Westcliff-on-Sea
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This article does not cite any references or sources. (December 2009) |
Coordinates: 51°32′09″N 0°41′49″E / 51.5359°N 0.6970°E
| Westcliff-on-Sea | |
 Westcliff-on-Sea
Westcliff-on-Sea shown within Essex |
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| OS grid reference | TQ865855 |
|---|---|
| Unitary authority | Southend-on-Sea |
| Ceremonial county | Essex |
| Region | East |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | WESTCLIFF-ON-SEA |
| Postcode district | SS0 |
| Dialling code | 01702 |
| Police | Essex |
| Fire | Essex |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| EU Parliament | East of England |
| UK Parliament | Southend West |
Westcliff-on-Sea is a suburb of Southend-on-Sea, a seaside resort in the East of England and unitary authority in Essex. It is situated on the northern bank of the Thames Estuary and about 34 miles (55 km) east of London.
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Geography [edit]
The cliffs formed by erosion of the local Quaternary geology afford views over the Thames Estuary towards the Kent coastline to the south. The coastline has been transformed into sandy beaches through the use of groynes and imported sand. The estuary at this point is marked by extensive mud flats. At low tide, the water typically retreats to some 600m from the beach, leaving the mud flats exposed.
Transport [edit]
The London, Tilbury and Southend Railway line arrived in the 1880s, connecting the town with London and shortening travel time to and from that city. Westcliff railway station in Station Road is now managed by c2c.
Architecture [edit]
An area of Westcliff bordering Southend town centre has been classified as a conservation area, including Prittlewell Square gardens.
Economy [edit]
The main shopping area in Westcliff-on-Sea is Hamlet Court Road, where the department store Havens, established in 1901 remains the anchor store. Hamlet Court Road received its name from a manor house called the Hamlet Court, which stood on land now occupied by Pavarotti's restaurant and the Nat West bank, facing towards the sea with sweeping gardens down to the rail line. As the years passed the road developed into a strong independent retailer's domain, and quickly became famous outside the area as the Bond Street of the East Coast. Many haberdashers and specialist shops adorned it. It was not too unusual to see chauffeurs waiting patiently in their limousines for their rich employers to emerge with the latest in fashion.
The economic recessions of the 1980s and 1990s saw the area decline. However the road underwent a £1 million regeneration in the early 2000s.
In 2010 Hamlet Court Road went through further regeneration, receiving an update with new planters, modern street furniture, wider pavements, new crossing points, CCTV, etc.
Leisure [edit]
The two main theatres in Westcliff are the Cliffs Pavilion, which overlooks the seafront, and the Palace Theatre.
Westcliff-on-Sea is also home to the Thames Estuary Yacht Club and the Westcliff Casino, which is the largest provincial casino and the second largest casino in Great Britain.
Opposite the Cliffs Pavilion theatre there is also an art gallery called the Beecroft Art Gallery which changes its exhibitions on a regular basis, often exhibiting local work which features Southend and the surrounding area sites such as Hadleigh Castle and the pier.
For art lovers, as well as the Beecroft gallery there is a Westcliff Art Trail which is hosted every year. Local artists get the chance to showcase their work in shops; much of the trail happens in Hamlet Court Road.
Westcliff-on-sea has always had a strong musical culture. The Queens Hotel in Hamlet Court Road, Westcliff-on-Sea, was one of the key venues in Southend punk history.[citation needed] Now demolished, the venue had the likes of The Damned, Slaughter and The Dogs, Killing Joke and many others play in its rooms. It become one of the few places in the area to host punk shows as venues such as The Kursaal banned several early punk shows.[citation needed]
Some of the more well known bands and musicians who have performed in the Queens Hotel include Inner City Unit, The Exploited / UK Subs, The Blow Monkeys, King Kurt, Dr Feelgood, Wilko Johnson, and Zodiac Mindwarp.[citation needed]
Due to falling into a state of disrepair following a fire it was eventually converted into retirement community housing.[citation needed]
Notable people [edit]
- Trevor Bailey (England cricket team test cricketer; attended Alleyn Court School)
- Dick Clement (writer; born in the town)
- Barry Cooper (musicologist; born in the town)
- Wilko Johnson (guitarist, musician, actor)
- Buddy Greco (singer, pianist)
- Edward Greenfield (music writer and broadcaster; born in the town)
- Benjamin Grosvenor (pianist; attended Westcliff High School for Boys)
- John Horsley (actor; born in the town)
- John Hutton (Labour MP) (former Defence Secretary; born in the town)
- Russell Kane (comedian, actor, presenter, writer; lives in the town)
- Rupert Keegan (Formula One racing driver; born in the town)
- Fiona Lewis (actress; born in the town)
- Helen Mirren (actress; attended St Bernard's school in the town)
- Scroobius Pip (spoken word artist attended St Thomas More High School for Boys)
- Edward Power Biggs (classical organist; born in the town)
- Maisie Smith (actress, Tiffany Dean in EastEnders, attended Chalkwell Hall school and lived in the town)
- Samantha Smith (tennis player, lives in the town)
- Mark Saunders (musician, bassist for Florence and the Machine, lives in the town)
