Island adventure

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silverthorn2151

Original Poster:

6,298 posts

178 months

Monday 23rd March 2015
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Had a weekend away on Osea Island and got back last night.

What a terrific place to get away from it all. Hopeless for cars as you have to drive across a bumpy pitted causeway at low tide to get there and then there is only 1 road, like a long gravel driveway.

Anyone else been there of know it? It's just off Maldon in the Blackwater.

Scousefella

2,243 posts

180 months

Monday 23rd March 2015
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I empty the sewage tanks on the island - lucky me. laugh

That causeway is a spinecrusher when crossing it fully laden (26 tonnes) and in a hurry because the tide is due in!!!!

Used to be a rehab facility (Amy Winehouse and Gazza have both been on the books) but the owners lost their licence (according to local rumour) due to unauthorised distribution and administration of medication. eek

I assume it is now a spa/leisure facility?

When I go there next I will look out for your floaters, want them back? laugh

silverthorn2151

Original Poster:

6,298 posts

178 months

Monday 23rd March 2015
quotequote all
How funny. I am a building surveyor and love drains as is one of our chums and another is a builder. Between us we had a great conversation on the island infrastructure.

We did wonder what the maximum weight the causeway would take, specifically in the context of a scaffold lorry to repair some of the buildings.

It's very much a place to chill out and do nothing. There is a small gym and a 4 person sauna (currently out of order)and thats as close to a spa as it gets. There is a great website to show what the island has available. It seems that the latest owners have concentrated on making the various properties wind and watertight and smart internally. The properties should not be judged by the exteriors.

It's expensive unless in a group, our accommodation was theCaptains House and it is over £3000 for the weekend. It does sleep18 quite easily however.

We walked round the perimeter several times and ate too much. All in, not a bad mixture.

Scousefella

2,243 posts

180 months

Monday 23rd March 2015
quotequote all
Well in that case you will be pleased to know that the on-site sewage plant has a 2000 gallon primary tank, a 1000 gallon secondary unit and a self contained clinker bed/soakaway.


silverthorn2151

Original Poster:

6,298 posts

178 months

Monday 23rd March 2015
quotequote all
Interesting. towards the south west part of the island we found a vented manhole cover connected to an old salt glazed drain. The chamber was close to the beach and the pipe was coming from the interior. I guessed it was rainwater because of the vented chamber but I would have assumed soakaways rather than drains.

All in all, an interesting place.

Jaguar steve

9,232 posts

209 months

Tuesday 24th March 2015
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Tha house was built IIRC as a dry retreat for alcoholics by a member of one of the big brewing families -Whitbread?- who was horrified by the drunkenness he saw in 18 century London. Local fishermen used to do a trade sneaking booze onto the island. It's a great overnight anchorage on the southside in plenty of water and lovely and quiet once the jetski morons have run out of fuel and gone back to their caravans.

I believe the Beckhams were interested in buying Osea recently but didn't go ahead because the more inteligent one out of the couple didn't believe Essex could possibly have an island as it wasn't on the coast...

silverthorn2151

Original Poster:

6,298 posts

178 months

Tuesday 24th March 2015
quotequote all
That's true. A chap in the Charrington family set up his drying out facility there. Its got quite an interesting military hgistory too. In WWI they ran 'skimmers' or early torpedo boats out of the Island and they were top secret. They went on raids to the Baltic and one chap won the VC.

The history we read said over 1000 sailors were stationed there at one time.

There is a big house on the south side that is in part set up as a recording studio.

We got chatting to one of the managers and he said that several times a year the island is hired out in entirety for corporate type events and parties with many flying in by helicopter. Usually you are not allowed on unless staying there. There are actually 135 odd bedrooms on the island but its very small. They set up villages of tents and yurts as necessary.

I took the Alfa 159 and it was fine over the causeway, if a little grubby now. My 9-3 Aero convertible with a Hirsch front splitter would have stood no chance, which I had guessed at. Our gang has been away many times to all sorts of places. Because of the causeway and the feeling of isolation it felt so much more interesting and exciting that other places we have been.

I love Essex.

Red Devil

13,055 posts

207 months

Monday 30th March 2015
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silverthorn2151 said:
That's true. A chap in the Charrington family set up his drying out facility there. Its got quite an interesting military history too. In WWI they ran 'skimmers' or early torpedo boats out of the Island and they were top secret. They went on raids to the Baltic and one chap won the VC.
The boats were CMBs - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coastal_Motor_Boat
The VC winner was Lt. Augustus Agar. Along with his medal he was promoted to Lt Cdr.
A proper 'sea dog' - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augustus_Agar

silverthorn2151 said:
The history we read said over 1000 sailors were stationed there at one time.
I think I know where you might have read that. The figure is somewhat exaggerated.
The complement was a little under 700 - http://unlockingessex.essexcc.gov.uk/uep/content_p...

A film clip from the time - http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02glfrh

silverthorn2151 said:
There is a big house on the south side that is in part set up as a recording studio.
Not a surprise, given that the island is owned by the Sugababes' music producer Nigel Frieda (brother of hairdresser John).

silverthorn2151 said:
We got chatting to one of the managers and he said that several times a year the island is hired out in entirety for corporate type events and parties with many flying in by helicopter. Usually you are not allowed on unless staying there. There are actually 135 odd bedrooms on the island but its very small. They set up villages of tents and yurts as necessary.
.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2414481/Os...

silverthorn2151

Original Poster:

6,298 posts

178 months

Monday 30th March 2015
quotequote all
Why thank you, I shall idle my way through those later on.

We couldn't see too much of the recording studio from having our noses pressed against the window. As a building surveyor being there with another building surveyor and a builder we slipped into assessments of repairs etc whilst wives talked about some nonsense or other in the gazebo outside.

I would love to be staying at the Captains House under a glorious hot sky in July.

You have a special interest or a connection to Osea?