Burnham-on-Crouch
| Burnham-on-Crouch | |
| Essex | |
|---|---|
 Burnham-on-Crouch waterfront | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | TQ948959 |
| Location: | 51°37’42"N, 0°48’52"E |
| Data | |
| Population: | 7,636 (2001) |
| Post town: | Burnham-on-Crouch |
| Postcode: | CM0 |
| Dialling code: | 01621 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Maldon |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Maldon |
Burnham-on-Crouch is a town in Essex, standing on the north bank of the River Crouch. It is one of Britain's leading places for yachting.
History
Historically, it has benefited from its location on the coast - first as a ferry port, later as a fishing port known for its oyster beds, and most recently as a centre for yachting. There are many listed buildings in the town, including the Grade II* listed Royal Corinthian Yacht Club designed in 1931 by the modernist architect Joseph Emberton. The Mangapps Railway Museum is located nearby.
Although the town has a population of little over 7,500, it is the principal settlement in the wider Dengie peninsula area (population 20,000), meaning it has facilities that are uncommon in small towns, such as a cinema, a laundrette, a post office, 22 licensed drinking establishments and three pharmacies.
Society and culture
Burnham-on-Crouch holds a bi-annual charity fund-raising pub crawl, an event which first took place in June 2007.[1] Typically more than 100 local people walk through the town in themed fancy dress raising money for The Samaritans. There is both a summer and winter edition of the crawl.
The town has a community magazine based in the town and compiled by Burnham residents. Burnham & Dengie Hundred Review is delivered free to residents in Burnham and the surrounding area.
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 in 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.[2]
The Essex town was mentioned in the song "Billericay Dickie", by Ian Dury. This song alludes to Burnham's somewhat upmarket status in the county.
Transport
Burnham's comparatively isolated position, 20 miles from Chelmsford (the nearest large town), ensures that Burnham-on-Crouch railway station is an important transport link. The station is situated on a single-line branch from Wickford, which escaped closure in the 1960s by Beeching, as it was used to supply the nearby Bradwell nuclear power station. The branch line was electrified in the 1980s, and provides a direct service to Liverpool Street Station in the City of London, allowing the town's inclusion in the London commuter belt.
Sport
Yachting
Burnham-on-Crouch hosts a sailing event known as 'Burnham Week'. This takes place annually, 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: The Royal Corinthian Yacht Club (linked to the sailing club with the same name in Cowes, Isle Of Wight), The Royal 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.
Other sporting activities
Sport and leisure
- Cricket
- Football: Burnham Ramblers FC, which plays at Leslie Fields.
- Rugby union
- Lawn bowls
- Golf: Burnham Golf Club (18-hole course at Creeksea)
Outside links
 |
("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Burnham-on-Crouch) |
- Burnham-on-Crouch RNLI Lifeboat
- Burnham & Dengie Hundred Review
- Burnham-on-Crouch Weather Live
- Burnham-on-Crouch Weather Station
- Burnham Week
- New and old pictures of Burnham-on-Crouch and the surrounding area
- Community Website for Burnham-on-Crouch and the Dengie Hundred
- The Website of the Rotary Club of Burnham on Crouch & Dengie Hundred
- Information and photographs of Burnham-on-Crouch
- Official website for Burnham Ramblers Football Club
- Images of the Dengie Hundred.
- Information and photographs of the villages surrounding the town of Burnham-on-Crouch
- The history of Burnham-on-Crouch
References
- ↑ "Burnham-On-Crouch pub crawl". http://www.b-o-c-pubcrawl.co.uk.
- ↑ "Burnham has a big celebration". Essex Life (Archant): p. 16. September 2008. http://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/Launch.aspx?referral=other&pnum=&refresh=Xx310Ki2Lg80&EID=ae1ff680-f48b-4a38-9931-2ac69df9011d&skip=true. Retrieved 2009-01-18. (Registration required).