The 1912 Centre is the former town Fire Station situated within the heart of the historic town of Harwich and just 50m from the sandy beach and promenade. There's lots of maritime history with over 200 listed buildings within half a square mile. The centrally heated hostel has a large central dining and recreational area. The upper floor offers four cabin style sleeping areas and a lounge with views across the harbour. The two cabins on the ground floor offer disabled access. All cabins have bunk beds. Fully equipped kitchen, showers & drying room. Please bring your own sleeping bags. The Centre is compact and easily managed, groups are expected to undertake certain domestic duties during their stay, and are responsible for leaving the Centre in a clean and tidy condition. Each group has sole use of the Centre.
Open for over night stays in Harwich throughout the year as well as for day hire.
November 30th 2021
Stay in a centrally heated former town fire station, just 50m from the beach in the Harwich Conservation area. The old engine garage is now the dining area and above the fireman’s pole you can sleep in cabin style sleeping areas. The centre can also be hired for small group daytime activities without an overnight stay.
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Plan a Group Trip to the Seaside
June 6th 2019
The 1912 Centre, sleeping around 20 people, is just 50 metres from a sandy beach and promenade, with cafes, pubs, restaurants and boat launching close by.
This community run group accommodation hostel is ideally placed for the coast and Harwich amenities. Ideal for the Essex Way long distance footpath and Harwich International Port.
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Start/Finish your Essex Way Walk in Harwich
February 22nd 2019
The Essex Way is a long distance footpath stretching for 82 miles right across Essex. It officially starts in Epping & ends in Harwich, but is signposted both ways. So you can choose to head from the coast and journey inland or start in land-locked Epping & walk to the sea.
Whichever direction you decide to walk in there is a unique hostel waiting to provide low cost comfortable accommodation for you and your group in Harwich. The 1912 Centre, a former fire station, provides great value hostel accommodation for groups of up 26. Situated in the heart of Harwich’s historic area, just 50m to the sea and promenade with all the towns amenities on the doorstep and rail and bus stations nearby, you may well decide to stay for more than one night.
The Essex Way is a lovely walk, taking you through ancient woodland, open farmland, tree-lined river valleys and leafy green lanes, with plenty of picturesque and historic villages along the way. It is well signed but it is always best to have maps as a back up. You will need OS Explorer Maps: 184, 196, 195, 183, 174.
If you start in Harwich coast, the route takes you cross country to the Stour estuary with views across to Suffolk. The bustling town of Manningtree comes next, followed by a walk through Dedham vale and the Stour valley – right in the heart of Constable Country. After that you will cross open farmlands and pass thatched cottages and pretty villages, and the tranquil Colne valley, before reaching historic Coggeshall. More idyllic countryside takes you to White Notley and Pleshey, both with a rich history to tell. Then the villages become smaller, the countryside becomes quieter and as you walk the green lanes you can sense the presence of those who walked the way hundreds of years ago. A meandering wander along the banks of the River Roding takes you into Ongar which in turn becomes a woodland stroll through Epping Forest. The walk uses footpaths and bridleways in the main, with some lane walking and occasionally, some sections along the roadside. For much more information visit Essex Walks website.