Air, Land & SeaTimeline - Rochford Town Team

1729: Chester Moore Hall invented achromatic lens

Chester Moore Hall, from Sutton, invented achromatic lens & built first telescope free from colour distortion. Whilst outside the timeline, this major invention enabled giant telescopes of the 1800s to improve studies of the night sky.

1838: Maplin Sands Screw-pile Lighthouse

Maplin Lighthouse was the first screw-pile lighthouse to be built and was situated on the south eastern edge of Maplin sands north of Shoeburyness to warn passing boats of the off shore mud flats. A screw-pile lighthouse is a lighthouse which stands on piles that are screwed into sandy or muddy sea or river bottoms.

1845: HMS Beagle anchored off Paglesham

HMS Beagle anchored off Paglesham to deter smugglers

1889: Railway comes to Rochford District

The railway comes to Rochford District. Rochford selected for the reservoir to provide the water needed for steam trains. Freight House built alongside station.

1909: South Fambridge is first airfield in Britain

South Fambridge was the home to the first airfield in Britain

1914: Rochford airstrip

The airport started life in 1914, opened as a military airfield for the Royal Flying Corps in 1916 and was the home of RAF Rochford in World War Two. Southend airport is mainly within Rochford parish.

1918: Shotgate propeller memorial

Shotgate propeller memorial for Captain Henry Clifford Stroud

1918: Commonwealth War Graves

Commonwealth War Graves located around the district

1920: The Broomway - Britain's most perilous path

At over 600 years old, recorded as early as 1419, the Broomway runs for 6 miles (9.7 km) along the Maplin Sands, some 440 yards (400 m) from the present shoreline. It was named for the "brooms", bundles of twigs attached to short poles, with which the route was once marked.

1924: Whittingham's Coach & Wagon works

Whittingham's Iron Foundry, Coach & Wagon works launched new motor vehicle garage

1925: A127 was opened

A127 was opened in 1925 by Prince Henry as the first main road purpose built for motor vehicles

1928: Baltic Wharf at Creeksea

Timber unloading at Baltic Wharf at Creeksea

1936: Canewdon WWII radar station

Canewdon WWII radar station established and played a leading role during the Second World War

1944: Ghost Army inflatable tanks

The 'Ghost Army' placed inflatable tanks & decoy runway lights in outlying areas (Foulness, Sutton, Barling, etc) to divert bombers from London

1944: Naval assault craft built at Wallasea

Naval patrol & assault craft built at Wallasea Island during WWII

1949: Rayleigh Rockets speedway team

Rayleigh Rockets speedway team, which operated from 1949 to 1973

2018: Crossrail & Wallasea RSPB project

Debris from CrossRail excavations was used to reclaim land as part of RSPB Wallasea Island

Timeline

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