Tag: Leigh-on-Sea

By Liam Heatherson

The Prittle Brook

Map showing rough path of the discernible Prittle Brook & sections explored    The Prittle Brook is a tributary of the River Roach spanning down through Prittlewell which takes its name after it, through Southend, Westcliff, Chalkwell, Belfairs Wood and Hadleigh Great Wood, before becoming difficult to source somewhere in Thundersley and Benfleet. The map above…

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By Liam Heatherson

Chalkwell Sun Shelters

The coastline surrounding Southend from Chalkwell to Thorpe Bay has been a tourist hotspot for people; often urban residents from London, to enjoy the sea air. Sun shelters of varying styles can be found all along the shore and clifftops, some as old as the early Victorian era. We managed to find one abandoned off…

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By Liam Heatherson

Two Tree Island Pillbox

A pillbox can be found, which is located on the very eastern most point of Two Tree Island (just before the marshland), facing out at the invader coming down the Thames. It was in poor condition, suffering a gaping hole in it’s roof, and the concrete around it flaking away with the lightest touch. Despite…

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By Liam Heatherson

Leigh Anderson Shelters

Behind Fairleigh Court in Leigh on Sea remains an impressive set of six Anderson shelters. Anderson shelters were issued free to all householders earning £5 a week, and cost £7 for those earning more. They were issued from February 1939 prior to British declaration of war, and throughout the Second World War. When the war…

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By Liam Heatherson

HMS Wilton

The HMS Wilton was a Royal Navy minesweeper and minehunter ship built in 1970. It was the first ever warship constructed from fibreglass which gave the vessel a very low magnetic signature against magnetic mines. It was armed with a single Bofors gun. In 1974 the ship took part in Operation Rheostat, to clear the…

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