ESSEX - ON THIS DAY - JANUARY
January 1st 1901 Chief Constable Edward Mclean Showers acquires the first police car in Essex. The car is hired and the budget for running the vehicle is set at £50.00 per annum.
January 2nd 1899 Construction begins on Colchester's new Town Hall.
January 4th 1611 The Chelmsford Court of Quarter Sessions fixes wage rates for servants in Waltham Abbey. On average a man servant was to be paid £3.00 and a maid £2.50 - annually!
January 4th 1989 Basildon celebrates its 40th birthday with fireworks and a huge cake.
January 8th 1621 Christopher Martin, the Billericay Pioneer dies aboard the Mayflower in Cape Cod Bay.
January 8th 1938 First Salvation Army Temple in Hadleigh opened by Cecil Jones.
January 8th 2007 The Stena Discovery leaves Harwich on her last voyage on the Hook of Holland route. The ferry cost £65 million to build and was the fastest vehicle ferry afloat. A decline in traffic and the enormous fuel bill (costs said to be more than the rest of the Stena fleet combined) were cited as reason for withdrawing the craft. Today the Discovery is resting in the Harland and Wolff ship yard in Belfast. It is up for sale awaiting an uncertain future.
January 12th 1847 The first trial of 'Rocket Firing' at Shoeburyness takes place.
January 13th 1873 A new steam engine 'Cintra' for the Lisbon tramways is tested on a one mile track at Monkhams Lane near Epping Forest. The test was successful; however the engine never arrived in Portugal. It was lost in the wreck of the SS Northfleet after it sank following a collision in the channel with the loss of 300 lives. Buckhurst Hill was chosen for the test as it was considered the nearest match locally available to that of the terrain in just outside Lisbon in Portugal where the tramway was planned.
January 14th 1876 Essex County Cricket Club formed in Brentwood.
January 15th 1889 First Essex County wide elections held. The County was divided into 63 divisions. In over half the divisions there was no contest. Andrew Johnston was subsequently elected as the first Chairman of Essex County Council.
January 15th 1907 Tollesbury Pier station opened the last stop on the 'Crab and Winkle' line from Kelvedon. It was closed in 1921.
January 16th 1905 River Thames freezes at Southend-on-Sea.
January 16th 1995 The First Shipment of Live Animals is sent through Brightlingsea on the MV Caroline.
January 17th 1800 Roof collapses at St Mary's Church in Chelmsford (Todays Chelmsford Catherderal)
January 18th 1921 The coastal schooner Violette crashes into Southend Pier.
January 19th 1966 The Mi Amigo the base ship of the pirate station Radio Caroline is blown ashore during a storm off of Frinton on Sea and the crew and DJs are lucky to escape alive.
January 26th 1361 Brothers William and Thomas Okele of West Mersea cleared of 'Owling' (smuggling wool at night). It was illegal to export wool without paying tax. This is the earliest record of 'smuggling' being brought to book by the authorities. Although the brothers were found not guilty, a ship with a cargo of wool was seized and a fine of 40shillings imposed.
January 27th 2006 'Non Celebrity' Chantelle Houghton from Wickford wins the 'Celebrity Big Brother' contest.
January 31st 1953 A great storm surge brings extensive flooding and many deaths along the Essex Coast.
January 31st 1953 Corryton Refinery opens and closes on the same day due to floods.
Ed1 Abr 12/2008