A large seaside resort and working town located on the Thames Estuary in Essex, Southend-on-Sea has been a popular resort since the early 19th century. Originally just a group of fishermen’s cottages at the southern end (south end) of the ancient village of Prittlewell, the town now takes in some 7 miles of coastline, pretty much swallowing up the areas of Westcliff, Prittlewell and Leigh-on-Sea, and has a population of around 165,000. Famous for its pier, which at one and a third miles long, is the world’s longest, Southend reached its zenith in the 1960’s and 1970’s, when it was particularly popular as a day tripper resort. The beach which can get quite busy when the weather is fine, is a mixture of shingle and sand , with a good helping of mud thrown in, due to its estuary location. As well as the beach and pier, Southend also has plenty of green areas, with over 1,000 acres of parks and gardens.
November 7, 2010
November 3, 2010
Cambridgeshire Attractions
A county in eastern England, well known for its Fens and its University city, Cambridgeshire has plenty of attractions for anyone planning to visit the county. The Fens which were once unusable and inhospitable, have long since been drained and now provide large areas of productive arable land that produces vast quantities of vegetables and fruit. A good first choice of places to visit would be Cambridge itself, the beautiful University city with large numbers of historic buildings, its Peterhouse College was founded in 1284, attractions in the city are many and varied, but you could choose from the Fitzwilliam Museum, the Cambridge Museum of Technology, and Cambridge University Botanical Garden. From Cambridge you could head for Ely, where one of the most beautiful cathedrals in England resides, dating from the early 11th century this stunning cathedral is a must visit place in Cambridgeshire, while in Ely you could also take a look at the Bishop’s Palace and the King’s School. From Ely, you could next head for Wisbech, famous centre of the spring bulb industry, this charming riverside town has some fine Georgian architecture, which makes it well worth a visit. In Wisbech head for Peckover House, a National Trust run property, built in 1722, it has superb interiors and a beautiful Victorian walled garden. From Wisbech you could head west to the city of Peterborough, standing on the River Nene. This city which is the centre of England’s brickmaking industry has a long history and another beautiful cathedral, this one built in the 12th century, and the burial place of Catherine of Aragon. Peterborough Cathedral boasts a magnificent west façade in Early English Gothic style. From Peterborough you could go next to Huntingdon (to the south of Peterborough), a charming town on the River Great Ouse, here you could take a look at the Cromwell Museum, ensconced in a former school in which the former Lord Protector of England was educated. Oliver Cromwell was actually born in Huntingdon and there are many references to him in the town, other places to visit include Hinchingbrooke House, originally an 11th century nunnery which later became home of the Cromwell family, and Huntingdon Racecourse where you can watch some excellent horse racing. From Huntingdon an obvious next stop would be St Neots, named after a Cornish monk (St Neot), this pretty town on the River Great Ouse has some delightful old coaching inns and a cathedral like church dating back to the 12th century. This concludes our brief tour around Cambridgeshire, I shall be back soon to write about other places in the county.