The Beach, Grays.
Grays Beach showing the Exmouth swimming baths in the background.
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Grays Beach opened in July 1906 to give the town a seaside feel, it was necessary to constantly replenish the beach with sand as it was washed away by the tide, the beach proved popular for many years and boasted a bathing pond (left) and was still in use up till the late 1960's as a boating lake, this area has now been redeveloped as a children's play area. |
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This
photograph was taken December 2000 and shows the lighthouse
ship The Gull.
It has lay in the mud since 1947 and the deterioration since that time is evident. It was built around 1860 and is one of only two surviving examples of this type, there has been recent speculation regarding restoration of this vessel.
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The Gull was bought after the Second World War for £750 by the then newly formed Thurrock Yacht Club she was brought from Harwich to Grays for the regatta to mark the reopening of the beach, the Gull was used as a clubhouse, It was vandalized with much of the ships copper hull being stolen, it was sold by the club in 1962.
The Gull was reclaimed by the club in as payment for mooring fee debts and sold again in 1982.
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The
Gull pictured in 2009 showing further deterioration. The mast has been
removed for safety reasons as well as preservation.
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