Harwich Dovercourt

Harwich Dovercourt For further information please visit. www.harwichanddovercourt.com

The home of historical images of Essex and Suffolk, Including art, books, lithographs, prints, postcards, photographs, publications & other trinkets & treasures.

02/03/2026

This A.I. video shows the newly opened "Empire" Cinema in Kingsway, Dovercourt Bay, Essex around 1913.

The Empire Cinema in Dovercourt (Harwich) is no longer in operation. Historically, it was located at 52 Kingsway, Dovercourt, CO12 3JR.

Historical Status
Opening: It opened on 29 March 1913 as both a cinema and a variety theatre with a capacity of 350 patrons.
Closure: The cinema closed in the early 1950s and was subsequently demolished.
Current Site: The original site has since been redeveloped into shop units

If you are looking for a cinema in the Harwich and Dovercourt area today, March 2026, the primary local option is the Electric Palace. This is one of the oldest purpose-built cinemas in the UK and remains active, showing both blockbusters and classic films.

Please try to remember that this video is not Reel 🤣.
This is an AI-generated video provides a brief representation in time, rather than an absolute accurate historical record, which is unlikely to exist.

A copy of the original image (front) has been included in the comments section for historical accuracy and to address potential concerns regarding imperfections and technical inaccuracies.

22/02/2026

This A.I. video shows Harwich Pier Front around 1913, with civilians & sailors waiting for the steamers to arrive.

The colours didn't really come out but it must have been exciting waiting for larger ships and paddle steamers coming into the port.

Visible Landmarks: The building on the left with the balcony is the Great Eastern Hotel, used a couple of years later as the Military Hospital in WW1.

Please try to remember it's not Reel 🤣

This is an AI-generated video provides a brief representation in time, rather than an absolute accurate historical record, which is unlikely to exist.

A copy of the original image (front) has been included in the comments section for historical accuracy and to address potential concerns regarding imperfections and technical inaccuracies.

Another local postal history item, this time covering the closure of HMS Ganges at Shotley on the 7th July 1976 ~ "Harwi...
22/02/2026

Another local postal history item, this time covering the closure of HMS Ganges at Shotley on the 7th July 1976 ~ "Harwich says final farewell to HMS Ganges".

I am pleased to introduce a notable addition to the Postal History pages, an esteemed 'Ewen cover' from 1905, showcasing...
21/02/2026

I am pleased to introduce a notable addition to the Postal History pages, an esteemed 'Ewen cover' from 1905, showcasing a rare combination of standard postage and a specialised railway letter stamp.

Notable Features: This philatelic item boasts two distinct stamps: a green 2d Great Eastern Railway (GER) 'Cinderella' stamp, which prepaid the railway carriage fee, and a red 1d King Edward VII definitive stamp, responsible for standard delivery through the General Post Office (GPO) system. Both stamps feature cancellations, including Parkeston station and date marks, with the railway stamp displaying a large 'CANCELLED' mark and a GER station stamp, and the red stamp bearing a circular date stamp (CDS) from 1905.

The envelope is addressed to the Editor of Ewen's Weekly Stamp News at 32, Palace Square, Norwood, London.

These unique covers were specifically created by or for L'Estrange Ewen, a renowned philatelist and stamp dealer of the era, to document the use of railway letter services.

Accompanying this item are rare Great Eastern Railway Correspondence Official postcards from 1906, 1907, and 1920.

Three examples of "Wreck mail" from the S.S. Berlin, which sank off the Hook of Holland on February 21, 1907, these are ...
20/02/2026

Three examples of "Wreck mail" from the S.S. Berlin, which sank off the Hook of Holland on February 21, 1907, these are highly collectible philatelic material.

Damaged letters from this disaster are often identified by a specific blue, two-line Dutch cachet reading "BESCHADIGD DOOR RAMP HARWICH BOOT" (Damaged by disaster of Harwich boat), indicating they were salvaged from the sea.

Key Details Regarding the SS Berlin Mail:

The Disaster: The Great Eastern Railway (G.E.R.) steamer Berlin broke in two during a storm while attempting to enter the Hook of Holland, resulting in 128 deaths.

Mail Condition: Letters were often soaked, with glue on envelopes dissolving, requiring salvaged items to be dried and officially marked by postal authorities.

Identification: Salvaged mail is marked with the Dutch postal marking indicating damage from the disaster, often showing arrival dates shortly after the wreck, such as February 21 or 22, 1907.

Significance: These items are rare historical artifacts of the 1907 wreck, often featuring in maritime and postal history collections.

A new page has ben added to the web site covering postal history & covers from the area. An example has been shown here.
18/02/2026

A new page has ben added to the web site covering postal history & covers from the area. An example has been shown here.

On April 27, 1916, the UC-5 ran aground while on patrol and was subsequently scuttled. Following its capture by HMS Fire...
18/02/2026

On April 27, 1916, the UC-5 ran aground while on patrol and was subsequently scuttled. Following its capture by HMS Firedrake, the crew was taken into custody. A salvage operation, led by Captain Young and Lt Paterson, was undertaken to recover the vessel, which posed a significant risk due to the presence of two mines on board.

Furthermore, the UC-5's captain had rigged explosive charges to destroy the submarine in the event of abandonment, a move that was widely condemned by the British press as an attempt to harm Royal Navy personnel involved in the rescue efforts.

Fortunately, Lt Paterson was able to locate and disable the charges after receiving a warning from one of the prisoners. The submarine was then towed to Harwich and subsequently to Sheerness, where it was inspected by a select group of journalists and war artists.

Later, it was put on display at Temple Pier on the Thames and, in the following year, in New York, as part of a propaganda effort.

This photograph taken by unknown photographer in 1916 is often cited as being taken at Harwich, but I believe it was actually on display at Temple Pier, London, to generate money for war loans.

The image of the captured and salvaged German submarine, UC-5, at Temple Pier, London. Two of the submarine's mines are displayed fore and aft of the conning tower, mounted in their anchoring cradles.

A curated collection of views and official photographs from schools across the area has been uploaded to the website, wi...
15/02/2026

A curated collection of views and official photographs from schools across the area has been uploaded to the website, with a select few showcased here.

EJE 502 Channel Steamers at Parkeston Quay, Essex (1964) Earnest Joyce & Co Ltd H&D FW
13/02/2026

EJE 502 Channel Steamers at Parkeston Quay, Essex (1964) Earnest Joyce & Co Ltd H&D FW

Another one for the errors & ommissions web page, this time from one of the major postcard companies : ~ #51159 Cock'...
12/02/2026

Another one for the errors & ommissions web page, this time from one of the major postcard companies : ~ #51159 Cock's Pond, Harwich, Essex (1907) J.Valentines H&D ~

I am pleased to announce the addition of a new webpage dedicated to crested cards, featuring a selection of rare pieces ...
12/02/2026

I am pleased to announce the addition of a new webpage dedicated to crested cards, featuring a selection of rare pieces from 1905.

During the Victorian and Edwardian periods, crested cards and crested china were highly sought after as souvenirs in the UK. These miniature porcelain items, known as Heraldic China, Heraldic Souvenir Ware, or Crested Ware, gained widespread popularity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as collectibles.

Typically, they were produced to represent specific towns or regions, often bearing local coats of arms. Notably, W.H. Goss is the most renowned manufacturer, with Arcadian, Shelley, and Willow Art also contributing to the production of these unique items.

A comprehensive page dedicated to these trinkets and treasures will be launched later this year.

I am currently developing the Colchester, Clacton and Epping folders on my website, with a long-term goal of covering a ...
09/02/2026

I am currently developing the Colchester, Clacton and Epping folders on my website, with a long-term goal of covering a significant portion of Essex and South Suffolk, including select London towns with historical ties to Essex, such as Leyton and those that share a border with London today, like Chigwell.

Meanwhile, our Harwich, Parkeston and Dovercourt pages are undergoing daily updates, so I invite you to visit my website to explore the latest additions, including those featured below.

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Dovercourt

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+447546735000

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