KEN Porter, the speaker at the March meeting, gave a brief history of the Langdon area, which includes the country park and nature reserve and also encompasses Dunton Plotlands.
Langdon means “Long Hill” and the panoramic view from the top extends along the Thames and to London in the west.
At the turn of the century people came from the slums of the East End and built sheds or used railway carriages for accommodation on the plots where they stayed for fresh air and a country weekend break.
The plots developed slowly with unmade-up roads, no water or electricity.
The Great War of 1914-18 and the flu epidemic saw many people moving out from London to live permanently on the Plotlands.
In the 1920s the A127 opened up bringing more inhabitants and Plotlands continued to expand with the onset of the Second World War.
The next meeting, the AGM, is at the Adult Community College, Richmond Road, Grays, on Friday, April 19, at the earlier time of 7.30pm.
This will be followed by a talk on A Heraldic Jigsaw by Christopher Harrold. Visitors are welcome.
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