Taylor Wimpey has helped to restore a small part of Shoeburyness’s military history after installing an iron signpost at the Shoeburyness Heritage and Community Centre.
The site team from the housebuilder’s Artillery Mews development in Chapel Road lent their expertise to a project to reinstate the signpost, which was recovered from a ditch in a sorry state of disrepair by members of Shoeburyness and South Essex Branch, Royal Artillery Association.
Eighty-seven year old Patrick Nixon, a National Service veteran, and member of the Royal Artillery Association, restored the post itself before the Taylor Wimpey team installed it outside the Grade II-listed Cart and Wagon Shed, which houses artefacts of military history as well as a cafe and community rooms.
Taylor Wimpey has also funded a new memorial bench that is due to be installed by the war memorial in Campfield Road, opposite Artillery Mews.
David Hadjicostas MBE, Director and Chair of Shoebury Coastal CIC which runs the heritage centre, said: “We are so grateful to Taylor Wimpey for their kindness and generosity in not only installing the rescued and restored sign with such care and professionalism, but their gift of a new bench at our local war memorial.
“This will have a long lasting benefit to our whole community in Shoeburyness, which for 150 years was a garrison town, with many former servicemen and women settling here with their families after their military service.”
Michael O’Leary, Regional Operations and Sales Director at Taylor Wimpey London, said: “It’s been clear since we started looking at this site in Shoeburyness that the area has a strong connection with its military history, and it’s important that we reflect this both through our own development and by supporting local causes such as the heritage centre.
“We’re really pleased to have helped the team install the signpost and we’re looking forward to working further with Shoebury Coastal CIC and other organisations in the area.”
For further information about the Shoeburyness Heritage and Community Centre, people can visit www.cartandwagonshed.org.
Artillery Mews, in Chapel Road, comprises a mix of two, three and four and five-bedroom properties to suit a variety of buyers. To find out more people can email [email protected], call the sales team on 01702 820551 or visit https://www.taylorwimpey.co.uk/new-homes/shoeburyness/artillery-mews.
