Canvey Island isn't the most exciting island in the world but it was the first one I ever visited in the early 1970s and I have been there many times since then. It is located to the south of the town of Benfleet, which is located on the north bank of the Thames Estuary in Essex. It is linked to the mainland by 2 bridges - one next to Benfleet Railway Station and the other at the western end of the island which joins the A13 at Sadler's Farm Roundabout/Flyover.
Canvey has been inhabited since Roman times but it was extensively drained by Dutch engineers in the 17th Century. Much of the island is at or below sea level and it was extensively flooded in the North Sea Surge of 1953 and 59 people were drowned. These days it is surrounded by a high sea wall. It is mainly covered with modern houses and shops but there is also an oil storage depot on the island. Most of the houses these days have 2 storeys, which will be useful when the island floods again. In 1953 many of the houses were bungalows, which is why so many people drowned.
Canvey has been inhabited since Roman times but it was extensively drained by Dutch engineers in the 17th Century. Much of the island is at or below sea level and it was extensively flooded in the North Sea Surge of 1953 and 59 people were drowned. These days it is surrounded by a high sea wall. It is mainly covered with modern houses and shops but there is also an oil storage depot on the island. Most of the houses these days have 2 storeys, which will be useful when the island floods again. In 1953 many of the houses were bungalows, which is why so many people drowned.
There are a few interesting historical buildings on the island:
Dutch Cottage
This is open as a museum
Dutch Cottage
This one is not open to the public
Heritage Centre - formerly St Katherine's Church
Lobster Smack pub
The other side of the large sea wall is a view of Coryton Oil Refinery just across the creek
King Canute Pub
This was previously known as the Red Cow. It is on slightly higher ground and was used as rescue HQ during the 1953 floods. It was renamed after this. The pub closed down in 2014.
Sea Wall
Canvey is now surrounded by a very large concrete sea wall to prevent flooding. In 2014 a large mural with 10 panels was painted on a section of the sea wall at Concord Beach to commemorate the 1953 floods. Since then many more murals have been added to the wall.
The Bay Museum is based in an old degaussing station at Thorney Bay on the south coast of Canvey Island. The degaussing station was built during the Cold War. It has a First World War museum and a research facility on the first floor and a Second World War museum on the ground floor. It is open on Sundays and bank holidays.
The rhythm and blues band Dr Feelgood come from Canvey.
The Labworth Cafe is a pioneering building of the Modern Movement, and is the only building solely designed by the structural engineer Ove Arup. It was built in 1932-3 and is made of reinforced concrete. It fell into disrepair but was renovated in the 1990s and is still a restaurant.
Labworth Cafe, Canvey Island
Not all the insects on Canvey are this big!
Dutch Cottage
Labworth Cafe on a foggy day
No comments:
Post a Comment