| Burnham-on-Crouch | |
|---|---|
 Yacht racing underspinnakers on the River Crouch, Burnham-on-Crouch | |
  Burnham-on-Crouch Location withinEssex | |
| Population | 8,852 (Parish, 2021)[1] 7,805 (Built up area, 2021)[2] |
| OS grid reference | TQ948959 |
| Civil parish |
|
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Burnham-on-Crouch |
| Postcode district | CM0 |
| Dialling code | 01621 |
| Police | Essex |
| Fire | Essex |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| UK Parliament | |
| 51°37′42″N0°48′52″E / 51.6284°N 0.8145°E /51.6284; 0.8145 | |
Burnham-on-Crouch is a town andcivil parish in theMaldon District ofEssex, in theEast of England; it lies on the north bank of theRiver Crouch.[3] It is one of Britain's leading places foryachting.[3]
The civil parish extends 5 miles (8 km) east of the town to the mouth of the River Crouch. It includes the hamlets ofCreeksea andOstend west of the town; Stoneyhills to the north; and Dammer Wick, West Wick and East Wick east of the town. At the2021 census the parish had a population of 8,852 and the Burnham-on-Crouch built up area had a population of 7,805.
The name Burnham derives from theOld Englishburnahām meaning 'settlement by astream'.[4]
According to theDomesday Book of 1086, Burnham was held in 1066 by athegn called Alward and 10 free men. After 1066 it was acquired by a Norman called Tedric Pointel ofCoggeshall whose overlord was Ralph Baynard.Historically, it has benefited from its location on the coast – first as a ferry port,[5]: 119 later as afishing port known for its oyster beds,[6] and most recently as a centre foryachting.[5]: 132
The parish church ofSt Mary's Church, Burnham on Crouch is a large medieval church dedicated to St Mary the Virgin. The church is first recorded in 1155, when it was given toLittle Dunmow Priory, and the Purbeck marble font dates from the twelfth century. The church's unusual plaster barrel vault dates from 1775, after the previous roof was destroyed by fire in 1774.
There is also aUnited Reformed Church in Station Road in Burnham-on-Crouch. It was built in 1950 as the Congregational Church after its predecessor burnt down in 1946. The URC Church was formed when the Congregational church merged with the local Methodist church in 1984. Also on Station Road is theBaptist Church.
There are manylisted buildings in the town, including theGrade II* listedRoyal Corinthian Yacht Club designed in 1931 by the modernist architect Joseph Emberton.[5] TheMangapps Railway Museum is located nearby.
Although the town has a population of little over 7,500, it is the principal settlement in the widerDengie peninsula area (population 20,000),[7] meaning it has facilities that are uncommon in small towns, such as a cinema,[8] a laundrette, a post office, 22 licensed drinking establishments and three pharmacies.[9]
Burnham played a significant role in both world wars. AFirst World War airfield was established in 1915 on agricultural land next to present-day Wick Farm. It was used until early 1919. It was established for use by Home Defence aircraft in order to defend againstZeppelin attack and as a night flight station. The small grass landing field covered an area of about 150 acres. There were no permanent buildings, and the personnel were billeted in tented accommodation. The base was initially established by theRoyal Navy Air Service (RNAS) and twoBristol T.B.8s operated from there. TheRoyal Flying Corps (RFC) took over responsibilities for Home Defence in 1916 and the airfield became a RFC base operating BE type aircraft of 37 Squadron (50th Wing). The airfield was closed in 1919.
During theSecond World War, Burnham was the training base for one of the firstCommando battalions, led by Lt-Col Dunford-Slater. From 1943 to 1945 it was HMS St Mathew, base for up to 1400 sailors training on minor landing craft. The navy occupied theRoyal Corinthian Yacht Club and a site at Creeksea. Unconnected with these activities, the area often witnessed Luftwaffe crashes and bomb, mine and V-weapon explosions – German parachute mines caused fatalities in the town and at nearbySouthminster.[10]
Since 1966 Burnham-on-Crouch has had anRNLI lifeboat presence. Initially it operated only during the sailing season, but from 1987 it has done so all year. The on-shore facilities are in the marina with two floating boathouses in Burnham yacht harbour.[11]
Burnham-on-Crouch holds a bi-annual charity fund-raising pub crawl, an event which first took place in June 2007.[12] Typically more than 100 local people walk through the town in themed fancy dress raising money forthe Samaritans. There is both a summer and winter edition of the crawl.
On the last Saturday of September, the town holds its Illuminated Carnival, which was held for the 100th year in 2008. The carnival takes place on the High Street and Quay with stalls, sideshows and displays, and culminates with a grand illuminated procession in the evening, which leaves from the clock tower and proceeds around the town.[13] There is also a fancy-dress competition for children. The carnival is sponsored by local businesses.
The Essex town is mentioned in the song "Billericay Dickie", byIan Dury. This song alludes to Burnham's somewhat upmarket status in the county, with the invitation "Oh golly, oh gosh, Come and lie on the couch, With a nice bit of posh, From Burnham-on-Crouch."[14]
There are three tiers of local government covering Burnham-on-Crouch, atparish,district, andcounty level: Burnham-on-Crouch Town Council,Maldon District Council, andEssex County Council. The town council is based at offices on Chapel Road.[15]
Burnham was anancient parish in theDengie Hundred of Essex.[16] When elected parish and district councils were established in 1894, Burnham was initially given a parish council and included in theMaldon Rural District. Shortly afterwards it was decided to remove Burnham from the rural district and convert the parish into its ownurban district, which took effect in 1898. Whereas the legal name of the parish was just Burnham, the urban district was officially named Burnham-on-Crouch.[17][18]
In 1934 the urban district was enlarged to take in the area of the neighbouring parish ofCreeksea, which was abolished.[16]
Burnham-on-Crouch Urban District was abolished in 1974 under theLocal Government Act 1972, becoming part of the new Maldon District.[19][20] Asuccessor parish called Burnham-on-Crouch was created at the same time, covering the area of the former urban district, with its parish council taking the name Burnham-on-Crouch Town Council.[21][15]
Burnham-on-Crouch railway station is a stop on theCrouch Valley Line, which runs betweenWickford andSouthminster. The branch line escaped theBeeching cuts, as it was used to supply the nearbyBradwell nuclear power station. The line was electrified in the 1980s.
Greater Anglia provides regular services to Wickford and Southminster, with direct services extending to and fromLondon Liverpool Street during peak hours, thus allowing the town's inclusion in theLondon commuter belt.[22]
Bus services are operated byFirst Essex,Stephensons of Essex and Fords Coaches. Routes link the town withChelmsford,Maldon,Latchingdon,South Woodham Ferrers andSouthminster.[23]
Local TV coverage is provided byBBC East andITV Anglia. Television signals are received from theSudbury[24] and the local relay TV transmitters.[25]BBC South East andITV Meridian can also be received from either theBluebell Hill[26] orDover[27] TV transmitters.
Local radio stations areBBC Essex,Heart East,Radio Essex and Saint FM, a community based station which broadcast from the town.[28]
The town is served by a local newspaper, theMaldon and Burnham Standard.[29]
Burnham-on-Crouch hosts an annual sailing event known as Burnham Week, which takes place in the last week of August. The week includes competitive yacht and dinghy racing on the River Crouch. The event is shared among the four established sailing clubs in Burnham: TheRoyal Corinthian Yacht Club (linked to the sailing club with the same name in Cowes, Isle of Wight), TheRoyal Burnham Yacht Club, The Crouch Yacht Club, and The Burnham Sailing Club.
This annual yacht regatta dates back to 1893. In the early years, Burnham Week was regarded as the last event in the sailing calendar. In the days before marinas afforded year-round access, many yachts were laid up for the winter in mud-berths on the east coast rivers. The racing fleets worked their way along the south coast, enjoying various events and regattas, having a final fling at Burnham before laying up. Today, the event is still growing strongly and the various sailing clubs produce many highly regarded sailors. The week provides a range of competitive racing events as well as a full party programme.
Burnham-on-Crouch has anon-league football clubBurnham Ramblers F.C., which plays at Leslie Fields.
There arerugby union,cricket andlawn bowls clubs, all of which compete at local, county and regional levels.
Burnham Golf Club, an 18-hole course, is at Creeksea, approximately 1.5 miles from the town centre.
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