Salty Sights Along The Promenade
The bay has always attracted a range of water sports, from simple boat trips to a spot of surfing on a windy day, but sunbathing, swimming, walking, paddling, rock pools and fishing are the mainstay.
01 Dovercourt (1900) Valentines H&D FW
02 Dovercourt from the Beach (1900) H&D FW
03 95613 Dovercourt From Sea (1905) H&D FW
04 41993. Dovercourt, General view from Jetty (1930) Photochrom Artotype) H&D FW
05 Illuminated Promenade, Dovercourt (1938) H&D FW
06 120884 Dovercourt (1928) Bells Series H&D FW
07 The Cliffs & Lower Parade, Dovercourt (1927) H&D FW
08 The Cliffs from Pier, Dovercourt Bay (1928) H&D FW
13 The Cliffs From Pier, Dovercourt Bay (1928) H&D FW
09 139671 View from the Sea (1932) Bell's H&D FW
Another Dovercourt landmark was lost recently after falling into disrepair, in stark contrast to when it was originally built in the 1860s.
It was later purchsed by the "Dovercourt Cliff Hotel Company" in the 1880s, refurbished and opened as the Cliff Hotel Pavilion - there was a ballroom, lounge, saloon bar and billiard room. The 27-bed hotel, in Marine Parade, closed in January 2017 making 36 members of staff redundant.
The former Cliff Hotel dominated the coastline of Dovercourt and stood like a beacon since the mid Victorian period. The buildings lost from this postcard include "The Cliff Pavillion" "The Elco Hotel" and "The Gables Hotel", while "The Alexandra Hotel" is now a care Home and Orwell Terrace is shadow of its former glory.
It was later purchsed by the "Dovercourt Cliff Hotel Company" in the 1880s, refurbished and opened as the Cliff Hotel Pavilion - there was a ballroom, lounge, saloon bar and billiard room. The 27-bed hotel, in Marine Parade, closed in January 2017 making 36 members of staff redundant.
The former Cliff Hotel dominated the coastline of Dovercourt and stood like a beacon since the mid Victorian period. The buildings lost from this postcard include "The Cliff Pavillion" "The Elco Hotel" and "The Gables Hotel", while "The Alexandra Hotel" is now a care Home and Orwell Terrace is shadow of its former glory.
10 56 The Cliff Hotel, Dovercourt From The Jetty (1937) R A Trust House H&D FW
11 G.1878. Dovercourt from the Water (1935) Valentines H&D FW
12 36 Dovercourt From The Boat Jetty (1937) Uknown H&D FW
13 96830 Cliff Hotel & Promenade, Dovercourt Bay (1924) H&D FW
14 The Cliffs Dovercourt. Wallis Copyright No 108 (1923) H&D FW
15 6014 Dovercourt Bay from the Sea (1922) J.Salmon H&D FW
16 103606 Dovercourt (1925) by Bells H&D FW
17 #214598 J.V. Dovercourt From The Sea (1930) by J.Valentines H&D FW
This unusual view captured from the waters of Dovercourt Bay in the late 1920's, was one many taken from the small boats that constantly plied for trade, in the local area for both holiday makers and local residents alike. Along the coastline up top, lays Marine Parade, with The Elco Hotel dominating the skyline to the West and Orwell Terrace to the East. Down on the promenade sits the partly enclosed bandstand, which was shortly demolished and replaced by the Cliff Pavilion, finally completed in 1931.
18 #3760 Dovercourt Bay from the Sea (A.R.Quinton) J Salmon Series (1945) H&D FW
Watercolour artist Alfred Robert Quinton (1853–1934) was 57 years of age when postcard publisher Joseph Salmon spotted some of his paintings in a London art gallery. Salmon persuaded Alfred to let him print a 1912 calendar featuring Quintons English village views. The calendar was a success and, over the next 22 years, Quinton went on to produce more than 2000 watercolours featuring the towns, villages and resorts of England and Wales which Salmon published as postcards. Alfred Robert Quinton is ranked the most popular British artist in this country's postcard hobby.
19 1721-79 Cliff Gardens from the Sea, Dovercourt Bay (1914) Wells G6584 H&D FW
20 1921 The Alexandra Hotel Dovercourt from the Sea. (1921) Wallis H&D FW
412G Regatter at Dovercourt Bay, Essex (1912) H&D FW
Dovercourt from the sea, with an amazing number of people filling the paths and cliffs in front of the Cliff Hotel along Marine Drive (later Parade).
These regattas were organised by the Council in conjunction with the Royal Harwich Yacht Club going as far back as 1828. Large numbers of people as well as many famous Yachts, were attracted to this annual event.The summer of 1912 was also the first year the Council hired a band to play at such Regatta's.
Harwich and Dovercourt with it's linear geography, surrounded on three sides by the sea, was perfect for such racing.
These regattas were organised by the Council in conjunction with the Royal Harwich Yacht Club going as far back as 1828. Large numbers of people as well as many famous Yachts, were attracted to this annual event.The summer of 1912 was also the first year the Council hired a band to play at such Regatta's.
Harwich and Dovercourt with it's linear geography, surrounded on three sides by the sea, was perfect for such racing.
