onlineFOCUS – News and Stuff For Rochford District since 2003

Here’s some intriguing colour film of London in 1927:

Claude Friese-Greene, one of the earliest British pioneers of film, filmed a series of short clips around London documenting major attractions of the city nearly 90 years ago, specifically in 1927, using a primitive color process developed by his father William Friese-Greene…..It’s like a beautiful dusty old postcard you’d find in a junk store, but moving.

Hat-tip: Deathandtaxes

May 19th, 2013 | Category: History and Culture, London, YouTube and Video | Comments (2)

If you are interested in history, or in ships, you might like to read a new 22-page booklet called “London Gateway – A Maritime History”. You can download it here

Did you know that the first signs of river travel in the Thames area is actually a bronze age paddle found at Canewdon? It’s about 3,500 years old. Then there’s the wreck of a Roman ship found at Blackfriars with a cargo of stone, the Anglo-Saxon ship carrying hops, the navy ship “London” that suffered an explosion in 1665 killing 300 people, and many more wrecks from the last two centuries…. There were many ships and planes lost during World War Two….

May 15th, 2013 | Category: Canewdon & Around, History and Culture, Shipping | Leave a comment

The District Council website mentions that the play “The Admirable Crichton” is on at the Mill Arts And Events Centre on the 16th , 17th and 18th May , performed by Rayleigh Operatic & Dramatic Society:

Thursday 16th, Friday 17th and Saturday 18th May at 7:30pm, additional matinee on Saturday 18th May at 2:00pm.
Tickets cost £10 adults & £8 concessions and are available from our Box Office on 01268 771751

More information here on the District Council website.
However it’s a bit odd that there’s almost no info on the Mill’s website:

May 8th, 2013 | Category: Events, History and Culture, Rayleigh | Leave a comment

This month Rayleigh Through The Looking Glass has a special feature on comic postcards. You can find them here.

May 7th, 2013 | Category: History and Culture | Leave a comment

If you are interested in local history, or the Wakering area, be sure to look at http://www.wakeringheritage.org.uk/index.html   . The website is full of stuff on Wakering, Barling and Foulness, from executing robbers in Anglo-Saxon times (men were hung, women were drowned) , to a list of people living there in 1874, to the Luftwaffe dropping in during WW2.

My aim is to reveal the history of Great Wakering and its surrounding villages over the past one hundred years. This period covers two World Wars and goes far enough back to the days when, cars, telephones, mobile Phones and computers did not exist. Life was much slower and aspirations lower but most communities co-existed in harmony.

April 26th, 2013 | Category: Barling & Sutton, History and Culture, Military, Wakering & Foulness, Web Stuff | Leave a comment

Foulness is surely one of the most curious places in England – it’s been inhabited for millennia, but has been a centre for Hi-Tech weapons research. You need a pass , and  a reason, to visit. There’s a slight Doctor Who or Quatermass feel to the place.

The Rochford District Community Archive explains one way to visit:

There is a very interesting and active Heritage Centre on the island of Foulness which is located in the old Foulness School buildings at Churchend. The centre is run by volunteers from the Foulness Conservation and Archaeological Society.
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The Heritage Centre is a vibrant and fascinating place containing artifacts dating back to prehistoric times found on the island. There is also an extensive contributed collection of photographs, documents and memorabilia.
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After many years of preparatory work the centre was opened in 2003 to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the East coast floods. Since then many visitors from the mainland have enjoyed the friendly atmosphere. Islanders past and present also come regularly to share the community spirit found in these familiar buildings.
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The centre is only open every first Sunday of the month from April to October between midday and 4pm. The entry gate is at Landwick. To get there, take the road from beside Great Wakering church. On arrival at the QinetiQ gatehouse you must obtain a vehicle day pass and drive from there directly to the Heritage Centre car park. There is no public transport between the gate and the centre and the distance is several miles.
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Weather permitting, a one hour tractor tour of the far end of the island starts at 2:30pm outside the centre.
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Sadly the pub at Churchend is closed down, but you can get a cup of tea and a cake at the centre. The post office beside the pub is worth looking at. It won’t be open on Sundays, but you can peep through the window! St Mary’s church is also now boarded up and in a dangerous state but still looks lovely in the Spring sunshine, witness the photo at the bottom of this page taken in April 2012.

Find out more about St Mary’s church here.

April 25th, 2013 | Category: Eerie Essex, History and Culture, Wakering & Foulness | Comments (1)

From the Yellow Advertiser today:

A FORMER lecturer will be showcasing 80 years of artwork with more than 500 paintings.
James French, 86, from Ely Way, in Rayleigh, has been painting since he was six years old, but has decided to sell off some of his artwork to clear space in the house that he shares with his wife Joyce.
The artwork features a collection of water colours and oils including many paintings of orchids……

The exhibition is at The Community Centre, in Church Road, at Ramsden Bellhouse from 10am to 4pm on Sunday, April 28. For more information about the event, please call 01268 780626

Full article here

April 18th, 2013 | Category: History and Culture, Rayleigh | Leave a comment

Rayleigh Through The Looking Glass has a  feature this month on London Hill:

Until the coming of the railway in 1889 London Hill was the major road into Rayleigh. It was part of the main turnpike road from Aldgate in London to Rochford and a stagecoach route.In bad weather it was common for passengers to have to get out of their stagecoach and walk up as the road was too muddy and slippery for the horses to pull the coach up fully laden.

April 2nd, 2013 | Category: History and Culture, Rayleigh | Leave a comment

March 30th, 2013 | Category: Events, Good Causes, History and Culture, Rayleigh | Leave a comment

Such Strange Arts are a young band from Rayleigh…. here’s their first video, featuring Amber Satchwell…

March 26th, 2013 | Category: History and Culture, Rayleigh, YouTube and Video | Comments (4)

Did you know Rayleigh used to have its own speedway team?

“Rayleigh,  as I said,  in general was a really happy atmosphere track”

March 4th, 2013 | Category: Castle Point, History and Culture, Leisure and Sport, Rayleigh, YouTube and Video | Comments (4)