Horsey Island

Not to be confused with Horsea Island.
Island Lane leading across the Wade to Horsey Island

Horsey Island is an island in the parish of Beaumont and Thorpe, Essex.[1] It lies in Hamford Water and is part of the Hamford Water National Nature Reserve, co-managed by Natural England and the Essex Wildlife Trust.[2] Permission is required to visit.[3]

Geography

At high tide

The western section of the island contains a freshwater pool surrounded by trees. At one point boats could moor here, but this is now discouraged. There are a number of oyster beds along here and the north edge of the island. In the centre of the island are a number of farm buildings. In the 19th century, a large section of land was reclaimed, with a number of sea walls constructed. Along with extensive saltings surrounding the island, this offered partial protection against flooding.[4] At this time, Horsey Island partially connected to the neighbouring Hedge End Island; this was part of a plan to completely join the two islands together that was never completed owing to financial difficulties.[5]

The island is linked to the mainland by a 0.66-mile (1.06 km) causeway across a stretch of water known as the Wade, leading from the nearest village, Kirby-le-Soken, that can be walked with care at low tide.[6][7] It is one of 43 (unbridged) tidal islands that can be walked to from the mainland of Great Britain.[3]

Settlements

The earliest known record of Horsey Island dates from 1212, when it was known as "Horse Hey".[8] It has been intermittently inhabited, with evidence of buildings dating back to 1536 and appearing on a map in 1594 as Horsey Illande. The local geography has meant Horsey Island has been regularly susceptible to flooding, including severe floods in 1691, 1896, 1949 and the North Sea flood of 1953.[9] The 19th-century sea wall was destroyed by floods around 1897, and the surrounding land was abandoned.[4]

The Wade was repaired after the 1953 flood.[9] The farm is still in active use,[10] thus making it one of the most easterly inhabited islands in Britain, a claim sometimes attributed to the more built-up Mersea Island further west.[11] It remains privately owned.[12]

Cultural references

The island features in Arthur Ransome's children's novel Secret Water as "Swallow Island".[2] The south eastern edge of the island is rich in birdlife and this inspired Paul Gallico to film the BBC's adaptation of his book The Snow Goose here.[5]

References

Citations

  1. ↑ "Beaumont and Thorpe (Ward)". Office of National Statistics. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  2. 1 2 Jackman, Brian (5 June 2010). "Walton Backwaters: Going with the flow in Essex". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  3. 1 2 Peter Caton, No Boat Required – Exploring Tidal Islands, 2011. ISBN 978-1848767-010
  4. 1 2 Fautley & Garon 2004, p. 34.
  5. 1 2 Fautley & Garon 2004, p. 35.
  6. ↑ Fautley & Garon 2004, p. 32.
  7. ↑ "MAGIC Map Application – OS 623336,224741". DEFRA MAGIC Map. DEFRA.
  8. ↑ Fautley & Garon 2004, p. 30.
  9. 1 2 Fautley & Garon 2004, p. 33.
  10. ↑ "Island Cottage, Horsey Island". Holiday Lettings. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  11. ↑ Fautley & Garon 2004, pp. 33, 71.
  12. ↑ Long, David (2015). Bizarre England: Discover the Country's Secrets and Surprises. Michael O'Mara Books. p. 59. ISBN 978-1-782-43377-4.

Sources

  • Fautley, M.P.B.; Garon, J.H. (2004). Essex Coastline: Then and Now. Matthew Fautley. ISBN 978-0-954-80100-7. 

Coordinates: 51°52′34″N 1°14′42″E / 51.876°N 1.245°E / 51.876; 1.245

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