Burnham-on-Crouch

infobox UK place
country = England
official_name= Burnham-on-Crouch
latitude= 51.6284
longitude= 0.8145
os_grid_reference= TQ948959
population= 7,636 (2001 Census)
shire_district= Maldon
shire_county = Essex
region= East of England
constituency_westminster= Maldon and East Chelmsford
post_town= BURNHAM-ON-CROUCH
postcode_area= CM
postcode_district= CM0
dial_code= 01621

Burnham-on-Crouch is a town in the Maldon district of Essex in the East of England. It lies on the north bank of the River Crouch.

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 a 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): it thus has many features perhaps more suited to larger towns, such as a cinema.

The Essex town was immortalised with a mention in the classic song "Billericay Dickie", by Ian Dury and the Blockheads. This song alludes to Burnham's somewhat upmarket status in the county.

Burnham-on-Crouch's charity fund-raising bi-annual pub crawl [http://www.b-o-c-pubcrawl.co.uk] is fast becoming a talking point in the town. Over one hundred local people walk through the town in themed fancy dress raising money for the Samaritans Organisation. There is both a Summer and Winter edition of the crawl and the event started back in June 2007.

Politics

The seaside town recently attracted media attention, when some local residents formed a political action group. Their aim was to try and discourage constituents from voting for the British National Party, who recently stood in local elections across the region. Calling themselves the 'Burnham Liberation Front' (BLF), they try to stop fascism in rural England. Dr Phil Edwards, national spokes-person of the BNP called the BLF, "a dangerous bunch of reactionaries." This comment sparked an electronic war of words as Anti Fascist Action claimed it was "ignorantly ironic, as the BNP are the most dangerous political party in the UK".

Transport

Isolated 20 miles from Chelmsford, the nearest large town (and hospital), the town would be very much in decline if it were not for Burnham-on-Crouch railway station. 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 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.

ports

Burnham-On-Crouch hosts the highly regarded sailing event known as 'Burnham Week'. This takes place annually, from 25 August to 1 September. 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.

It is arguably the longest running annual yacht regatta on the mainland of the UK, dating back as far as 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 fleets as well as a full partying programme.

External links

* [http://www.burnham-rnli.org.uk/ Burnham-on-Crouch Lifeboat]
* [http://www.burnhamoncrouchweather.com/wx4.html Burnham-on-Crouch Weather Live]
* [http://www.burnhamoncrouchweather.com/ Burnham-on-Crouch Weather Station]
* [http://www.burnham.ukfossils.co.uk/ Fossil Collecting at Burnham-on-Crouch]
* [http://burnhamweek.org.uk/index.php Burnham Week]
* [http://www.burnham.lovethepictures.co.uk New and old pictures of Burnham-on-Crouch and the surrounding area]
* [http://www.elocal.co.uk/BOC/index.asp Community Website for Burnham-on-Crouch and the Dengie Hundred]
* [http://www.burnhamrotary.info The Website of the Rotary Club of Burnham on Crouch & Dengie Hundred]
* [http://www.burnham.org.uk/ Information on Burnham-on-Crouch including History, People etc]
* [http://www.burnhamramblersfc.co.uk/ Official website for Burnham Ramblers Football Club]
* [http://www.flickr.com/groups/dengiehundred/ Images of the Dengie Hundred.]