Clacton on Sea Essex
One of Essex’s popular coastal resorts, Clacton on Sea as a town was only established in 1871, when a railway engineer purchased some land and built Clacton Pier as a docking point for the Woolwich Steam Packet Company. The surrounding areas however, have been the site of human settlement since the time of the ancient Celts. A later Lord of the Manor of Great and Little Clacton, was none other than Henry VIII, who awarded himself the title after the execution of Thomas Cromwell (the former Lord). Clacton became a popular holiday destination in Victorian times and reached its zenith in the 1960’s, aided by the Butlins Holiday Camp, which had first opened in the resort in 1937. In recent years Clacton has fell into decline for various reasons, but not least the closing of Butlins Clacton in 1983. Still fairly popular for holidays and day trips, Clacton can get pretty busy when the weather is fine, and during the summer school holidays. At these times Clacton beach might remind those who remember, of its former heydays.