Struggle to Build Southend's First Pier

Marion Pearce has lived in Southend-on-Sea since she wasa small child. She was the co-founder of SKIPP, Saxon King in Priory Park andspent many years campaigning for the return and display of the Saxon Kingexhibits, which are now displayed in Southend Museum. Marion believes Southend has a wonderful opportunity toregenerate itself through ancient history. Marion has been active in gettingthe historic fountain repaired at Prittlewell Square, which is Southend'soldest park. She has campaigned too on the 14th Century Southchurch Hall, whichwas put on the "heritage at risk" list as well as keeping watchful eye on the Crowstone, the RoyalHotel, the Kursaal and of course Southend Pier. Marion is the author of Milton, Chalkwell, and theCrowstone, now available from bookshops and online. Besides being an author oflocal history books, Marion has written the following available from onlinesuppliers,TheRoman Calendar,CelticSacrifice andGods of the Vikings

An Eye OpenerFascinatingand hugely detailed insight into the history of Southend Pier - especially if you like long Appendices...! It was a fascinating eye opener as to the difficulties incurred in the origins of what is now thelongest leisure pier in the world, and is obviously the result of some mind-boggling and lengthy research. Congratulations to Marion Pearce. Personally, I was particularly impressed with the story of the influenceof the General Strutt, not a name I am familiar with and who seems to have been forgotten by many local historians.Dee Gordon

• 7 List of Illustrations9 Acknowledgements 12 Inflation13 Introduction 17 The Case for Building the Pier. 23 The Pier Consortium and Pier Company30 Consultation - The Meeting at the Royal Hotel March 30th 182936 DelicateNegotiations37 The First Pier Act40 Celebration42 Laying the Foundation Stone43 The Construction of the First WoodenPier45 Progress 49 TheOctagon 52 The Mount53 The SecondPier Act55 Problems57 Outright Opposition61 Tolls66 TeradoNavalis69 General Strutt's doubts71 GeneralStrutt resigns75 Into Deep Water77 End of an Era78 Southend Pier Completed79 Pier Company Bankrupt80 Pier Taken into Public Ownership Appendix 83 1. TheSouthend Pier Company, theShareholders84 2. A Petition of James WilsonVandervord87 3. Barges owned and Sailed by theVandervords98 4. The Pier Extension Specifications104 5. Court Case extracts Southend PierCompany against Messrs. Vandervord, barge owners. 17th August 1838117 6. Southend Pier Sale 1874 and 1875extracts and letters128 7. 1875Parliamentary Enabling Bill application133 Bibliography134 Online Resources135 Index137 About the Author138 Essex Hundred Publications