Bridgemarsh Island facts for kids
Bridgemarsh Island is a special island found in the River Crouch in Essex, England. It's about three miles upstream from the town of Burnham-on-Crouch. The main part of the river flows south of the island, between it and a place called Canewdon. To the north, smaller water channels called Bridgemarsh and Althorne Creeks separate the island from the mainland.
Island History
Bridgemarsh Island wasn't always an island as we know it today. After a big flood in 1736, people built a strong sea wall around it. This wall helped protect the land from the river's tides. They also built a raised path, called a causeway, which allowed people to reach the island when the tide was low.
Life and Industry
For a long time, people lived and worked on Bridgemarsh Island. They mostly focused on farming. But the island also had some industry because it was a good source of clay. This clay was used to make bricks, and a brickworks was built on the island. You can still see the chimney from this old brickworks today!
To help move the bricks, a small railway, called a tramway, connected the brickworks to a quay (a kind of dock). From there, large boats called Thames barges would pick up the bricks.
The Great Flood of 1953
Unfortunately, the sea wall around the island wasn't always looked after very well. This became a big problem during the North Sea flood of 1953. This massive flood caused a lot of damage and made it too dangerous for people to live on the island regularly.
Bridgemarsh Today
Since the 1953 flood, Bridgemarsh Island has changed. It's no longer a place where many people live or work. Instead, it has become a peaceful home for many different kinds of wildlife and beautiful salt marsh flowers. It's a great example of how nature can reclaim an area.
The island is now owned and looked after by the Bridgemarsh Island Trust. They work to protect its natural beauty and make sure it remains a safe haven for plants and animals.
Images for kids
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A map showing Bridgemarsh Island and the surrounding waterways.
