Osea Island

Rivermere: Mr. F. N. Charrington's Retreat on Osea Island

Fredk. N. Charrington, Owner of Osea Island

Osea Island has been recently purchased by Mr. F. N. Charrington, for the purpose of developing it as a Sea-side and Health resort; at the same time with the object of carrying out a great Temperance scheme. The whole of the land being let or sold under stringent restrictions, that no license of any kind whatever, or clubs for the sale of intoxicating drink, will be permitted.

It is situated on the East coast, in the Black-water Bay, in the county of Essex, which lies between the mouth of the Thames and Clacton-on-Sea. It is bounded on three sides by about a mile of sea and the East side is open to the ocean; the sea-water being actually salter than the ocean itself. The Island will be the nearest deep sea resort to London, being only 40 miles by road, and within five miles of the ancient port and town of Maldon in Essex, which is only 36 miles by road from the Metropolis.

American visitors will be specially interested to know that the great Washington family came from the neighbourhood of Maldon, and that the remains of the grandfather of Washington are deposited in the graveyard of the old church at Maldon.

In the following sections, we will give our readers the History of the Island, with Illustrations, and some idea of its advantages for Fishing, Shooting, Yachting, and Sea-water Bathing, at all times of the tide. It is also interesting from the Botanists‘ and Naturalists‘ point of view.

High Street, Maldon. Nearest town on Osea Island.

Finally it will be a grand opportunity for philanthropists and those interested in social reform to start any scheme of their own, in the shape of Convalescent Homes, and Inebriate Retreats in a prohibition territory, entirely surrounded by the Sea.