WHEN Westcliff’s Oyster Creek Kitchen was the ‘horseshoe’ shelter and you can see the original house before Argyll House was built.

These images of Western Esplanade in the 1930s and now are sourced by Jon Wennington, member of the Ros Southend Past in Photos. Old Southend and memories Facebook group.

Echo: Western Esplanade in 1930-36 - photo sourced by Jon WenningtonWestern Esplanade in 1930-36 - photo sourced by Jon Wennington (Image: Jon Wennington)

According to historian Warwick Conway, the roof of the original Argyle House is visible in the past photo before Argyll House was built in 1936.

Alderman James Colbert Ingram built the house and was living in it around 1901.

Echo: Western Esplanade today - photo by Jon WenningtonWestern Esplanade today - photo by Jon Wennington (Image: Jon Wennington)

The grounds went down to the beach until Western Esplanade was built in 1903-1905. The family used an area at the top as a private garden space, the lower part has remained a greenspace to this day