Prince's Time Trail of Prittlewell

Roots Hall Stadium At the end of the 19th century undeveloped farmland behind Roots Hall in West Street sloped uninterrupted down to Prittle Brook. Part of this land was leased in 1906 to the newly-formed Southend United football club for its ground.

During World War I the site began to be excavated for sand extraction and the football club moved to new grounds, first at the Kursaal then to a stadium in Sutton Road. When sand extraction was completed, the club returned to Roots Hall in 1955 but to a pitch that was now up to 15 metres lower, and to new stands and terracing.