Althorne Buildings - The Dengie Peninsula Website

VILLAGE INDEX	St Andrews Church The Church dates from the 14th century . to visit a page with details of the church and it's Rectors Black Lion Public House Built in 1770 on the site of an unlicensed ale house run by Henry Pudney although extended during the 19th and 20th century. Partly timber framed with Essex Weather board and partly painted brick.


















	Wardens Farmhouse 17th Century timber framed house with 19th century extensions. Mansion House 16th Century house altered in the 19th century. Timber framed with a facade of gault brick. Original 16th century building still exists as the rear right wing. War Memorial Althorne has a war memorial at Station Road, Althorne to visit a page with the names of those on Althorne war memorial Bridgemarsh Island About 1/2 miles past Althorne Railway Station is the remains of Bridgemarsh Island which was farmed until it was flooded in 1928 killing all the livestock and forcing the farmer, Stan Clarke, to move onto the mainland .Since then the sea has further eroded the island which has caused considerable silting in the River Crouch. The island has a long history of cultivation by man. Records exist of a bad flood in 1736 following which it was drained, piled and enclosed by a sea wall .Following the protection the island was used for cattle and sheep with additional uses from hunting the abundant wild duck and catching eels which proliferated in the internal dykes. A causeway was constructed from Stamford Farm which allowed access to the island at low tide. The causeway was never entirely dry although it was easily fordable. During a bad flood in 1897 the sea wall was breached and some livestock was drowned. Although some repairs were carried out part of the island was lost to the river for ever. Farming was supplemented by industry with the island used for clay extraction and then the development of a brick and tile works fed by a tramway linking the works to the quay on the Riverside which was serviced by Thames Barges. Frederick Bradbrook and James Bates worked the site in 1870 and then The Bridgemarsh Brickfields Co. Limited worked the site from 1878 to 1882. Problems with the location and the need to use a wash pan to separate the clay from stones proved that this location was not viable and in 1892 the brickworks were abandoned. Despite the warning no serious effort was made to maintain the seawalls which suffered further damage by floods in 1928. The great floods of 1953 provided the final nail for Bridgemarsh Island. The whole of the east coast suffered serious flooding. The clay base at Bridgemarsh was used by servicemen to fill sandbags that were used to protect other areas of the coastline. Ironically Bridgemarsh itself was not protected from the flood and surrendered to the sea. Remnants of the old farmhouse and some seawalls can still be seen at low tide. The island is now a haven for wildlife and salt marsh flowers that can flourish without the attention from man for the first time for hundreds of years. Good views of the island can be had from the main Burnham to South Woodham road.