“"We don’t remember days, we remember moments."

The Bandstand

​At the turn of the century in 1900, Dovercourt in Essex continued to grow as a seaside resort into the twentieth century. 
​Cliff Gardens was opened to the public in 1909 and other areas of public realm, including the promenade, were improved. Cliffe Park was officially opened in 1911 as part of the Borough’s Coronation celebrations for King George V (1911 - 1935).
The park itself was formed of John Bagshaw’s private gardens following his bankruptcy and included many enhancements such as the Bandstand as seen in these images.

~ 01 ~ No. 1670 Cliff Park, Dovercourt (1952) Bells H&D FW ~

In these grounds in 1845, John Bagshaw built himself a mansion called Cliff House, which had extensive grounds. At that time there was open country between the lighthouse at Harwich and the Green at Dovercourt. He therefore bought land at Lower Dovercourt for development as a 'new town'.
In the park surrounding his home he located a chalybeate spring, reputed to possess medicinal properties and decided to make Dovercourt a place to which the gentry would come to take the water. On the site Bagshaw also built the spa which opened on the 28th august 1854 and incorporated a library, , museum, pump room and a conservatory which was used as a reading and smoking room. Hundreds of people came to drink the waters from the chalybeate (a natural spring containing iron salts). At the bottom of Orwell Terrace he built the Assembly Rooms.

John Bagshaw also built Orwell Terrace, laid out the cliff slopes as far as Mill Lane and constructed a promenade as far as Dovercourt lighthouse at a cost of £10,000. Unfortunately this all left Bagshaw in severe financial difficulties and he was declared bankrupt in 1859. He died in 1861 after the contents of his house and the Spa had been sold and his estate broken up. After remaining empty for some years, Cliff House was demolished in 1909 and the Spa suffered the same fate in 1920 after the medical officer of health suspected the purity of its water.. Orwell Terrace is now John Bagshaw's chief memorial.

The park itself was officially opened on June 22nd 1911 to coincide with the coronation of King George V. It included a bandstand (with deckchairs to hire), lawns, flower beds and weekly firework displays.

~ 02 ~ 6013 The Park, Dovercourt Bay. (1929) Salmon H&D FW ~

 ~ 03  ~ The Park, Dovercourt 2 (1912) H&D FW ~

~ 04 ~ 1364 The Park, Dovercourt Bay (1925) Unknown H&D FW ~

~ 05 ~ No 21 The Park, Dovercourt (1910) H&D FW ~

~ 06 ~ 7-746 Cliffe Park, Dovercourt (1912) S&SC H&D FW ~

~ 07 ~ 45962 Dovercourt Bay, The Park (1913) H&D FW ~

~ 08 ~ 71154 Bandstand, Cliffe Park, Dovercourt (1913) J.Valentines H&D FW ~


~ 09 ~ The Bandstand, Cliff Park, Dovercourt (1912) J.T.Ward  H&D FW ~

~ 10 ~ 71155 Bandstand and Gardens. Dovercourt. (1913) J.Valentines H&D FW

~ 11 ~ #04 The New Park Dovercourt (1910) Unknown H&D FW ~

~ 12 ~ Cliff Park, Dovercourt (1922) RP Unknown H&D FW ~

~ 12 ~ Cliffe Park, Dovercourt (1914) H&D FW ~

~ 13 ~ ​(05) The Park, Dovercourt Bay (1911) H&D FW ~

~ 14 ~ Cliffe Park. Dovercourt Bay (1923) W.A.Wells H&D FW ~

~ 15 ~ 76577 Cliffe Park,Dovercourt (1913) by Bells H&D FW ~

~ 16 ~ Cliffe Park,  Dovercourt (1918) Well's Facsimile H&D FW ~

~ 17 ~ 64025 Cliff Park, Dovercourt (1964) Harvey Barton H&D FW ~

~ 18 ~ H.2866. Cliffe Gardens, Dovercourt. (1939) Valentine's H&D FW ~
The back of this card is also shown & makes an interesting read, a few days prior to the outbreak of World War 2. 

~ 19 ~ The Park, Dovercourt (1925) H&D FW ~

~ 20 ~ 76580 Cliffe Park,Dovercourt (1913) by Bells H&D FW ~

~ 21 ~ 108.1. The Bandstand, Cliff Park, Dovercourt (1936) Empire H&D FW ~

108.1. The Bandstand, Cliff Park, Dovercourt (1936) Empire H&D
​
The bandstand was in place when "Cliffe Park" was officially opened on June 22nd 1911 to coincide with the coronation of King George V. It included the bandstand (with deckchairs to hire), lawns, flower beds and weekly firework displays. The bandstand was brought back to life in 2009 following a major refurbishment.
This postcard was part of the photographic business of C N Jamson of Doncaster, who traded as "Empire View Productions", from around 1935  through to the late 1940's. Three local series of cards were produced  including one of local views (as shown here) and two others of Dovercourt "Warner's Holiday Camp".

~ 22 ~ The Park. Dovercourt Bay (1925) J.A. Saunders H&D FW ~

~ 23 ~ D-45961 Dovercourt The Park Bandstand Cliff Park (1913) Photochrom H&D FW ~

~ 24 ~ S.12612 Pleasure Gardens & Bandstand, Dovercourt. (1914) Kingsway H&D FW ~

~ 25 ~ The Park Bands, Dovercourt.(1920) H&D FW ~

~ 26 ~ The Park Bandstand, Dovercourt (1920) H&D FW ~

~ ​27 ~ Bandstand, Cliff Park, Dovercourt (1913) J.T Ward H&D FW ~

~ ​28 ~ Cliffe Park, Dovercourt Bay (1914) W.A.Wells H&D FW ~

~ ​29 ~ Cliffe Park Bandsman I (1911) H&D FW ~

~ 30 ~ Dovercourt Bandsman on the Pier at Clacton, Essex (1911) H&D FW ~