Historic Essex town described as best place to live

Here are five interesting facts about the heritage of this underrated Essex maritime town described by residents as 'best place to live.'

• Dovercourt was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as a Saxon manor before passing into the hands of the powerful de Vere family. The original settlement grew around All Saints Church in what is now Upper Dovercourt
  
• The arrival of the railway in the 19th century transformed the area. Developers promoted Lower Dovercourt as a fashionable sea-bathing resort, attracting visitors with promises of clean air, wide beaches and easy travel from London.
  
• The town's twin cast-iron lighthouses were built in the 1860s as leading lights to guide vessels into Harwich Harbour. Though decommissioned in the early 20th century, they were later restored and are now Grade II listed landmarks.
  
• One of Dovercourt's most significant historical roles came in 1938 and 1939, when Dovercourt Bay Holiday Camp became a temporary refuge for hundreds of mainly Jewish children arriving in Britain on the Kindertransport. For many escaping Nazi persecution, Dovercourt was their first place of safety.
  
• After the Second World War, the holiday camp returned to its original purpose and later gained national recognition when it was used as a filming location for the BBC sitcom "Hi-de-Hi!" during the 1980s. Although the camp has since been redeveloped for housing, it remains an important part of local memory.

Today, Dovercourt continues to balance its rich maritime heritage, seaside identity and strong community spirit while looking towards its next chapter.