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MERSEA CONNECTIONS |
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| To find ideas for days out within a ten mile radius of Mersea - Click on VISITORS - WHERE TO GO To discover What's On in Mersea for the rest of the year - Click on to our EVENTS DIARY Interested in BOOKS ABOUT MERSEA? Quite a few books have been written either about Mersea or featuring Mersea - see below Mersea has been home to a number of well known people - but who were they? FAMOUS PEOPLE WHO HAVE LIVED OR HAD CONNECTIONS WITH MERSEA - see below |
Below are a list of books which you might like to read - most are are either about Mersea Island or feature Mersea in some way. Others concern villages or locations near to the island. Mehalah - A Story of the Salt Marshes by Sabine Baring Gould A gothic Victorian melodrama - a best seller in its day - a book that sold more copies even than "Wuthering Heights". Baring Gould was Rector of East Mersea for ten years and did not care for either the island or its people. The characters in the book are reckoned to be based on real Mersea people and real Mersea places. Toasted Cheese and Cinders by Sybil Brand An affectionate portrait of a Mersea childhood in Edwardian times More Mersea Memories - Buckets, Yokes and Wooden Spokes - Isle of Mersea The Marsh Island - Business As Usual - and more........ by Brian Jay Mersea over the last 100 odd years in postcards and old photos plus anecdotes about local people and events Archie Smith - a Boyhood in Mersea by Archie Smith published by Mersea Museum Publications A forthright sometimes cheeky account of a childhood and adolescence in Mersea by a true Mersea old timer. Oysters and Ale by Heather Haward A book of Poems by Emma Haward - written from 1859 who was born in East Mersea. Collected and compiled by Heather Haward. Mersea Island 2001 - A Snapshot of a Unique Community A book all about Mersea compiled to celebrate the Millennium plus a Millennium Map. A Brief History of Mersea by E.M.Karbacz published by Mersea Museum publications - a booklet giving a brief history of the island Mersea Island by John Marriage One of the Britain in Old Photographs series over 200 of them featuring Mersea from Victorian times to the middle of the 20th century Mersea Island An introduction to Maritime Mersea - it's estuary and eco-system Produced for West Mersea Town Council by Nolly Urquhart Estuary - Land and Water in the Lower Thames Basin by A.K.Astbury A fascinating account of the history of this part of Essex with many references to the Blackwater estuary and Mersea itself. The Salty Shore by John Leather A story of Essex seafaring - a study of the men and craft that have sailed from the small communities along the Blackwater estuary As I Recall It edited by Steve Travis A comical tale from the past by Jack "The Ferret" Fargo a humorous - tongue in cheek - view of life in Mersea during the 1930's not meant to be taken seriously! Saltwater Village by Margaret Leather The story of Rowhedge during late Victorian early 20th century times. An evocative account of a lost way of life. The Oaken Heart by Margery Allingham Life in Tolleshunt D'Arcy during the Second World War Grand Inquisitor by Sir Robin Day Reminiscences of boyhood - army service Oxford and the Bar by the foremost television interviewer of our age. He writes about wartime Mersea and joining the local "Dad's Army". Mr. Day's parents had a holiday home retreat in Seaview Avenue. Two 100 Not Out A history of cricket on Mersea Island by Terry Gander Did you know that Mersea Cricket Club is one of the oldest in the country A Study of Mersea Island by Vivien Mary Edgson Old Spiery - Mersea's "Fighting Parson" by Mary Stevens A true account of the Rev. Charles Pieriepont Edwards MC Vicar of the Parish Church of St Peter and St Paul - West Mersea - 1898 - 1946 Further Reminiscences Volume 2 of Sabine Baring Gould's autobiography The Chapter entitled Ten Years on the Mud tells of his life on Mersea Island he did not like the place or the people! Not Just A Name by Roger Bullen An account of Mersea Island's fallen of the 1st World War Blackerchief Dick - a Tale of Mersea Island by Marjorie Allingham published 1923 This first novel was allegedly inspired by a Seance held in a house in Seaview Avenue during the 1920's where a ghostly Smuggler made himself known and told his tale. Mistress of Broadmarsh by Alfred Ludgater A native of Tolleshunt D'Arcy smuggling on Old Hall Marshes East Coast Pilot by Colin Jarman For more info: www.eastcoastpilot.com From When I Can Remember by Pixie Farthing Life in Mersea from the early war years on a very personal story The Magic of the Swatchways by Maurice Griffiths this book celebrates the beauty of the creeks and rivers that cross the East of England. Looking Over My Shoulder by Cecil Willett Cunnington Biography of C. W. Cunnington - his life as a GP in East London and his life later in West Mersea living at The Nothe. Out of print - on reference at Colchester Library Now The Day is Over: the life and times of Sabine Baring Gould By Harold Kirk Smith Three Came Unarmed by E Arnot Robertson 1903 - 1961 Fictional adventure stories based on the island of Mersea Out of print - on reference at Colchester library The House of Marnie by John Goodwin An adventure story plus a lost inheritance - set in Mersea. The setting for The House of Marnie was the old house in Mersea called Orleans (now a block of flats) on the corner of Coast Road Out of print- on reference in Colchester library John Goodwin was the pseudonym of Sidney Floyd Gowing who lived in Victory Road - West Mersea He wrote many books - mostly detective fiction The House of Marnie was made into a film in 1924 directed by Cecil Hepworth ~~~~~ |
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"The Magic of the Swatchways" by Maurice Griffiths |
WHO HAVE LIVED OR HAD CONNECTIONS WITH MERSEA Below is a list of some of the more renowned residents of Mersea and a few others who have had close connections with the place. Rev. C. Pierrepont Edwards Sometimes known as The Fighting Parson. Whilst serving as a Curate in London's East End, Pierrepont was always ready to settle a dispute with his fists if necessary and thus earned the title of "Fighting Parson" He served with the Essex Yeomanry in the Boer War and during the 1st World War became chaplain to the 5th Essex Infantry Brigade. The Reverend was awarded the Military Cross for his gallant efforts rescueing the wounded at Gallipoli. After the war he returned to one of his jobs - that of Clerk to West Mersea Parish Council Margery Allingham Famous Crime novelist who lived at Tolleshunt D'Arcy. Margery and her family spent the summer holidays of 1921 in a house in Seaview Avenue - to pass the time they held Seances. Some of the participants claimed to have made contact with the spirits of 17th century smugglers. This inspired young Margery to write an historical novel about Mersea smugglers called "Blackerchief Dick". In later life Margery was embarrassed by the book. Earl Alexander of Hillsborough Once lived at Wellhouse Farm - West Mersea. Alexander was 1st Lord of the Admiralty and later Minister of Defence in the Post War Labour Government under Prime Minister - Clement Attlee. Among other things he formulated the system of National Service. Walt Disney Rumour has it that during the 1930's a young Walt Disney - on a visit to England - played a round of golf at the East Mersea golf course. The Charleston Years Between the Wars a house overlooking the sea called Casa Pantis was owned by a well to do Theatrical Impresario who held regular partying weekends for stars of stage and screen. Visitors - Jack Buchanan and Ciceley Courtnidge - often arrived by chauffuer driven limo - to partake of pink gins and sparkling conversation on the terrace. The house is still there. Sir Thomas Lipton Tea Magnate and Grocer made five attempts at the Americas Cup with a crew mainly from Tollesbury and Mersea. His yachts - all called Shamrock" sailed in the Blackwater Estuary Oliver Cromwell Is reputed to have stayed at Bocking Hall during the Civil War - but this cannot be confirmed Lloyd George Prime Minister 1916 to 1922 reputedly came to Mersea to stay at Shameen a lovely old Edwardian mansion overlooking the sea in Seaview Avenue - as guest of the owner Sir Jesse Herbert. The house was pulled down and Westwood Drive built in the gardens. Princess Hohenzollern Wife of Leopold Hohenzollern came to Mersea to escape the Civil War in Spain - where she had been exiled. They were a German dynastic family - Kings of Prussia from 1415 to 1919 Tessie O'Shea Last of the "Big Momma" singers often came to Mersea. She was said to have had financial interests in some of the shipping that lay redundant in the river at one time |
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Sabine Baring Gould author of the gothic novel "Mehalah" in old age |
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Lived for a while in Mersea - his parents had a house in Fairhaven Avenue. In 1932 Scott with partner Black - flying a de Havilland comet -won the MacRobertson Air Race to Australia Sir Edward Heath Often sailed his Yacht "Morning Cloud" from Mersea - and no doubt had a drink or two in the Yacht Club Prince Nicholas Galatzine Of Transylvania came to Mersea for the shooting in the 1930's Semprini Concert Pianist lived in the houseboat L'Esperance during the 1960's/70's. People would pause by the gangplank to listen to him play - he also practised on a grand piano at a back storeroom at Clifford White's shop in Barfield Road Lord Greenwood Baron Greenwood of Rossendale - former Minister of Housing with the Labour Government 1965-70 had a holiday house in East Mersea for more than thirty six years - the family home stood on the site of the old Ship Inn Fid Harnack Fid Harnack - eminent Marine Artist lived and worked in West Mersea E.A.Harnack (father of Fid) Pioneer of the X Ray for medical purposes - also lived in West Mersea for a while Foyles Christina Foyle founded the well known but eccentric bookshop in Charing Cross Road and lived at Beeleigh Abbey - Maldon. But the Foyle family also owned a holiday home "The Thatch" at East Mersea as well as one of the original Coopers Beach chalets Winston Churchill Mrs Hone - landlady and apparently wonderful Cook - was mine host at the old Social and Sailing Club in Coast Road (now the Coast Inn). During WW 11, she cooked a sumptuous meal for Winston Churchill at the Club. Churchill reputedly came to Mersea more than once with some of his War Cabinet Winston Churchill was also supposed to have been a regular visitor (with some of his War Cabinet) to Besom House (corner of Victory Road and Coast Road) during WW 2. It was this fact that helped to save Besom House being pulled down and replaced by a block of flats Hugh Iorys Hughes A quiet unassuming Welshman who once lived at Besom House - Coast Road. A Civil Engineer, he was a major player in the development of the wartime "Mulberry Harbours" large concrete pontoons which enabled ships to unload tanks, lorries and all the paraphanalia of warfare where there were no harbour facilities Rayner Goddard - Lord Chief Justice of England 1946 to 1958 Was a frequent visitor to Mersea - he came for the wildfowl shooting. Known as a harsh judge - markedly pro capital punishment - gave a heavily slanted summing up of the case against Derek Bentley who was accused of the murder of a policeman. 19 year old Bentley was hanged despite his questionable guilt |
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Semprini concert pianist who once lived in Mersea |
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Margery Allingham crime novellist who began her career writing about a Mersea smuggler |
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Scott the Aviator |
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Rayner Goddard Lord Chief Justice of England - 1940's |
Was Secretary to Herbert Gladstone (son of PM Gladstone) Liberal Chief Whip (1906) - lived at Shameen south end of Seaview Avenue Sir Clive Sinclair Well known for his spectacular failures - notably the Sinclair C5 an electric tricycle driven by a washing machine motor - lived in Mersea (Mersea Avenue) - could often be seen testing out this machine along Mersea's roads. Knighted by Thatcher's government he continues to produce innovative products from his London HQ The New Seekers Well known 60's/70's Pop Group - famous for many hits including "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing. Two of their number lived at Rewsalls Farm where they had a recording studio George Ernest Studdy Cartoonist and Illustrator During the 1920's his Studdy Dog - named Bonzo - was known as "the most famous puppy dog in the world" - appearing in adverts, children's comics and as a neon sign at Picadilly Circus. Studdy was a frequent visitor to Mersea before the War - often dining at the old Social and Sailing Club Sir Robin Day Robin Day's parents had a house at the north end of Seaview Avenue and Sir Robin recalls happy holidays in Mersea as a child. Whilst waiting to be enlisted he briefly joined the Mersea Home Guard - which he describes in his book "Grand Inquisitor". He was also a temporary teacher at schools in West Bergholt and Wivenhoe and would cycle to work from Mersea rising at 6 am Olive Guthrie Smith Mrs Guthrie Smith - a Physiotherapist - lived at Orleans - she developed suspension apparatus - a system of slings and pulleys - to enable paraplygics to move and exercise |
Maurice Griffiths |
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Wrote "Magic of the Swatchways" and was Editor of "Yachting Monthly" Awarded the George Medal for his work defusing mines during WW 11 Retired to Mersea where he died in 1997 Cynthia Payne Often stayed at the White Hart Mrs Payne was notorious in the nineteen sixties as a "Madame" who kept a House of Ill Repute in Streatham frequented (allegedly) by Cabinet Ministers and High Court Judges and the like with strange desires. Mrs. Payne later became an accomplished After Dinner Speaker Archie White Artist and Yachtsman (who was also known as a witty after dinner speaker) A fine Watercolourist whose paintings reflected his love of the East Coast Arthur J Briscoe 1873 - 1943 Marine Artist and Print Maker (Etchings) worked and lived at Besom House - near the waterfront |
West Mersea Colchester Essex, CO5 8JD Telephone and Fax 01206 382128 E-mail: westmerseatc@aol.com |