Grand Design?
With a head full of ideas, Frank Stedman began the process of bringing his dreams to reality. His reputation as a very determined and sometimes crafty businessman, it sometimes being said that his left hand never knew what his right was doing.
He involved his entire family in the 'Jaywick Decision'. His oldest son Jack was installed as resident estate manager assisted by his brothers Reginald and David in an office on the promenade at Clacton, all local enquiries being dealt with at 'Dots'.
In a very short time as the old wooden farm machinery was replaced by bulldozers, tractors and excavators the landscape changed rapidly.
All of the contractors were local, one Canlan & Sons Ltd. built a new concrete road, an extension of Marine Parade West, laying some 3,000 feet of concrete in just seven weeks, well in front of the building sechedule.
Around the same time an artificial lake was under construction at Lion Point.
First Houses to be built by Stedman on Golf Green Road in 1929
At the same time Stedman was having serious problems with Clacton Councillors. Whilst making him welcome, they rejected his disposal works for main drainage because of the threat of flooding and the areas low-lying position.
He argued that as the land was 16 feet above low water mark, it must drain off again, and that even if there were floods, the drainage would be there forever.
The Council though believed the land not suitable for permanant housing, prefering the area now known as the Tudor Estate as more suited for such construction.
With the creation of the Great Clacton Urban Council and Tendring Rural District Council, the Great prefix was soon dropped, there were 12 councillors and three wards. Today there are 60 councillors and thirty-five wards. From 1899 to 1949 the council were responsible for the provision of electricity, gas and water, as the Public Health Authority it was most importantly responsible for the provision of sewers.
Stedman kept his problems with the council very quiet, and on 18th May 1929 he advertised his plans for the estate in a front page advertisement in the local newspaper.
Exhibition stand at Gidea Park 1933
Model Chalets at Olympia 1936
Plots with an equal amount of land for a car or garden could be purchased for £25
Better sites for £100 and £200
A house or chalet could be built for £395 to £850
To the west of Lion Point was thought better for the building of bathing Houses that could be built for £25 or hired. This is the area that became Brooklands and Grasslands, then known as New Town.
An artificial lake a mile by half a mile was under construction, intended to provide motor boat racing and other attractions.
