Canvey Island: A Family Seaside Resort in England

Canvey Island is one of Essex's family seaside resorts in the United Kingdom. It is 30 miles from London and 15 miles from Southend-on-Sea. It is a small island, where families visit in Summer. More and more families are moving to Canvey Island from London and setting up their home lives there. Driving to Canvey Island is very easy, as it is accessible from the A13 dual carriage way. This road takes you to the end of the A13, which takes you to Canvey Island.

I remember, when I was a child, my family used to take my brothers and I to Canvey for a day out. We lived in London in those days and loved going to a seaside resort together. The whole family, including my grandparents and cousins, used to travel with us down to this small unique resort. The tide was always in too, so swimming there was fun.

Canvey Island is a great place to take the children. There are rides and amusements there too and recently my parents have moved there, so I now visit Canvey Island regularly and take walks up to the sea view wall.

The History of Canvey Island

Originally, Canvey Island was made up of five islands. In the 20th century Canvey Island became a seaside resort. From 1911 to 1951 it was a popular family seaside resort. In 1953, the North Sea Flood ruined the island and killed 58 people and evacuated 13,000 residents temporarily. It devastated the island.

Canvey Island was created by the currents of the Thames estuary. The Dutch came to the island in the 17^th century and left two cottages as a legacy that are still standing today. A man named Julius Sludder is thought to have been responsible for building the Dutch Cottage, which is now the Dutch Cottage Museum. It is one of the original cottages and houses a display on local history.

The oldest pub on the island is the Lobster Smack Inn by the sea wall which claims a license dating from the time of Elizabeth I. Also, the Monico pub, by the sea wall, was once a hotel with a casino when Canvey was a popular holiday destination. Now there isn't a hotel on Canvey Island.

What to See and Do in Canvey Island

If museums interest you then there is the Castlepoint Transport Museum, which has some interesting vehicles on display. It is a 1935 museum housing a collection of buses, coaches and vehicles. The building also has some history to it.

There is also the Dutch Cottage Museum, which was built in 1618. It was occupied into the 20^th century until it was made into a museum in 1962. This museum is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

Canvey Island is known for water sports, such as, the Yachting. There is a Yacht club in Canvey Island, where anyone can become a member.

To learn more on Canvey Island you can go to the Canvey Island website. At this website you will find an archive of Canvey Island's history, wildlife and photographs.