A Brief History of Southend Carnival and the Carnival

Archive Project

By Lowell Weir – BA (HONS) & PGCEAnd

Samantha Carter – BA (HONS) & MA

In 2006 UKCCA contacted carnivals up and down the country to see if there was a need for a national carnival archive

In March 2011 UKCCA received a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund to develop a regional digital carnival archive

The project will research and develop learning resources from the archive materials e.g. newspaper articles, photographs, carnival programmes, etc.

We will also record people’s carnival experiences and they will be placed on the archive for future generations to enjoy

UK Centre for Carnival Arts

What have I’ve learned about Carnivals so far?

In Brazil they have carnival leagues and teams get promoted and relegated

A carnival troop can be paid over two million pounds by the Brazilian government to make their carnival floats

One Brazilian carnival troop is the size of the whole of Notting hill Carnival

How much money do you think Notting Hill Carnival brings into local community over the bank holiday weekend?

Southend Carnival began in 1905 as a method of raising money for the local hospital.

Why would locals need to raise money for the hospital?

Hint : In 1905, there was no….?

The beginning of Southend Carnival

Southend Carnival used to take place over seven days.

Carnival reached its peak in popularity in 1938, holding 17 different events. it was known as the most famous and largest carnival in England.

Brief History of Southend Carnival

The procession would take 3 hours to pass along the 6.4 mile long route

It attracted an audience of 100,000 people

Heinz was one of the main sponsors

The population fell from 135,000 to 50,500

1939 was the last carnival in Southend until 1946

Carnival during the Second World War

At the end of August 1939 Southend was celebrating carnival week. The next week war was declared.

Visitors were banned from entering Southend, locals were evacuated and the military were moved in.

A: 2000 people

B: 10,000 people

C: 100,000 people

Brief History of Southend CarnivalQuiz

At it’s height, of popularity, in 1938 how many people do you think attended Southend Carnival?

Answer

C: 100,000 people

Brief History of Southend CarnivalQuiz

In 2011 what was the total weight of the 1p and 2p coins collected on the procession route?

8 tons

Images and people who attended Southend Carnival in the past

Laurel and Hardy

The Flyer

Wall of Death

http://www.britishpathe.com/video/southend-carnival-3/query/fancy

Video clip of Southend carnival - 1937