Clacton-on-Sea

The town was settled during the Old Stone Age by a race of hunters. Flint implements and the fossilised bones of the cave lion, straight tusked elephant and wild ox have been unearthed on the Clacton foreshore and at Lion Point. Clacton developed from a small village into a seaside resort in the late 19th Century with the fashion for coastal health and bathing.

The Pier was constructed in 1871 and paddle steamers provided the first direct route to the resort until the railway line opened in 1882. The Pier was only 30 feet across until the 1930’s when it was widened to over 300 feet wide and a berthing arm was added.

The National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) are funding a seafront heritage trail in Tendring from Jaywick Sands to Holland Haven but also incorporating Clacton town centre to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the founding of Clacton-on-Sea.

The trail will cover over 5 miles of beautiful coastline and engage with local schools, elder care settings and wider community to be active and promote health and wellbeing whilst learning the local history, it will also include new technology to help bring this to life. This will be a fun and engaging way to convey Clacton’s story.

Listening benches and audio posts will also be added to join and connect individuals with the stories of Clacton through the years.

There are many other projects linked with the trail and celebratory events are being planned for later in the year.