Madeira Walk ~ Setting Off

Setting off along the Madeira Walk, Dovercourt Bay, Essex

The first three images, show Dovercourt Bay, prior to the construction of the Bandstand

~ Dovercourt Bay Promenade (1890) H&D FW ~

~ Dovercourt Bay Promenade & Orwell Terrace (1890) H&D FW ~

A late Victorian view taken around 1890, looking East towards Harwich and Felixstowe.
Up top stands the Cliff Hotel (soon to be demolished) looking down upon the underdeveloped zig-zag paths. In the background, you can just pick-out the prominent end of "Orwell Terrace", while the promenade itself, looks clean and well maintained.
Coastal walks, were extremely popular around this period.
Much of this development work was completed by John Bagshaw, but it ended sadly with his bankruptcy, however he left a little of his vision, for all of us.

~ Dovercourt Bay Promenade (1901) H&D FW ~
Note the construction of the bandstand base can be seen here

This rare photograph taken around the turn of the century, shows the construction of the walls and base for the bandstand at Dovercourt sea-front, which was completed in 1901. This was later presented to the town, by the Co-operative society. Three years later in 1904, the council added around 200 chairs to provide comfort for the growing audiences. 25 years later in July 1929, a glass-clad enclosure was added to the seaward side of bandstand for protection from the elements and sea-spray. Finally in the summer of 1932, the enclosure was replaced by the New Cliff Pavilion which could seat 330 people.

~ Starting off from the Lighthouse along Madeira Walk in Dovercourt Bay, Essex ~

~ 76584 The Esplanade, Dovercourt Bay, Essex (1913) Bell's Photography H&D FW ~

This Bell's postcard was produced around 1912-13, it was part of a series of 125 (#76570 - #76655) covering the Dovercourt area, the next local set was released shortly after the war in 1919, covering the Harwich area (#79300 - #79345).

Most of the Bell's series, were manufactured with a high photographic quality between 1905 - 1950, it covered a geographical area of London, Essex and the border counties, with the studio being based at Leigh-on-sea, near Southend in Essex.