These Historical Notes have been gradually collected and written over a period of years. The primary intention in presenting them to the public in book form is to counter the too prevalent and erroneous impression that Southend and district possess little or nothing of interest relating to the past. This impression is probably due to the absence of any book which gives in readable form, at a popular price, a sketch of the history of the Borough and neighbourhood. The Author hopes in this Volume that need will, to some extent, be met, and result in a growing appreciation of the unique and valuable tradition of service which comes down to us from byegone days. Many of the episodes have not been treated as exhaustively as they deserved, the aim in this respect having been to indicate the lines upon which historical research should be undertaken. Particularly is this so in connection with the water traffic of the Estuary, which has nowhere been discussed as fully as its importance demands. In presenting a history of this town and Hundred, no matter how short, there are two authorities whom it is essential to consult -- {Mr. T. Henton's "History of the Rochford Hundred" and Mr. H. W. King's MS. Volumes and other contributions, now in the custody of the Essex Archaeological Society. Mr. King has rarely before been laid under contribution, and then only scantily. It has been the Author's privilege to have unrestricted access to these papers. Valuable information has also been afforded in the two Volumes which hare been published of the " Victoria History of Essex."

Thanhs are expre.ed t {Mr. J. II. 'liurrcws, J.P., C.A., whose extensive knowledge of heal government has hern placed ttngrwtgingly at disposal ; \Ir. 'J^o/anJ 'Burrows, L/.D., liarruttr-at-Latc, by whose assistance much new and important matter relating to this district is published for the first time ; {Mr. H. H. 'Burrows for his advice in printing and producing the book^; the Essex .Jrcha-ological Society; {Mr. ./. (j. H'right, Curator of Colchester {Museum; the late {Mr. 6. Z\L 'Boirajo, of the guildhall Library ; SMr. 1(. Thilipson, Secretary of the Tort of London .-futhority ; fMr.-1. 'D. O 7'V, Librarian at the War Office; Mr. ./. .////?;/, Secretary of the Royal ?\umismatic Society ; the 'Director of (^rccn-.cich Hospital; the {Manager of the " (^hbe " newspaper ; the Manager of the "Illustrated London AV-/,-" Messrs. Spink and Son; the late and present 'Town Qlerkj of Southeiid ; the 'Borough untant ({Mr. . Justices 8. Tweedale) ; tfe f/r/'/t to the ('Mr. ./. J.-Irthy) the 'Principal of the Secondary 'Day School ({Mr. J. Hitchcock^) ; the Manager of Southend H'ateiworks Qompany ({Mr. ( . S. Bilham) ; the Secretary of Southend (jas Company ({Mr. J. T. T(andall) ; Councillor ^ 7. Osborne, Mr. Val. Mason,-"Mr. If. T. Took, and {Mr. . //. ole; and, lastly, to the Author's wife, but for rthose kjnd/y interest and unwearying readiness to assist, this )ror could not have been published