"Essex in the sun" a Canvey Island Travel Page by sourbugger

Well hardly....This is Essex in the UK, the only thing the islanders may be drenched with is a whiff of an oil refinery or the cackling of the chavvy peasants.

Canvey developed quite quickly back in the early 20th century when Businessmen sold plots of land to Londoners looking for a 'holiday home'. Ingenius selling techniques apparantly included throwing a Christmas turkey in with the deal. Some of the rather individual creations that resulted still remain.

Plans were laid by a local businessman to create a completely new seaside resort, close enough to London to rake in Millions. Acres of 'Winter gardens', complete with a a monorail were laid out, but he went sadly bankrupt, and the plans came to nothing.

Nowadays the process is being repeated with more wealthy Londonders (and every cab driver I have ever met) building a second home out on the Costa Brava or the Algarve.

Canvey never really made it as a 'holiday hotspot' !