Wallasea Island facts for kids
Wallasea Island is a special place in Essex, England. Rivers surround it on three sides. To the north is the River Crouch, to the southeast the River Roach, and to the west are Paglesham Pool and Paglesham Creek. The people living on the island are part of the nearby village of Canewdon.
Most of Wallasea Island is farmland. Farmers mainly grow wheat here. At the western end of the island, there's a small village. It has a road connecting it to the mainland. You can find a campsite and a marina there. A ferry also connects the island to Burnham-on-Crouch.
You can walk about 8 miles (13 km) around the island's sea wall. The south side is very peaceful. You might see wild animals like skylarks, corn buntings, and hares. Across the River Roach estuary, you can see Foulness Island and Potton Island.
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Wallasea Island's Past
The name "Wallasea" might come from an old English word meaning "foreigner." We don't know much about the island's very early days. After the last Ice Age, it was likely dry land. As sea levels rose, mud and sand built up, forming the island's soil.
Archaeologists have found "red hills" on the island's edges. These are from the Roman period. They were probably used to get salt from seawater. Records from the 1200s mention places like Lower Barn and Sherwoods. Wallasea was likely used for grazing animals back then. Some farming might have happened too. We know there was a farmhouse at Grapnells by 1546. Old maps show Wallasea was once three separate islands.
Farming and Floods Through Time
In the 1400s, Dutch settlers built the first sea walls. This helped drain the land for farming. The island's population was highest in the late 1800s. In 1875, 135 people lived in 13 houses. A school opened in 1879 but closed after 20 years.
Around 1875, cheap wheat from America caused farming problems. Many people left the island, and Wallasea became mostly pasture again. During the First World War, German U-boats made it hard to import grain. So, much of the island was ploughed to grow wheat. It was also farmed during the Second World War.
Over the years, storms have flooded Wallasea many times. The worst flood was in 1953. Large parts of the sea wall had to be rebuilt. The eastern end of the island was one of the last places in the UK to drain after that flood. The storm also washed away Tyle House. Legend said a demon lived there.
Wallasea Wetlands Project
In 2006, a big project changed part of the island. It cost £7.5 million. Workers bulldozed 300 meters of the sea wall. This allowed the sea to flood 115 hectares (about 284 acres) of farmland. This area is now turning into wetlands, mudflats, and salty lagoons. Seven new artificial islands were also created.
These new wetlands help wading birds find places to spend the winter. They also help reduce flood problems on the River Crouch.
Creating a Huge Nature Reserve
In 2008, the RSPB had a plan. They wanted to turn the rest of the island's farmland into a bird reserve. This project would cost £12 million.
In 2012, work began on the Wallasea Island Wild Coast Project. This was a huge effort! About 4.5 million tonnes of earth were brought to Wallasea Island. This earth came from the Crossrail tunnel (Elizabeth Line) in London. It was transported by over 1500 trips, many by train and boat. This massive amount of earth is helping to create the new nature reserve.
