Ian Yearsley – författare

The modern city of Southend-on-Sea has come a long way since its eighteenth-century origins as an oyster fishing hamlet at the south end of Prittlewell parish. Now Southend is a regional employment, shopping and educational centre, attracting 6.5 million visitors a year and housing 180,000 permanent residents. The construction of the Royal Hotel in the 1790s began Southend’s transformation into a resort, but it was the arrival of the railway in 1856 that was the real catalyst for growth. The town’s boundaries expanded three times: in the 1890s, 1910s and 1930s. During the Second World War, Southend played a key part in the defence of London and in the organisation of merchant shipping convoys. By the 1950s and 1960s the town was known far and wide as a mecca for leisure and entertainment. The awarding of city status in 2021, following the senseless murder of Southend West MP Sir David Amess, who had long campaigned for it, was bittersweet but it was also the latest symbol of how Southend has grown.Illustrated throughout, this accessible historical portrait of the transformation that Southend has undergone through the ages will be of great interest to residents, visitors and all those with links to the city.

The modern city of Southend-on-Sea has come a long way since its eighteenth-century origins as an oyster fishing hamlet at the south end of Prittlewell parish. Now Southend is a regional employment, shopping and educational centre, attracting 6.5 million visitors a year and housing 180,000 permanent residents. The construction of the Royal Hotel in the 1790s began Southend's transformation into a resort, but it was the arrival of the railway in 1856 that was the real catalyst for growth. The town's boundaries expanded three times: in the 1890s, 1910s and 1930s. During the Second World War, Southend played a key part in the defence of London and in the organisation of merchant shipping convoys. By the 1950s and 1960s the town was known far and wide as a mecca for leisure and entertainment. The awarding of city status in 2021, following the senseless murder of Southend West MP Sir David Amess, who had long campaigned for it, was bittersweet but it was also the latest symbol of how Southend has grown.Illustrated throughout, this accessible historical portrait of the transformation that Southend has undergone through the ages will be of great interest to residents, visitors and all those with links to the city.

The corn-growing county of Essex was home to over 200 windmills at the peak of the milling industry in the mid-nineteenth century, of which twenty-three survive. In this book author Ian Yearsley explores the history of windmills in Essex, including images of those still standing today and those lost to the past. He examines how the windmills worked and explains the differences between the three main types of windmill – post, smock and tower – and how and why these came about. The book follows the growth and decline of windmill construction through the years and the heritage movement that saw many local windmills saved. Details are given of all of the surviving windmills in Essex, as well as many of the lost windmills in the county.This fascinating picture of an important but often forgotten part of the economy and heritage of Essex will be of interest to all those who live in the county or have known it well over the years, as well as those interested in the uses of renewable technology in centuries past.

The corn-growing county of Essex was home to over 200 windmills at the peak of the milling industry in the mid-nineteenth century, of which twenty-three survive. In this book author Ian Yearsley explores the history of windmills in Essex, including images of those still standing today and those lost to the past. He examines how the windmills worked and explains the differences between the three main types of windmill - post, smock and tower - and how and why these came about. The book follows the growth and decline of windmill construction through the years and the heritage movement that saw many local windmills saved. Details are given of all of the surviving windmills in Essex, as well as many of the lost windmills in the county.This fascinating picture of an important but often forgotten part of the economy and heritage of Essex will be of interest to all those who live in the county or have known it well over the years, as well as those interested in the uses of renewable technology in centuries past.

Southend has a complex and surprisingly interesting history. From 18th-century origins as the ‘South End’ of Prittlewell Parish, it has grown over 300 years to swallow up six separate parishes: Prittlewell, Southchurch, Leigh, Eastwood, North Shoebury and South Shoebury. The town and wider borough are both now known as ‘Southend’. Starting in the Stone Age, it ends in the modern Information Age, covering all points in between. The story of its evolution as a seaside resort, a commuter town and a regional shopping ventre is unterwoven with a multitude of amusing, intriguing and impressive events, incidents and achievements in this very readable narrative. Southend has been unfairly maligned as ‘lacking much history’. This new book successfully demolishes that suggestion, revealing a wealth of interest in the town and its past – from Prittlewell’s Saxon origins to its important role in two world wars. It will be warmly welcomed throughout Essex.