Estuary Essex

This is about an Essex town that sits at the wide open mouth of the River Thames before it flows into the North Sea.

Leigh-on-Sea is just half-an-hour on the train from London, taking you from the urban might of the City through the desolate yet beautiful countryside lining the river’s estuary.

The older part of Leigh sits astride the waterfront, and is full of charm and wonder. When the tide is out, boats sit helplessly on the silt and there is a hint of heavy industry across the river in Kent, while on this side the cockle sheds prevail.

It’s easy to be absorbed into this landscape as the sun comes and goes, heralding different textures and colours. Lunch was a hearty plate of rock eel and chips, evoking warm childhood memories of my home county by the water.

Click first image to launch the gallery

Sailing club

Tags: boats, cockle sheds, desolate beauty, Essex, Essex Estuary, landscape, Leigh-on-Sea, mud, photography, River Thames, seaweed, tides, travel

13 thoughts on “Estuary Essex”

bananabatman on December 7, 2014 at 14:47 said:

This is another great series of images Mike. It is a location that I do not know at all.

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- mikeosbornphoto on December 7, 2014 at 15:19 said:
  
  Thanks Dave. I didn’t know it well either. It’s well worth a little visit.
  
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LensScaper on November 11, 2014 at 18:08 said:

This is a totally unexplored area of the country for me – my education is sadly lacking. Tremendous potential photographically as evidenced by this great gallery of images, Mike. Well done.

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- mikeosbornphoto on November 15, 2014 at 11:44 said:
  
  Thank you very much, Andy, I appreciate that. If you’re lucky with the light, there is a great deal of texture and mood there to play with.
  
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taphian on November 9, 2014 at 15:21 said:

Fantastic gallery.

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- mikeosbornphoto on November 9, 2014 at 16:41 said:
  
  Thank you so much, I really appreciate that :)
  
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ckponderings on November 9, 2014 at 13:57 said:

A thousand miles from Cabo Verde, but still some great sea shots! :D

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- mikeosbornphoto on November 9, 2014 at 16:43 said:
  
  Yes, quite different, thanks Richard. Although Old Father Thames would argue he takes the credit for this little lot!
  
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  - ckponderings on November 9, 2014 at 17:52 said:
    
    Haha… Old Father Thames was always an attention seeker! :)
    
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harrienijland on November 9, 2014 at 12:20 said:

Fine set!

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- mikeosbornphoto on November 9, 2014 at 12:21 said:
  
  Thanks Harrie. And maybe some similarities to your own country?…
  
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  - harrienijland on November 9, 2014 at 12:38 said:
    
    :) Certainly with the Waddenzee in the North, from where my last-few-days-posts are taken.
    
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    - mikeosbornphoto on November 9, 2014 at 12:40 said:
      
      I must take a look.
      
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