Prittlewell; a History

Named in the Domesday book as Pritte Wella, the original town was a group of simple huts near the present Priory Park. Evidence of Iron age, Roman settlements, and a pagan burial ground have been found in the area. The Priory dates back to the 12th century. The monks were responsible for the upkeep and the welfare of the villagers, until Henry VIII dissolved the monasteries. In 1917 the park and priory buildings were donated to the town by R. A. Jones. Prittlewell was important when Southend was just a cluster of huts belonging to local fishermen, but gradually has been taken over by Southend. There have been considerable changes but some of its ancient buildings have been saved. This book tries to follow some of the many changes which have taken place over the years and remind us of its history, from the beginning of the Priory, through the war years, the sixties, until the present time.