Hotel Monico, Canvey Island

The Hotel Monico was opened in 1938 as a luxury hotel for British holiday-makers.

Local businessman, Mr. A H Beaumont had it built next to his amusement park, The Casino. The Casino has now been demolished but the Monico still remains.

The hotel is located on a major street corner near the seafront to the Thames Estuary. The main structure is semi-circular with small towers at each end.

www.canveyisland.org.uk has many clippings and photo relating to both the Monico and the Casino courtesy of the Swann Family who worked at both establishments.

Labworth Cafe, Canvey Island

The Labworth Cafe on Canvey Island is a wonderful modernist concrete building overlooking the Thames.

With a large round central section, 2 storeys tall, and symmetrical wings supporting rooftop terraces surrounded by simple metal railings, it resembles the bridge of a ship.

The building was designed by engineer Ove Arup in 1932, one of his few architectural projects.

Arup, the son of Danish parents, was born in Newcastle upon Tyne. He studied and worked in England and Denmark before settling to London. In 1934 he was structural consultant to Tecton for Berthold Lubetkin’s Penguin Pool at London Zoo.

In 1946 he formed Arup & Partners and later worked as design engineer for the Sydney Opera House from 1957-1973.

Although he died in 1988, the company he founded is still active in international construction projects including the main stadium for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.