History

Prittlewell was the original settlement from which the borough of Southend grew. In 1892 the town achieved the status of a Borough and formed its first Town Council. Further expansion occurred in 1913 when the fishing village of Leigh - famous now for its seafood and attractive conservation area - became part of the borough, and in 1914 Southend was granted the status of a County Borough.

More recently, Southend became a Unitary Authority on 1st April 1998, when the Council became responsible for running a number of areas, such as social services and education, which had previously been controlled by Essex County Council.

History of the Borough

The northern bank of the Thames upon which Southend-on-Sea is situated has been peopled from remote times. From about 3,000 BC to 1st Century AD people of the Stone Age, the Bronze Age and the early Iron Age inhabited the district. There was afterwards successive occupation by Romans, Saxons and Danes. Evidence of all these Ages is exhibited at the Museum, Prittlewell Priory.

1st - 14th Centuries
lst-5th Cent (AD)	Roman occupation area north of Thames
500-850	The village of Prittlewell established by pagan Saxon immigrants
7th Century	Earliest architectural evidence (a Saxon arch) in St. Mary’s Church, Prittlewell
823	Southchurch given by Lifstan, a Saxon thane, to the monks of Christ Church, Canterbury
894	Battle of Benfleet. Danes defeated and drivenby King Alfred’s men
1016	Battle of Ashingdon. Edmund Ironside defeated by Canute
1066 -1087	Rayleigh Castle built
1110	Prittlewell Priory established
1200 - 1230	Hadleigh Castle built
1240 (Circa)	Southchurch Hall built
13th Century	Market established at Prittlewell
1381	The Peasants’ Revolt. Led locally by John Syrat of Shoebury against the Poll Tax
15th Century
1477	The Jesus Guild of Prittlewell given recognised status by Royal Licence (Edward IV)
1481	Earliest record of Southend ('Sowthende') as a place name
16th Century
1530	Anne Boleyn resident at Rochford Hall
1536	Suppression of the Priory at Prittlewell
1588	The Armada. Leigh was an important Naval Base and an armed force of 8 ships was established to protect the seaport.
16th Century	Rise of Leigh as a Port and as a Naval Base.
17th Century
1604 - 1616	Rev. Samuel Purchas, author of 'Purchas his Pilgrimes', Vicar of Eastwood, records Battell’s Travels.
1610	Andrew Battell, a Leigh seaman, and the first European to travel in Central Africa, returned to Leigh after 21 years’ absence in South America and Africa
1620 - 1630	Canvey Island drained and walled by Dutch Engineers.
1643	The Mayflower departed from Strand Wharf.
1652	During the Dutch Wars, Admiral Blake’s fleet was refitted at Leigh.
1653	In February, Blake sailed from the Thames with sixty warships and defeated the Dutch Admiral, Van Tromp, in the English Channel.
17th & 18th Centuries	Prominence of Leigh and Leigh seamen in naval history and Dutch Wars. Among these were members of the Salmon, Haddock and Goodlad families. Captain William Haddock (1607-1667) served with distinction against the Dutch, and was awarded a gold medal by the Commonwealth Government (1649-1660) for his services. His son, Admiral Sir William Haddock (1629-1715) became Comptroller of the Navy. Robert Salmon and William Goodlad, both Masters of Trinity House, took prominent parts in the Greenland Whale Fisheries, the latter commanding the Greenland Company’s fleet for twenty years.
18th Century
1768	First mention of Southend for sea-bathing.
1793	Erection of Royal Hotel and terrace.
1797	Mutiny of seamen at the Nore.
19th Century
1801	Princess Charlotte of Wales, daughter of George IV, visited Southend for sea-bathing, as advised by her physicians. She stayed at The Lawn, Southchurch and attended service at Holy Trinity Church, Southchurch.
1803	Princess Caroline of Brunswick (wife of the Prince Regent, afterwards George IV) visited Southend. During the Napoleonic Wars it was thought that the French might attempt a landing on the north bank of the Thames Estuary. Jonas Asplin of Wakering and John Lodwick of Southend, raised and commanded a troop of volunteer cavalry and a company of infantry respectively, to resist any attempted invasion.
1829	May. The Act (Geo.IV.Cap.xiix) authorising the construction of the first Pier, received Royal Assent. Alderman Sir William Heygate, Bart, Lord Mayor of London in 1822-23 who resided at 'Porters in Southend was the chief promoter, and was instrumental in securing the erection of the Pier. July. First stone of embankment of Southend Pier laid by the Lord Mayor of London, Alderman Sir William Thompson, MP, as Conservator of the Thames.
1833-1934	Benjamin Disraeli visited Southend, and resided at Porters', Southchurch Road, now the Civic House and Mayor’s Parlour.
1835	Completion of the Pier.
1854	First railway to Southend (formerly LMS)
Later 19th	Princess Louise, 4th daughter of Queen Victoria, who married the Marquis of Lorne (afterwards 9th Duke of Argyll) in 1871, inhabited 'Porters' for a short time. Miss Tawke, in her 'Recollections' wrote: 'I think Lord Lorne (as he was at that time) was going through a course at Shoebury'. This would probably be when he was a young officer, about the time of or soon after his marriage.
1863	Southend invaded by the Royal Marines as part of a major naval exercise.
1870	Southend Rugby Club founded
1889	Second railway (formerly LNER)
1892	Incorporation of the Borough. Population 13,000, rateable value £82,000.
1897	Southchurch included in the Borough. Population 23,000, rateable value £122,911.
20th Century
1906	Opening of the Central Library and Museum (now the Central Museum) in Victoria Avenue Southend United Football Club founded
1909	Visit of Home Atlantic Fleets (150 warships moored off Southend)
1913	Leigh on Sea included in the Borough. Population 82,000, rateable value £562,574. Area 7,083 acres.
1914	1st April. Attained status of County Borough. June. Visit of HM Queen Mary to Queen Mary’s Naval Hospital.
1917	July. Visit of HRH Princess Mary to Queen Mary’s Naval Hospital.
1919	July. Peace celebrations. Visit of HM Grand Fleet.
1920	July. Opening of Prittlewell Priory Museum and Priory Park and the RA Jones Children’s Memorial Ground by HRH the Duke of York
1921 and 1923	July. Visits of HM King George V (Yachting Week).
1925	March. Opening of London-Southend Arterial Road by HRH Prince Henry
1926	September. Opening of Municipal Golf Course at Belfairs Park.
1929	July. Opening of eastern arm of Pier Extension by HRH the Duke of Kent November. Laying of New Hospital Foundation Stone by HRH the Duchess of York.
1931	July. International bowling matches at Southend.
1932	July. Opening of General Hospital. Cost, £200,000.
1933	October. Inclusion of Shoeburyness and Eastwood in the Borough. Population 130,000, rateable value £1,381,269. Area 10,284 acres.
1935	May. Visit of Home Fleet. HM King George V Silver Jubilee Celebrations. July. Centenary of the Pier and opening of new Lifeboat House. September. Opening of Municipal Aerodrome.
1937	May. Visit of Home Fleet - HM King George VI Coronation Celebrations. Formation of 143 Battery AAC & 53 Searchlight Battery TA
1938	October. Laying of foundation stone of Municipal Hospital Extension at Rochford by HRH The Duchess of Kent. Belfairs Nature reserve opened.
1946	May. Presentation of Freedom of the Borough to Essex Regiment. June-October. Visit of British and American Warships.
1947	June-September. Visit of British and American Warships.
	August. Official re-opening of Municipal Aerodrome (after war-time requisitioning) and first international Air Rally. October. Official opening of Municipal Hospital Extensions at Rochford by HRH The Duchess of Kent
1949	April. Inauguration of new Pier Electric Trains by Lord Broadbridge, Lord Mayor of London.
1951	June. Visit of Swedish Naval Training Squadron.
1953	March. Opening of Crematorium at Sutton Road.
	October. Opening of the Beecroft Art Gallery at Westcliff on Sea by His Worshipful the Mayor, Alderman EN Selby. November. Opening of Crowstone House Old Persons’ Home by the Rt Hon lain Macleod, Minister of Health.
1955	March. Opening of new schools by the Rt Hon Sir David Eccles, Minister of Education. May. Official launching of new lifeboat and visit to Carnival Bungalow estate by HRH The Duchess of Kent.
1957	June. Opening of Southend High School for Girls, (Southchurch Boulevard) and St. Christopher’s School by Sir Edward Boyle, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Education. December. Opening of Pantile House Old Persons’ Home by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health, RHM Thompson
1958	March. Opening of Municipal College Extension, Victoria Circus by Sir Hugh Beaver
1960	January. Opening of first stage of College of Technology, Civic Centre.
1962	October. Opening of Whittingham House Old Persons’ Home by His Worshipful the Mayor, Alderman OA Moss
1963	May. Opening of Delaware House and the Bungalow, Connaught House Old Peoples’ Homes by the Rt Hon Enoch Powell, Minster of Health.
1964	Season of Golden Jubilee celebrations to commemorate the 50 years of the constitution of Southend-on-Sea as a County Borough. July. Kent Elms Clinic/Branch Library opened by His Worshipful the Mayor, Alderman EE Morris. July. Opening of Cliffs Pavilion by Bernard Miles. Office accommodation in New Civic Centre occupied. September. Central Fire Station opened in Sutton Road by HM Chief Inspector of Fire Services, Mr HM Smith.
1966	4th February. The new Court House was opened by the Rt Hon Lord Parker of Waddington the Lord Chief Justice of England. December. First stage of pedestrian High Street created between Queens Road and Warrior Square.
1967	31st October. The new Civic Centre was opened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother
1969	March. Leigh Fire Station Blenheim Chase opened by HM Inspector of Fire Services, Mr AJ Frame 1st. April. Amalgamation of Essex and Southend Police Areas and formation of Essexand Southend-on-Sea Joint Police Authority.
1969	20th May. The new Southend Swimming Pool opened by Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent.
1974	March. Opening of new Central Library Victoria Avenue by Lord Lieutenant of Essex. December. HRH Princess Anne opened Indoor Riding School for Southend Riding Club for the Disabled at Belfairs.
1976	July. Destruction of Pier Head by fire.
1977	26th June. Visit by HRH Princess Margaret to Southend General Hospital.
1979	29th March. Official Opening of the Day Centre and Workshop at Queensway House Health and Social Security Services Complex by His Worshipful the Mayor, Cllr RB Marriott.
1980	30th September. Visit to district by HRH the Duchess of Kent taking in Kingsdown School, The Royal Hotel, The Brambles and Rochford Hospital.
1981	April. Official opening of the Central Museum in Victoria Avenue by His Worshipful the Mayor, ClIr WF Bowyer.
1986	2nd May. Official Opening of new Pier Trains and launch of new RNLI Lifeboat by HRH Princess Anne.
1988	March. Royals Shopping Centre completed.
1991	January. Official Opening of Southend Hospital Scanner and new Lifeboat House on Southend Pier by HRH Princess Anne.
1992	Borough Centenary Celebrations - Lord Mayor of London took part in Civic Procession and opened Centenary Garden in Priory Park. Extension and Refurbishment of Cliffs Pavilion.
1994	Chase Sports Centre opened by Trevor Brooking, Chairman of the Eastern Council for Sport and Recreation.
1995	Pier Bowling Lanes destroyed by fire.
1996	Southend Leisure and Tennis Centre opened.
1998	Re-opening of Kursaal. Council achieves Unitary Status.
1999	12 March. Official Visit of HM Queen Elizabeth and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh to Southend-on-Sea.

Incorporation & Extensions of the Borough

The District of Southend, comprising 'the whole of the Parish of Prittlewell' was created a Municipal Borough called the 'Borough of Southend-on-Sea' by a Charter, dated the 15th August, 1892.

By a Provisional Order of the Local Government Board, dated the 7th day of May, 1897, the boundary of the then existing Borough was altered so as to include in addition to the area of the existing Borough, the Parish of Southchurch.

By the Southend-on-Sea Corporation Act, 1913, the boundary of the then existing Borough was extended on the 9th day of November, 1913 so as to include the Urban District of Leigh on Sea, and a portion of the Parish of Eastwood.

The status of a County Borough was attained on the 1st April 1914.

By the Southend-on-Sea Extension Order, 1933, dated the 30th August, 1933, the boundary of the County Borough was extended on the 1st day of October 1933, so as to include the Urban District of Shoeburyness and parts of the Parishes of Eastwood, Great Wakering, North Shoebury and Shopland from the rural district of Rochford.

On 1st April 1974 local government was re-organised under the provisions of the Local Government Act, 1972. New District Councils were created and County Borough status ceased, but by an Order in Council dated 12th December 1973 the new District Council of Southend-on-Sea was granted a Charter, effective from 1st April 1974, declaring that the District of Southend-on-Sea should have the status of a Borough. The boundaries of the Borough were unaffected.

In 1998 the Borough Council achieved the status of Unitary Authority