The Modern site of Butlins Holiday Camp, Clacton-on-Sea (EHER 81206)
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Summary
The site of Butlin's Holiday Camp at Clacton-on-Sea between 1938 and 1987. It was the second Butlin's camp to be built. In 1937, Billy Butlin had acquired an amusement park in Clacton-on-Sea and added several new rides. Initially accommodating 400 people, the camp soon grew to a capacity of 3,000. It closed during the Second World War and was used as a training centre. In 1955, the camp was enlarged to a capacity of 6,000 people. Many of the main buildings were built to an Art Deco style. By 1979, it had grown to a substantial size with chalet accommodation blocks, a large central reception building, an indoor and outdoor pool, sports facilities, boating lake, roller skating rink, theatre, miniature railway, amusement arcades and a discotheque. The camp was demolished in 1987.
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred TM 1663 1379 (660m by 437m) |
|---|---|
| Civil Parish | TENDRING, TENDRING, ESSEX |
Type and Period
- HOLIDAY CAMP (Mid 20th century to Late 20th century - 1938 AD to 1987 AD)
- ARMY CAMP (Second World War - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)
- TRAINING CAMP (Second World War - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)
- AMUSEMENT ARCADE (Late 20th century to Unknown - 1979 AD)
- BOATING LAKE (Late 20th century to Unknown - 1979 AD)
- CHALET (Late 20th century to Unknown - 1979 AD)
- DISCOTHEQUE (Late 20th century to Unknown - 1979 AD)
- INDOOR SWIMMING POOL (Late 20th century to Unknown - 1979 AD)
- MINIATURE RAILWAY (Late 20th century to Unknown - 1979 AD)
- OUTDOOR SWIMMING POOL (Late 20th century to Unknown - 1979 AD)
- PLAYING FIELD (Late 20th century to Unknown - 1979 AD)
- SKATING RINK (Late 20th century to Unknown - 1979 AD)
- TENNIS COURT (Late 20th century to Unknown - 1979 AD)
Description
Information from NRHE data transfer.
The site of Butlin's Holiday Camp at Clacton-on-Sea between 1938 and 1987. It was the second Butlin's camp to be built. In 1937, Billy Butlin had acquired an amusement park in Clacton-on-Sea and added several new rides.
Initially accommodating 400 people, the camp soon grew to a capacity of 3,000.
It closed during the Second World War and was used as a training centre.
In 1955, the camp was enlarged to a capacity of 6,000 people. Many of the main buildings were built to an Art Deco style.
By 1979, it had grown to a substantial size with chalet accommodation blocks, a large central reception building, an indoor and outdoor pool, sports facilities, boating lake, roller skating rink, theatre, miniature railway, amusement arcades and a discotheque.
The camp was demolished in 1987. <1-5>
Sources
- <1> SEX76381 Bibliographic reference: England's Seaside Resorts. pp. 175.
- <2> SEX76410 Webpage: Butlins. Butlins Memories.
- <3> SEX61241 Map: Ordnance Survey. 1936-1947. Ordnance Survey 25 inch (4th edition). Cd. 25 inch.
- <4> SEX76412 Map: Ordinance Survey. 2007. Ordnance Survey Map, 1:2500.
- <5> SEX76413 Bibliographic reference: Gray, F.. 2006. Designing the Seaside: Architecture, Society and Nature.
Other References
- NRHE identifier: 1463903
- National Monuments Record: TM 11 SE 65