Thursday 31st January 2013 marked 60 long years since Canvey Island was hit by an abnormal storm causing mass flooding and damage to many many people’s property and lives. The horrific event terrorised Canvey however the whole of the Essex coast was affected as well as other places. On the night of 31st January 1953 a tidal surge came down the north sea flooding low lying lands in its path. Canvey Island was badly hit with the old earth sea wall being practically destroyed in the Tewkes Creek area. 58 people lost their lives and the island was evacuated by the army and police. Today that very night is remembered by murals on the new sea wall and a plaque at the library.
The flood did not just affect Canvey, or even many other parts of coastal Essex including Foulness and Jaywick, but also other low-lying areas along the east coast and even the Netherlands, which was too hit badly. This newspaper cutting (right) reveals the international drama that the flood created, coming all the way from Germany and shared by Dave Bullock.
Below, we look at some of the ways that the tragic events of the floods have been remembered in recent times. We photographed many memorial events in 2013 and 2014 for the 60th Anniversary of the floods and much of this can be seen below. We also take a look at the work of Liam’s uncle Vincent Heatherson, who led initial efforts at commemorating the events in the 1990s as a young man.
Remembering the Floods – How It Began
1/2/1997 – Plaque to Commemorate ’53 Flood Victims is Unveiled by Vincent Heatherson
My uncle, who has both developed my interest in the Island’s history, and took a similar route to the BTP boys today, followed up to get a plaque placed in Canvey Library to commemorate the victims of the Canvey Floods of 1953 when he was 17/18. Here is a radio clip with him being interviewed about the occasion. The plaque is now in the entrance of the Bay Museum, as it was replaced by a newer one outside the library.
Remembering the Floods – 60 Years On
Below are some of our photographs from various events we documented in 2013 remembering 60 years of the floods. One of these is a ceremony on Canvey Island, and another later in the year at Benfleet Cemetery for those that perished there.
