The walled island

Canvey Island lies in the Thames estuary in my native county of Essex. Its history was scarred by a devastating flood in 1953 which claimed 58 lives and led to the construction of miles of protective high sea walls.

I returned recently having visited relatives there as a child, but this was my first taste of Canvey’s walls and waterfront on a warm, humid summer’s day. It was full of daytripping families, some local voices peppered with Eastern European migrants. The painted walls tell the story of 1953 against the backdrop of amusements and cafes selling ice-cream and burgers.

The estuary landscape is stark but beautiful, with the crowds of people adding colour and life to photographs. It’s a place of both symmetry and the unpredictability of life.

Click first image to view the gallery

Tags: 1953 floods, Canvey Island, daytrippers, Essex, Estuary Essex, Great Britain, nature, people, photography, sea walls, seaside, Thames Estuary, travel

11 thoughts on “The walled island”

ckponderings on July 31, 2016 at 11:27 said:

“Behind the Sea Wall” and “Lighthouse Bench” are beautiful shots. The words Canvey and Island don’t generate the most beautiful of mental images, but you’ve certainly brought the place to life! :)

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- mikeosbornphoto on July 31, 2016 at 12:38 said:
  
  Thanks so much, Richard. Well it’s also a very densely settled area but turns out to have its own beauty too. To be honest during my Essex childhood we always went right past Canvey.
  
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Cos on July 31, 2016 at 11:15 said:

A beautiful destination for a sunny Sunday. I love the colours of summer in your photos, Mike.

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- mikeosbornphoto on July 31, 2016 at 11:17 said:
  
  Thanks Koos, it was a very warm day and a lot of visitors had arrived. It had a certain simplicity to it. And of course being Dutch you will know about 1953… an awful year for the floods.
  
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  - Cos on July 31, 2016 at 11:57 said:
    
    Yes, it was an awful year. Thousands of people drowned in Zeeland.
    
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    - mikeosbornphoto on July 31, 2016 at 12:37 said:
      
      Yes indeed. A North Sea swell of epic proportions. Plenty of sea walls and dykes on the Dutch coast and beyond.
      
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      - Cos on July 31, 2016 at 13:38 said:
        
        The ‘water works’ (Oosterscheldekering) which were build afterwards are world famous. How something awful can turn into something beautiful.
        
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        mikeosbornphoto on July 31, 2016 at 13:40 said:
        
        Well it need innovation – it was either that or abandon swathes of the coast. The whole story of Canvey in 1953 is told in murals on the wall.
        
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        Cos on July 31, 2016 at 17:18 said:
        
        The history of the tragedy of Zeeland is tol in the Oosterscheldekering. Impressive as well.
        
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Kiki on July 31, 2016 at 10:59 said:

Love the colours, and your selection makes me want to take a walk on this island. My detail favourite is the lighthouse bench.

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- mikeosbornphoto on July 31, 2016 at 11:04 said:
  
  Thank you very much, Kiki, I’m glad you enjoyed it. The ironic thing is that for an island that flooded with devastating consequences, the interior is very densely settled with many houses. But it has the wall…
  
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