beach, had been used for seasonal fairgrounds for many years throughout the second half of the 19th Century. Among these was Pawley's Green, at the junction of Marine Parade and Eastern Esplanade.
Here were steam roundabouts, shooting galleries, coconut shies, etc. The greens were named after their tenants or owners... |
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Southend Carnival - offers the history of the annual event, from its inception in 1906 (having been created exclusively to raise funds for the Southend Victoria Cottage Hospital in Warrior Square); through two world wars; the 'heyday'' years and the troubled years, to the current date, giving a good snapshot of over a century of Carnival. |
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The Paddle Steamer Picture Gallery - This site contains a wealth of images of some recent and some long-gone ships that will hold memories for many people over a certain age. It is not intended to be a "high tech" site, as this is not in keeping with the images and subjects that are contained here. |
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The Foundation for Paddle Steamers Worldwide - This site features classic passenger ships with a fascinating past, yet still in service today adding something extra to a river, lake or coastal excursion. Their story is showing that they are probably the only large historic vessels which can continue to steam on long into the future. |
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SCT61 - This website gives the complete pictorial history of the trams, trolleybuses and buses that have operated in Southend, and has a comprehensive second-to-none database of information on the fleets of Southend Transport, Eastern National, and the independent operators that worked in and around the town. The site is run by Road Passenger Transport Historian Richard Delahoy. |
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74 Squadron Association This website forever preserves the history, and offers further reading about 74 "Tiger" Squadron, from its formation on 1st July 1917, when the legendary fighter 'ace' Captain Mick Mannock was one of the Flight Commanders, through the Battle of Britain, to present day. The site is run by John Crow and Bob Cossey, is very informative, and has been well constructed making it easy to navigate. The site also offers an almost live response to questions and contributions from visitors. |
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The Royal Air Forces Association Founded in 1929, the RAFA provide friendship and welfare support to serving and ex-serving members of the RAF and their families. The RAFA are increasingly supporting those people who are serving and have served in more recent conflicts in Korea, Borneo, the Falklands, the Gulf War, Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Kosovo and the latest conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan. |
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The Aircrew Association exists to provide the structure, facilities and conditions whereby those who have qualified to operate military aircraft can promote comradeship and enjoy social, intellectual, cultural and sporting activities.
Membership is open to all serving or ex-service aircrew who have a flying badge from all three services. For details contact M.O'Connell (Hon. Secretary - Southend Aircrew Association) on 01702 203007 or visit the website at www.aircrew.org.uk |
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The Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund provides financial and practical assistance to anyone who is serving, or has ever served in the RAF, and their partners and dependants too. It offers grants, care and mobility services to individuals, as well as funding large-scale projects such as RAF childcare centres, debt advice services and relationship counselling. |
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The Commonwealth War Graves Commission Established by Royal Charter in 1917, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission pays tribute to the 1,700,000 men and women of the Commonwealth forces who died in the two World Wars. The CWGC is a non-profit-making organisation that was founded by Sir Fabian Ware. Since its inception, the Commission has constructed 2,500 war cemeteries and plots, erecting headstones over graves and, in instances where the remains are missing, inscribing the names of the dead on permanent memorials. Click here to subscibe to the CWGC newsletter. |
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36 Regiment Royal Artillery is an interesting and informative website dedicated to all who served in, or were associated with the Biggest Regiment to have been in service in the Royal Regiment of Artillery. It is the home of the History of the Regiment and its Batteries, the Thunderbird Missile System, and lots more. It also features a popular forum. Put into suspension on 31st December 1977, the spirit of the Regiment has been maintained by Annual Reunions. |
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The Royal Artillery Association (Shoeburyness Branch) was formed on 17th January 1929 in what was then a busy Garrison. Its mission today, as it was then, is to provide comradeship and support to ex-Gunners and their dependants. Links are also maintained with the serving regiments of the Royal Artillery around the world. Telephone: 01702 297164 (Membership Secretary) |
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The Royal Naval Association is a Registered Charity with membership open to all serving and ex-service members of the Military Forces. In addition, anyone who is in sympathy with the objects of the Association may join as an Associate Member. The Club in East Street has a large function hall with two licensed bars, and visitors are always made welcome. 73-79 East Street, Prittlewell, Southend on Sea, Essex SS2 6LQ Tel: 01702 612255. |
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The Royal British Legion provides financial, social and emotional support to millions who have served and are currently serving in the Armed Forces, and their dependants. |
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The creation of the Essex Fire Museum has required energy, dedication, true commitment and vision. The loyal group of supporters – who have had to beg, steal and borrow, call in favours and work tirelessly to create this lasting monument to the Service. It is anticipated that through the use of innovative technology, the centre can become an inter-active learning environment and a first-class amenity for the area. Essex Fire Museum, Grays Fire Station, Hogg Lane, Grays, Essex RM17 5QS Telephone: 01375 379167 |
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Ekco Electronics This website has replaced the Ekco-Radar website. Like its predecessor, it is a work in progress which it is hoped will become the de-facto site for everything relating to the business of E. K. Cole and the EKCO Research, Development, War Work, the Bakelite years, Staff Reminiscences, and the later plastics production in the Factories. Author Chris Poole is Historian to the website. |
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The Priory Park Preservation Society . The aims and objectives of the Society is to conserve and preserve the environment of Priory Park, Southend-on-Sea, for current and future generations. To encourage the people of Southend to use and enjoy the Park in perpetuity; to provide educational and information resources to park users; to raise public awareness of any threat to the Park and its environs from any source. |
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Argon Computing Ltd For all your computing needs: New Computers for every budget, Fault diagnosis and repairs, Networking, Upgrades, Hardware, Software and Peripherals. Friendly and helpful service. 125 Southend Road, Rochford, Essex SS4 1HX Telephone: 01702 547625 - View the roadmap HERE |
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Digital Crocus Web Hosting at very competitive prices - 99.9% uptime. First class service. Pick from Four packages (100MB - 1000MB Webspace and 5GB - 40GB per month) to suit your needs. |
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