We've gone back through our archives to unearth of pictures which haven't been seen for some time. 

It would appear they were found by volunteers from the Rayleigh Town Museum who were gifted tens of thousands of old photos that once appeared in the Echo or in the much earlier Southend Country Pictorial.

Echo: Pier - there’s no mistaking this landmark. But when was the photo taken?

Pier - there’s no mistaking this landmark. But when was the photo taken?

Echo: Chain gang - who are these men in robes?

Chain gang - who are these men in robes?

Echo: Rayleigh Museum has old newspaper pictures from the Echo and other papers as well as pic from the 1930's..

Picture house?

Echo: Bird’s eye view - this photo looks like it’s from the 1960s but where is the location?

Do you know where this was taken?

Echo: Rayleigh Museum has old newspaper pictures from the Echo and other papers as well as pic from the 1930's..

The museum have already given hundreds of photos to local history and heritage groups so they can be enjoyed for posterity.

Echo: Rayleigh Museum has old newspaper pictures from the Echo and other papers as well as pic from the 1930's..

Some of the newly unearthed photos in today’s gallery are clearly from the 1920s/30s, such as the photo of the old Mascot Cinema in Westcliff and Southend Pier.

Echo: Rayleigh Museum has old newspaper pictures from the Echo and other papers as well as pic from the 1930's..

But we are stumped about the location of most of the others. We know most of the images were taken in the Southend. Some could be from the 1950s and 1960s.

Echo: Rayleigh Museum has old newspaper pictures from the Echo and other papers as well as pic from the 1930's..

Do you recognise any of the locations? 

Echo: Bird’s eye view - this photo looks like it’s from the 1960s but where is the location?

Bird’s eye view - this photo looks like it’s from the 1960s but where is the location?