Celebrating the City of Southend

A celebration of Southend’s rich heritage and identity – its special events, achievements, people, industry and landmarks.

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On 1 March 2022, Prince Charles attended the official ceremony in Southend-on-Sea to mark the town becoming a city. Southend’s city status had been tirelessly campaigned for by Southend West’s MP Sir David Amess before his tragic death. He sought recognition for the important role Southend has played through history, both within Essex and the country as a whole. Southend developed from a small fishing village on the Thames Estuary into a popular and fashionable resort in the nineteenth century following the visit of Princess Caroline of Brunswick and Lady Hamilton. Later that century Southend’s first pier opened. It was later rebuilt and is the longest pleasure pier in the world at 1.34 miles. The pier has its own railway but there is much more to Southend than its pier, with its range of seaside attractions drawing many to its rich calendar of events, regenerated shopping centres, entertainment and cultural venues, conservation areas and local airport.

Celebrating the City of Southend chronicles the proud heritage of Southend, its important moments and what draws so many to this dynamic city today. Illustrated throughout, this fascinating book offers a marvellous and refreshingly positive insight into Southend’s rich heritage, its special events and important moments. Celebrating the City of Southend will be a valuable contribution to the history of the city and will provide a source of many memories to those who have known it well over the years.