AN HISTORIC terrace of homes blighted by crime for decades could be renovated to reflect its heritage.

Orwell Terrace in Dovercourt was built by John Bagshaw in the late 1850s as part of his grand plan to create a magnificent new town.

The former East India merchant began by building a mansion in 1854 in what is now Cliff Park. He became MP and was instrumental in bringing the railway to Harwich.

After discovering a natural spring in the grounds of cliff park, Bagshaw built a spa.

At Orwell Terrace the slopes to Mill Lane were landscaped with a grotto, shelters and a miniature waterfall. But he went bankrupt in 1859 and died in 1861, leaving the under Cliff Walk, Orwell Terrace, the Cliff Hotel, and the Queen’s Head Hotel as the only legacy of his plans.

Tony Francis, who has spearheaded the town’s PCT Community Hub, is hoping to encourage the renovation of Orwell Terrace, which is the only surviving part of Bagshaw’s vision.

He said: “He wanted to develop the whole of the seafront. There was a picture in the Cliff Hotel when I was a teenager, which I came across recently in the men’s toilet at the Rainbow Cafe.

“It shows his whole vision and Orwell Terrace is about 10 per cent of what he envisioned. If that had have happened we would have been like Brighton or Bournemouth.”

A meeting with a tenant of Orwell Terrace has prompted Tony to try to push for action. He added: “The tenant came to the hub about the rubbish around the back of Orwell Terrace and the fires that have taken place there.

“Orwell Terrace has had a reputation for years for criminality and drug dealing.

“In other towns places like this have been renovated and that’s what I’m pushing for.”

Tony has spoken to landlords of the homes and Tendring Council.

His initial plan is for the seafront end of the site, where a former convent school once stood, to be cleared and have a huge projection of the Mayflower ship on the wall, visible from the passing cruise ships.

He then hopes others will get on board to improve some of the remaining building, which includes multiple occupation housing.

The owner of the end piece of land has given permission for a projection.