An iconic part of Southend’s coastline has been recognised for the important part it played in changing the world we live in today.

The section of the Mulberry Harbour, which lies broken-backed just one and a half miles from the Thorpe Bay shoreline, has now been recognised by the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) for the vital role that the manmade harbours played in winning the Second World War.

They have featured in its list of 200 projects that shaped the world, put together in a book that commemorates the organisation’s 200th birthday.

Back in 1944, Allied victory depended upon not only the initial capture of the French beachheads, but also on the ability to maintain a constant flow of troops and materials to France.

Deepwater harbours were desperately needed, but impossible to capture because all the Channel ports were heavily fortified.

So, in a feat of innovative engineering, two prefabricated ‘Mulberry harbours’ were constructed in sections in Britain, and the 400 parts were then towed across to Normandy for assembly off the invasion beaches. Unfortunately, the section that lies broken-backed just one and a half miles from the Thorpe Bay shoreline never made it to its final destination.

On route from Immingham on the Humber, it sprang a leak and was towed round into the Thames and allowed to sink.

The recognition by the ICE comes not a moment too soon for Ian Yearsley, a local historian whose own latest book, Southend in 50 Buildings, charts the growth of the town through its manmade structures.

“Really, the history of the Mulberry Harbours ought to be more widely known,” he said. “They’re world-changing, because they altered the direction of the war in favour of the Allies. In preparation for VE day, the river Thames was full of ships and soldiers ready to go fight in Europe and the Mulberry Harbours were a key component of the plan – without them, our troops would have struggled to land safely at Normandy.”

Mr Yearsley points out that the Mulberry Harbours were in fact very basic in terms of their engineering structure. “They were essentially floating concrete boxes that people put together on the beaches, but were very effective considering their simplicity,” he said.

But not enough visitors to Southend know what the Mulberry Harbour structure is, says Peter Grubb, who runs Uncle Tom’s Cabin ice cream shop in Shoebury.

“There is a desperate need for a sign on the promenade pointing out what the Mulberry Harbour is,” said Mr Grubb. “Creating awareness of our history will draw more people to Southend, and anything that does that has to be a good thing.”

Nathan Baker, engineering knowledge director at ICE, hopes that the book 200 People and Projects will help to change people’s perceptions of engineering, and how it has directly transformed people’s lives.