Biography

The Kursaal site in Southend-on-Sea, was opened in 1894 by father and son Alfred and Bernard Wiltshire Tollhurst, as the 'Marine Park and Gardens'. Opening in 1901 as The Kursaal, one of the world's first purpose-built amusement parks.

In July 1901 the grand entrance pavilion was opened, called the Kursaal Palace, which contained a circus, a ballroom, an arcade, a dining hall and a billiard room.

Although at this point the Kursaal became the largest fairground in the South of England, the business was in financial difficulties and was sold to Luna Park and Palace of Amusements (Southend) Ltd in 1910. The park was renamed accordingly to Luna Park and opened a large list of attractions, including the Harton Scenic Railway and Figure of Eight roller coasters, a miniature railway, Astley's circus and a cinema.

In 1911 a fire destroyed two of the park's most notable attractions and by 1912 trustees had taken over the company, which was dissolved three years later.

In 1915 American industrialist Clifton Jay Morehouse became the new owner of the park and run it until WWI when the part was closed. Clifton's son continued with the business after the war. From the early 1970s The Kursaal entered a period of decline and attractions were closed gradually until final closure in 1986.

In 1998 the main Kursaal building was reopened after a multimillion-pound redevelopment by the Rowallan Group containing a bowling alley, a casino and other amusements. The bowling alley closed permanently in 2019, and the casino in 2020. A Tesco Express store remains in the building.

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