Thorpe Bay
Thorpe Bay is an affluent area within the Borough of Southend-on-Sea in Essex, England, located on the Thames Estuary.
Thorpe Bay is situated within the Thorpe ward of Southend-on-Sea. It is around 4 miles to the east of Southend. Originally the area was called Thorpe, but it was renamed Thorpe Bay, after the railway station. The station had been given the name to indicate that it was a seaside settlement. The majority of Thorpe Bay consists of residential properties, mainly built in the 1920, arranged in a grid pattern.
Location
Thorpe Bay can be defined as the area between Thorpe Hall Avenue to the west (beyond which is Southchurch), Thorpe Bay beach to the south, accessed by Thorpe Esplanade, Maplin Way to the east, (beyond which is Shoeburyness), and Acacia Drive and Station Road to the north (beyond which is Bournes Green), although many consider this northern boundary of Thorpe Bay to extend up to Bournes Green Chase. The Post Office does not recognise Thorpe Bay as a postal area.
Shopping
The main shopping area, named 'The Broadway', after the road on which it lies, is a parade of retail shops and restaurants, as well as medical and professional practices. This includes a Post Office, two supermarkets and three banks.
Transport
Thorpe Bay railway station is the penultimate station on the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway line served by c2c from London Fenchurch Street (the last being Shoeburyness railway station). Consequently, a large number of London commuters choose to live in Thorpe Bay. Thorpe Bay enjoys good access by bus, provided by the Arriva transport company including the number 1, 4(a), 7, 8 and 9. In 1914, Southend-on-Sea Corporation Tramways' network was extended from Bournes Green to Thorpe Bay. The Tramway closed in 1942 after being superseded by the motorbus. It is said that trams did not stop in Thorpe Bay, in order to prevent less affluent members of the public walking through this notably middle-class area.
Leisure
Thorpe Bay has one of Southend-on-Sea's main golf courses, the Thorpe Hall Golf Club. Thorpe Bay Bowling Club and Lawn Tennis Club are located in close proximity to each other on the north side of Thorpe Esplanade (the main road along the seafront). As well as these clubs, Thorpe Bay Yacht Club is also situated along the seafront, to the eastern end of Thorpe Bay. These clubs are private organisations open for annual membership. Thorpe Bay does not have a cinema, a theatre or any other major cultural amenities, but leisure organisations, in addition to those already mentioned, include Thorpe Bay Bridge Club, The Rotary Club of Thorpe Bay and a well-equipped fitness gym.
Politics
James Duddridge MP, representing the Conservative Party, has been Thorpe Bay's member of parliament since 2005. Thorpe Bay is part of the Thorpe Ward of Southend-on-Sea. The ward currently has three independent councillors. These are, Cllr Ron Woodley, Cllr Mike Stafford and Cllr Martin Terry.
Schools
Thorpe Bay only has a small number of schools, including, Bournes Green Infants and Junior School, which lies just above the Station Road northern boundary. As well as this, Thorpe Hall School, a non-selective, coeducational, independent day school.
Religion
There has been a church in Thorpe Bay since 1913. The three churches in Thorpe Bay include St. Augustine's Parish Church (Anglican) on St. Augustine's Avenue; Thorpe Bay Methodist Church on The Broadway, whose architectural predecessor was erected in 1921; and St. Gregory's Roman Catholic Chapel of Ease, opened in 1928, which sits opposite the Methodist church on The Broadway.
Notable residents
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- James Duddridge, MP for Rochford and Southend East, lives in, and is MP for Thorpe Bay.
- Rachel Riley, co-presenter on the Channel 4 gameshow Countdown, also lives in the area.
- Jim Peters, marathon runner, was a resident of Thorpe Bay until his death on 9 January 1999, aged 80.
- Mark Foster (swimmer), lived in Thorpe Bay and was educated at Alleyn Court School.
- Russell Piper, Operational Risk guru, antique belt wearer and part time Simpsons impersonator.
Coordinates: 51°31′58″N 0°45′33″E / 51.53267°N 0.75909°E