Beautiful Barns

Canvey Island from Winter Gardens, showing on the left, one of the older bungalows

Canvey Island, on the Thames, which lies north of South Benfleet, Essex is going to become a town of bungalows. Winter Gardens Estate runs roughly north and south, and is almost in the middle of the island. Practically all the land east of the estate, except that between the main road and the river wall, is being converted into building land, Bungalows are growing up everywhere.

Interior of a barn still in active use

Only the land lying east of Winter Gardens and beyond the main road to North Wick still retains its old-time character. All else is very ugly. Leigh Beck is the eastern Bungalow Town.

This barn, as most on Canvey Island, gives on to the main road. The farm roads leading to the land are the dyke walls, built to keep back the water.

Brick House Barn, off the road from Canvey Island

This barn is now fairly dilapidated but still in use. It stands on land south of the main road behind Canvey Village on the road to Hole Haven, on what is known as third acre land originally acquired by the Dutch for building the wall.