The Boating Lake

The Boating Lake & Sportsfield

The boating lake and sportsfield were located on the outskirts of the camp in the south east corner...

A Part of the Boating Lake and Sports Field

In this very early 1960s photo of the camp, their is no evidence of the miniature railway, which may simply be out of frame on the right.
In the foreground is the 'model yacht pond'.
To the far left, but outside of the camp boundary, can be seen one of the two Martello Towers, which were within sight of Butlin's.

Part of the Boating Lake and Sports Field

Another photo of the boating lake and playing fields, possibly late 1950s. Again, there is no sign of the miniature railway, neither of the two-storey building which later dominated this corner of the site.

On a windy corner, close to the boating lake and dining halls, a ride on the miniature railway was comparatively exhilarating..

C25 Butlin's Clacton. The Boating Lake

Here's a 1960s view of the boating lake with the miniature railway running in an anti-clockwise direction (marked by the red arrow). Kent & Gloucester dining halls can be seen in the background.
The rear elevation of the dining halls shows the lettering 'Luxury Holiday Camp' and the coloured canopies shade those queuing to enter.

In this later (1970s era) photo, the boats have changed into canoes. The red soldiers have vanished from the Dining Hall building and there is a new fire escape staircase . The miniature railway is now running in a clockwise circuit. The canopy of the new station is just visible.

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