Clacton-on-Sea is the largest town on the TendringPeninsula in Essex and was founded in 1871. It is a seaside resort that attracted many tourists in the summer months between the 1950s and 1970s, but like many other British seaside resorts went into decline as a holiday destination since holidays abroad became more affordable.
In 1936 Billy Butlin made moves to create a new holiday camp there, by buying and refurbishing the West Clacton Estate, an amusement park to the west of the town. After gaining the support of the local council, construction began and the camp opened on 11 June 1938.[1]
During the War years, all the Butlin's camps were requisitioned by the Government. Clacton was originally planned to be used as a POW camp, but it was spared this indignity and was used as a training site for the pioneer corps.[1] However, during its occupation, the camp suffered significant damage and substantial repairs had to be carried out to put the camp back into operation. It reopened to the public in 1946. In 1972, the Butlin's organisation was bought by the Rank Group.
The Clacton camp was open until 1983 when due to package holidays and changing tastes, the holiday camp was closed and sold to a group of former departmental managers at the camp who reopened it as a short-lived theme park called Atlas Park. Atlas Park only lasted a year and the land was then sold and redeveloped with housing.[2]
Referencesedit
^ abColin Ward, Dennis Hardy (1986), Goodnight campers!: the history of the British holiday camp, Mansell Publishing Ltd, ISBN0-7201-1835-2
^Adams, Nicky (June 2008). "Morning campers". Essex Life. Archant. pp. 18–20. Retrieved 5 February 2009. (registration required)
December 12, 2023
butlin, clacton, holiday, camp, located, clacton, england, opened, 1938, closed, 1983, clactonclactonlocationclacton, seacoordinates51, 7812, 1388, 7812, 1388established11, june, 1938, 1938, closed23, september, 1983, 1983, history, editclacton, largest, town,. Butlin s Clacton was a holiday camp located on Clacton on Sea in England It opened in 1938 and closed in 1983 ClactonClactonLocationClacton on SeaCoordinates51 46 52 N 1 08 20 E 51 7812 N 1 1388 E 51 7812 1 1388Established11 June 1938 1938 06 11 Closed23 September 1983 1983 09 23 History editClacton on Sea is the largest town on the Tendring Peninsula in Essex and was founded in 1871 It is a seaside resort that attracted many tourists in the summer months between the 1950s and 1970s but like many other British seaside resorts went into decline as a holiday destination since holidays abroad became more affordable In 1936 Billy Butlin made moves to create a new holiday camp there by buying and refurbishing the West Clacton Estate an amusement park to the west of the town After gaining the support of the local council construction began and the camp opened on 11 June 1938 1 During the War years all the Butlin s camps were requisitioned by the Government Clacton was originally planned to be used as a POW camp but it was spared this indignity and was used as a training site for the pioneer corps 1 However during its occupation the camp suffered significant damage and substantial repairs had to be carried out to put the camp back into operation It reopened to the public in 1946 In 1972 the Butlin s organisation was bought by the Rank Group The Clacton camp was open until 1983 when due to package holidays and changing tastes the holiday camp was closed and sold to a group of former departmental managers at the camp who reopened it as a short lived theme park called Atlas Park Atlas Park only lasted a year and the land was then sold and redeveloped with housing 2 References edit a b Colin Ward Dennis Hardy 1986 Goodnight campers the history of the British holiday camp Mansell Publishing Ltd ISBN 0 7201 1835 2 Adams Nicky June 2008 Morning campers Essex Life Archant pp 18 20 Retrieved 5 February 2009 registration required Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Butlin 27s Clacton amp oldid 1187883997, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
