IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Albany Gardens West, CLACTON-ON-SEA, CO15 6HN

Picture shows the southern section of Albany Gardens, which lie between the two streets Albany Gardens West and Albany Gardens East. The photograph was taken from the entrance on Albert Gardens (a street bisecting the northern and southern sections of the gardens). The picture looks south in the direction of the sea. Albany Gardens are the second in a series of ornamental gardens running east to west between streets along this section of Clacton's seafront, the others being Lancaster Gardens and Connaught Gardens.

Picture shows the southern section of Albany Gardens, which lie between the two streets Albany Gardens West and Albany Gardens East. Albany Gardens are the second in a series of ornamental gardens running east to west between streets along this section of Clacton's seafront, the others being Lancaster Gardens and Connaught Gardens.

Picture shows the southern section of Albany Gardens, which lie between the two streets Albany Gardens West and Albany Gardens East. The street Albany Gardens West is to the left. The photograph was taken from the opposite side of Marine Parade West which runs adjacent to these streets. Albany Gardens are the second in a series of ornamental gardens running east to west between streets along this section of Clacton's seafront, the others being Lancaster Gardens and Connaught Gardens.

Picture shows the southern section of Lancaster Gardens, which lie between the two streets Lancaster Gardens West and Lancaster Gardens East. The photograph was taken from the entrance on Albert Gardens (a street bisecting the northern and southern sections of the gardens). The picture looks south in the direction of the sea (though the winding path and vegetation mean it is not visible). Lancaster Gardens are the first in a series of ornamental gardens running east to west between streets along this section of Clacton's seafront, the others being Albany Gardens and Connaught Gardens.

At first I thought it was a remarkably good reproduction of an old house, then perhaps it really is an old house. Both are partly correct. This was once the 15th century Mannings Farmhouse, Hawstead, Suffolk. It was dismantled and rebuilt here in about 1911, with some additions. Grade II listed.

This house used to be Mannings Farmhouse in Hawstead near Bury St Edmunds but was moved here, lock stock and barrel, to Marine Parade in Clacton-on-Sea around 1911. Nonetheless it is a Grade II Listed Building and the Historic England website describes it thus:- "Late C15 and originally called Mannings Farmhouse, Hawstead, Bury St. Edmunds. Moved in its entirety and re-erected on its present site c.1911 under the direction of Messrs. Gill and Reigate of Oxford Street, London, architects, with the addition of the chimney stacks and some windows. Timber framed, vari-patterned red brick nogging infill. Red plain tiled roofs. Left and right external red brick chimney stacks each with 3 attached diagonal shafts, bands and capping, the rear stack with 2 similar shafts. T-plan, the rear wing with plaster infill. 2 storeys and attics. Jettied first floor and central feature gable with carved bressumers and carved bargeboards to gable. Close set heavy studding with diagonal halved braces and jowled storey posts. 6 light mullion window to gable. First floor central 5 light cross transom oriel with moulded head and soffit, right and left 4 light mullion windows. Ground floor, carved brackets to jetty. Left 6 light and right 4 light mullion and transom windows. Returns with smaller similar vari-light mullion windows. All windows square leaded, moulded mullions and transoms. Gabled porch and panelled door to rear right."

The photograph shows the memorial at the entrance to Albany Gardens, Clacton, to Flight Officer Raymond Earl King of the 436th Fighter Squadron, 479th Fighter Group, US 8th Air Force. He was killed at the age of 22 on 13th Jan 1945 when his aircraft crashed into the sea nearby. Flight Officer King was returning to his base in Wattisham, Suffolk, accompanying a stricken comrade after a combat mission, when his aircraft developed engine trouble. He was brought ashore unconscious but died shortly afterwards. Flight Officer King came from North Braddock, Pennsylvania, and was the son of Harry King, a policeman at a steel works, and his wife Margaret. His aeroplane was recovered in 1987 and is displayed at the museum of the East Essex Aviation Society. The memorial was unveiled by his cousin, Mr Alvin J Stuart of Wildwood, Florida, on the fiftieth anniversary of Flight Officer King's death. [Sources for information: memorial inscriptions; Clacton Gazette, 14th Jan 2000; website of American Air Museum in Britain www.americanairmuseum.com/person/178362 , which gives further details and includes a photograph of Raymond King].

Picture shows the southern section of Lancaster Gardens, which lie between the two streets Lancaster Gardens West and Lancaster Gardens East. Lancaster Gardens are the first in a series of ornamental gardens running east to west between streets along this section of Clacton's seafront, the others being Albany Gardens and Connaught Gardens.

Picture shows the southern section of Connaught Gardens, which lie between the two streets Connaught Gardens West and Connaught Gardens East. The photograph was taken from the entrance on Albert Gardens (a street bisecting the northern and southern sections of the gardens). The picture looks south in the direction of the sea (not visible). Connaught Gardens are the last in a series of ornamental gardens running east to west between streets along this section of Clacton's seafront, the others being Lancaster Gardens and Albany Gardens.