North Sea

There are several islands in the Rivers Crouch and Blackwater but although there are many sandbanks there are no islands in the sea.

River Crouch

Bridgemarsh Island                   

Bridgemarsh Island is about 3 miles upriver from Burnham on Crouch within the Parish of Althorne.

Good views of the island can be taken from the main South Wood Ferrers to Burnham road. This view shows that today the island is maninly marshland which is frequently overrun by high tides.

The island has a long history of cultivation by man. Records exist of a bad flood in 1736 follwoing 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 interal 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 reapirs were carried out part of the island was lost the the river for ever.

Farming was suplemented by inductry 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.

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.

Renmants of the old farmhouse and some seawalls can still be seen at low tide. The island is now a haven for wildlife and saltmarsh flowers that can flourish without the attention from man for the first time for hundreds of years.  

River Blackwater

Pewit Island           

Pewit Island is sited in the mouth of Bradwell Creek.

The island is unprotected marshland which provides protection to craft entering and leaving Bradwell Marina.

Pewit Island has never been inhabited or used for farming puposes and remians a haven for sea birds.

Ramsey Island        

Ramsey Island is about 2 miles upriver from Peewet Island.

Thanks to the sea defence works Ramsey Island is no longer a real island having been reclaimed to the extent that it merges with nearby St Lawrence Village. It is only at times of flood that it returns to its island status.

The area is punctuated with dykes and other evidence of the reclaimations that has been ongoing since the 10th century.

Ramsey Island is rich in history having been frequented by the Romans who used the area for salt production as evidences by the presence of a 'red hill' which is an indciator of the production.

Northey Island

Osea Island

Both of the islands are sited in the Blackwater and both have interesting histories. Both islands are reached by causeways from Maldon and thus details are not included on this site.