Editing Burnham-on-Crouch

{{Short description|Town in south-east Essex, England}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox UK place 
|country =                 England
|static_image_name =       Spinnakers on the River Crouch.jpg
|static_image_caption=     Yacht racing under [[spinnaker]]s on the River Crouch, Burnham-on-Crouch
|official_name=            Burnham-on-Crouch
|coordinates = {{coord|51.6284|0.8145|display=inline,title}}
|label_position = top
|os_grid_reference=        TQ948959 
| population = 7,671
| population_ref = (2011 Census)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=11121451&c=burnham-on-crouch+cp&d=16&e=62&g=6425337&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1442929973370&enc=1|title=Town population 2011|access-date=22 September 2015}}{{Dead link|date=June 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
 |shire_district=           [[Maldon (district)|Maldon]]
|shire_county =            [[Essex]]
|region=                   East of England
|constituency_westminster= [[Maldon (UK Parliament constituency)|Maldon]]
|post_town=                Burnham-on-Crouch<!-- Royal Mail hyphenates the post town name -->
|postcode_area=            CM
|postcode_district=        CM0
|dial_code=                01621
}}
'''Burnham-on-Crouch''' is a town and [[civil parish]] in the [[Maldon District]] of [[Essex]], in the [[East of England]]; it lies on the north bank of the [[River Crouch]].<ref name="Fisher2012">{{cite book|author=Stuart Fisher|title=Rivers of Britain: Estuaries, tideways, havens, lochs, firths and kyles|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6hzUy3AHo-AC&pg=PA210|access-date=1 August 2012|date=5 January 2012|publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing|isbn=978-1-4081-5583-7|page=210}}</ref> It is one of Britain's leading places for [[yachting]].<ref name="Fisher2012"/>

The civil parish extends {{convert|5|mi|0}} east of the town to the mouth of the River Crouch.  It includes the hamlets of [[Creeksea]] and [[Ostend, Essex|Ostend]] west of the town; Stoneyhills to the north; and Dammer Wick, West Wick and East Wick east of the town.

==History==
According to the [[Domesday Book]] of 1086, Burnham was held in 1066 by a [[thegn]] called Alward and 10 free men. After 1066 it was acquired by a Norman called Tedric Pointel of [[Coggeshall]] whose overlord was Ralph Baynard.
Historically, it has benefited from its location on the coast – first as a ferry port,<ref name="FautleyGaron2004">{{cite book|author1=M.P.B. Fautley|author2=J.H. Garon|title=Essex Coastline: Then and Now|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Hwl1Tefe1q4C&pg=PA119|year=2004|publisher=Matthew Fautley|isbn=978-0-9548010-0-7|pages=119–132}}</ref>{{rp|119}} later as a [[fishing port]] known for its oyster beds,<ref name="World fishing">{{cite book|title=World fishing|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MbPkAAAAMAAJ|year=1973|publisher=IPC Industrial Press}}</ref> and most recently as a centre for [[yachting]].<ref name="FautleyGaron2004" />{{rp|132}}

The parish church of [[St 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 to [[Little 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 a [[United 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 the [[Baptist Church]].

There are many [[listed building]]s in the town, including the [[Grade II* listed building|Grade II* listed]] [[Royal Corinthian Yacht Club]] designed in 1931 by the modernist architect Joseph Emberton.<ref name="FautleyGaron2004"/> The [[Mangapps Railway Museum]] is located nearby.
[[File:Burnham_on_Crouch.jpg|thumb|right|The town's high street, 2024]]

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),<ref name="Thomas2010">{{cite book|author=David St John Thomas|title=Remote Britain|url=https://archive.org/details/remotebritainlan0000thom|url-access=registration|access-date=1 August 2012|date=29 July 2010|publisher=frances lincoln ltd|isbn=978-0-7112-3054-5|pages=[https://archive.org/details/remotebritainlan0000thom/page/495 495]–}}</ref> meaning it has facilities that are uncommon in small towns, such as a cinema,<ref name="Ashley2011">{{cite book|author=Peter Ashley|title=Cross Country: English Buildings and Landscape From Countryside to Coast|date=26 April 2011|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|isbn=978-0-470-68611-9|page=146}}</ref> a laundrette, a post office, 22 licensed drinking establishments and three pharmacies.<ref name="Administrators1974">{{cite book|author=Institute of Health Service Administrators|title=The Hospitals & health services year book and directory of hospital suppliers|year=1974|publisher=Institute of Health Service Administrators.|isbn=978-0-901003-09-6}}</ref>

Burnham played a significant role in both world wars. A [[World War I|First 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 against [[Zeppelin]] 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 the [[Royal Naval Air Service|Royal Navy Air Service]] (RNAS) and two [[Bristol T.B.8]]s operated from there. The [[Royal 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 the [[World War II|Second World War]], Burnham was the training base for one of the first [[Commandos (United Kingdom)|Commando]] 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 the [[Royal 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 nearby [[Southminster]].<ref>ADM 199, DEFE 1 and Ho 192/193 files National Archive, CW 1 series files at Essex County Record Office, J P Foynes "Battle of the East Coast 1939-1945"</ref>

Since 1966 Burnham-on-Crouch has had an [[Royal National Lifeboat Institution|RNLI]] 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.burnham-rnli.org/about-us/|title=About us – Burnham Lifeboat|website=www.burnham-rnli.org|access-date=17 April 2018}}</ref>

==Society and culture==
Burnham-on-Crouch holds a bi-annual charity fund-raising pub crawl, an event which first took place in June 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.b-o-c-pubcrawl.co.uk|title=Burnham-On-Crouch pub crawl}}</ref> 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.


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.<ref>{{cite news|title=Burnham has a big celebration|date=September 2008|work=Essex Life |publisher=Archant |page=16 |url=http://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/Launch.aspx?referral=other&pnum=&refresh=Xx310Ki2Lg80&EID=ae1ff680-f48b-4a38-9931-2ac69df9011d&skip=true|access-date=18 January 2009}} (Registration required).</ref> 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]]", by [[Ian 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."<ref>Ian Durie - Billericay Dickie Lyrics|AZLyrics.com</ref>

==Transport==

===Railway===
[[File:Burnham-on-Crouch railway station 1.jpg|thumb|Burnham-on-Crouch station]]
[[Burnham-on-Crouch railway station]] is a stop on the [[Crouch Valley Line]], which runs between {{rws|Wickford}} and {{rws|Southminster}}. The branch line escaped the [[Beeching cuts]], as it was used to supply the nearby [[Bradwell 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 from [[Liverpool Street railway station|London Liverpool Street]] during peak hours, thus allowing the town's inclusion in the [[London commuter belt]].<ref name="Timetables">{{Cite web |work=[[Greater Anglia]]|title=Timetables |date=21 May 2023 |access-date=30 August 2023 |url= https://www.greateranglia.co.uk/timetables |quote=}}</ref>

===Buses===
Bus services are operated by [[First Essex]], [[Stephensons of Essex]] and Fords Coaches. Routes link the town with [[Chelmsford]], [[Maldon]], [[Latchingdon]], [[South Woodham Ferrers]] and [[Southminster]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Stops in Burnham-on-Crouch |work=Bus Times |date=2023 |access-date=30 August 2023 |url= https://bustimes.org/localities/burnham-on-crouch |quote=}}</ref>

==Media==
Local TV coverage is provided by [[BBC East]] and [[ITV Anglia]]. Television signals are received from the [[Sudbury transmitting station|Sudbury]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Sudbury|title=Full Freeview on the Sudbury (Suffolk, England) transmitter|date=1 May 2004|website=UK Free TV|accessdate=5 November 2023}}</ref> and the local relay TV transmitters.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Burnham_on_Crouch|title=Freeview Light on the Burnham on Crouch (Essex, England) transmitter|date=1 May 2004|website=UK Free TV|accessdate=5 November 2023}}</ref>[[BBC South East]] and [[ITV Meridian]] can also be received from either the [[Bluebell Hill transmitting station|Bluebell Hill]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Bluebell_Hill|title=Full Freeview on the Bluebell Hill (Medway, England) transmitter|date=1 May 2004|website=UK Free TV|accessdate=5 November 2023}}</ref> or [[Dover transmitting station|Dover]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Dover|title=Full Freeview on the Dover (Kent, England) transmitter|date=1 May 2004|website=UK Free TV|accessdate=5 November 2023}}</ref> TV transmitters.

Local radio stations are [[BBC Essex]], [[Heart East]], [[Radio Essex]] and Saint FM, a community based station which broadcast from the town.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://burnhamoncrouch.uk/residents/volunteer-groups/community-radio-station/|title=Community Radio Station|website=burnhamoncrouch.uk|access-date=5 November 2023}}</ref>

The town is served by a local newspaper, the ''Maldon and Burnham Standard''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.britishpapers.co.uk/england-eang/maldon-burnham-standard/|title=Maldon and Burnham Standard|date=20 February 2014|website=British Papers|accessdate=5 November 2023}}</ref>

==Sport==

===Yachting===
[[File:Royal Corinthian Yacht Club Burnham-on-Crouch.jpg|thumb|right|The Royal Corinthian Yacht Club at Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex. The international style building was designed by [[Joseph Emberton]] in 1931]]
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: 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===

Burnham-on-Crouch has a [[Non-League football|non-league football]] club [[Burnham Ramblers F.C.]], which plays at Leslie Fields.

There are [[rugby union]], [[cricket]] and [[lawn 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.

== Notable people ==
* [[Neil Faith]], professional wrestler, attended St Mary's Primary School, Burnham-on-Crouch
* [[Keith Musto]], received a silver medal for sailing in the Tokyo 1964 Olympics and was the founder of the [[Musto (company)|Musto]] clothing company
* [[Kate Walsh (singer)|Kate Walsh]], musician, from Burnham-on-Crouch
* [[Helen Watson (singer-songwriter)|Helen Watson]], musician, lives in Burnham-on-Crouch
* [[Una Lucy Silberrad]] (1872-1955), a feminist novelist who lived in Burnham in later life. She is buried in the churchyard.
* [[Lenny Rush]], BAFTA winning actor, from Burnham-on-Crouch

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Burnham-on-Crouch}}
* [http://www.burnham.org.uk Information and photographs of Burnham-on-Crouch]
* [http://www.essex-family-history.co.uk/historyburnham.htm The history of Burnham-on-Crouch]

{{Essex}}

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[[Category:Burnham-on-Crouch| ]]
[[Category:Towns in Essex]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in Essex]]
[[Category:Maldon District]]