Meet the Godfather of Canvey

6:11am Wednesday 16th July 2008

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ORIGINAL photographs have emerged of the man widely known as the father of modern Canvey.

Frederick Hester bought 500 plots of land on the island at the turn of the 20th century, which he aimed to sell to Londoners looking to set up a second home by the sea.

He had a vision of turning Canvey into a thriving tourist resort and built the Winter Gardens glass houses as an attraction, which were almost a mile in length. Sadly, they are no longer standing.

He also opened the island's first transport system - a monorail carriage pulled by a horse in 1901.

It ran along the Canvey seawall and headed towards the Leigh Beck area.

Local historian Robert Hallman, 73, from Benfleet, has tracked down a photograph of the monorail in action, which has never before been published.

He also has a portrait of the grey-bearded entrepreneur, which was passed to him by Mr Hester's granddaughter, Carol Mayers.

Mr Hallman said: "These are fascinating photos of a man who really played a huge part in the development of Canvey as we know it today, and his innovative transport system.

"Local councillor Ray Howard is often called Mr Canvey, well Mr Hester would have been the Mr Canvey of his day."

It is thought the Canvey transport system was Britain's, and possibly the world's, first working monorail.

Mr Hester also intended to build Canvey's first link to the mainland, a bridge to carry a planned tram system over Canvey Creek. His intention was to eventually set up an electrified tram system, which could have travelled to and from the island over the bridge.

Rails and creosoted railway sleepers were delivered, even a car shed and generating station had been set up.

Four prestigious new tramcars arrived by train to Benfleet station, but only one of them actually made it to the island.

Mr Hallman also has a photograph of one of the bungalows Mr Hester may have built, which is no longer standing but would have been near Station Road, with the family who lived there standing outside.

The plot of land the bungalow was built on would certainly have been sold by Mr Hester.

Sadly, Mr Hester's dreams were never fully realised, as he went bankrupt in 1904.

The monorail closed around five years later.

However, he started the change in Canvey, from a small rural community to a thriving tourist resort and a residential and industrial centre. Fewer than 300 people lived on Canvey before the late 19th century, but there are more than 37,000 residents on the island today.

Canvey Town Council is planning to spend £1,000 on a plaque in Mr Hester's honour, which is likely to be hung at the Winter Gardens Post Office, on the corner of Central Avenue and Station Approach.

Ray Howard, who is a town, Castle Point and county councillor for Canvey, said: "Mr Hester was certainly an innovative and forward-thinking man. He played a major role in creating the Canvey we know and love today."