Despite its famous moniker, Southend’s fairytale-esque attraction, ‘Never Never Land’ didn’t begin life with such an enchanting name.

Originally known as the “the shrubbery”, its affectionate nickname originated in 1935 when a number of weird and wonderful illuminations were installed for the summer season.

That summer was the first time Southend Council had decided to really go to town with the illuminations along the seafront.

It led to a 40ft long “floating gondola of light” fitted with more than 600 lamplights being moored off the seafront while giant illuminated flowers, gnomes, goblins and prehistoric-looking animals were added to the Shrubbery – the land opposite Royal Terrace.

The vibrant decorations were such a success they were said to rival those of Blackpool.

Special evening coach trips were laid on from Liverpool Street in London to cater for extra swarms of day-trippers. On one weekend in August alone so many people who had come to see the lights were left queuing at Southend Railway Station that a riot broke out.

As travellers in 20 strong deep lines rushed the barriers, all hell broke loose, resulting in a number of women fainting.

In the Southend newspapers the shrubbery creatures were described as “the strangest monsters that the earth has ever brought forth in a dry summer.”

“They have given the area such an air of un-reality that its has been re-christened Never Never Land.”

Among the creatures was a three foot long bright green duck installed below the ‘waterfall’ in the shrubbery which was so striking it actually scared away birds from the water pool.

Other illuminations included a ‘Red Riding Hood’ tableau below the bandstand and ‘the Pulpit’– a flood lighting effect on the Cliffs.

Another big hit was the ‘pillar of light’ illumination on Western Esplanade. Made up of a tower of cones of diminishing sizes, the spectacle was fitted with 400 lamps with colour schemes changing every few seconds. Altogether in the summer of 1935 a total of 35,000 lamps were used for additional illuminations brought in to light up Southend - boasting a power load of 1,000 kilowatts.

Politician and journalist Sir Harry Brittain was invited to the town as the VIP guest to officially switch on the new lights just in time to kick off carnival week.

As well as the Shrubbery and the esplanade, The Pier Pavilion, Pier Head and Kursaal were all adorned with new illuminations. One of the most striking was an illuminated ‘lighthouse’ on Western Esplanade as well as a 50ft giant beacon in the shape of a cross which was designed to be a landmark for all ships sailing up the Thames Estuary.

Of course the heydays of Never Never Land have long since gone and even the scaled back illuminations along the seafront have diminished in recent years due to cost.