Our History
The area now containing Southchurch Park was presented to the town of Southend-on-Sea in 1895 from three landowners, Messrs. Baxter, Dowsett, and Ingram. The park itself was completed in 1927, and has within it's perimeter two lakes. The east lake is a dedicated nature reserve, and the western lake is also a nature reserve, with the most western section allocated to model boating.
The lakes in Southchurch Park are the only remnant of the Great Western Mere, which was drained and reclaimed in 1870 from the Southchurch Marsh (a large lagoon that consisted of two Meres that stretched from the Kursaal to Bournes Green and Thorpe Hall Avenue).
Model boating in Southchurch Park is a pastime that is traceable back to the 1920's, however in 1948 seven gentlemen from the Southend Model Yacht and Railway club formed the Southend Model Power Boat club.
During these early years models were either straight running, or tethered. Tethered craft ran around a central anchor fixed in the centre of the lake, typically at high speed, until it's fuel was expended. Straight running craft were launched from one side of the lake and aimed, across the lake, at a number of marked posts forming a gate. Scores were accumulated according to accuracy of passing through the gate. One or more catchers would would be positioned at the far side of the lake and would receive the craft, and return it.
Motive power was typically supplied by diesel, glow and steam, however rubber, and clockwork motors were also used. Later on electric power became more common, and in the mid 1950's early radio control systems became available.
Model boating in Southchurch Park continues to this day, with the Southend Model Boat club celebrating 70 years of model boating in 2018.
The lakes in Southchurch Park are the only remnant of the Great Western Mere, which was drained and reclaimed in 1870 from the Southchurch Marsh (a large lagoon that consisted of two Meres that stretched from the Kursaal to Bournes Green and Thorpe Hall Avenue).
Model boating in Southchurch Park is a pastime that is traceable back to the 1920's, however in 1948 seven gentlemen from the Southend Model Yacht and Railway club formed the Southend Model Power Boat club.
During these early years models were either straight running, or tethered. Tethered craft ran around a central anchor fixed in the centre of the lake, typically at high speed, until it's fuel was expended. Straight running craft were launched from one side of the lake and aimed, across the lake, at a number of marked posts forming a gate. Scores were accumulated according to accuracy of passing through the gate. One or more catchers would would be positioned at the far side of the lake and would receive the craft, and return it.
Motive power was typically supplied by diesel, glow and steam, however rubber, and clockwork motors were also used. Later on electric power became more common, and in the mid 1950's early radio control systems became available.
Model boating in Southchurch Park continues to this day, with the Southend Model Boat club celebrating 70 years of model boating in 2018.
