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The Grove, Leigh-on-Sea

Culture
Canvey Island pub rock
Often described as ‘menacing’, or if the writer is feeling more generous, ‘seedy’, Canvey Island’s greatest claim to fame – after the flood of ’53 – is as one of the key progenitors of the pub rock scene, which revolved around Canvey sons Dr Feelgood as well as the likes of Wilko Johnson, Eddie & The Hot Rods and Nick Lowe. There are still a couple of places to hear live music on the island, but your best bet is to wait until the annual Lee Brilleaux Memorials, named after the late Dr Feelgood frontman, which takes place each May at the Oysterfleet Hotel. The Oysterfleet is built on the site once occupied by the Dr Feelgood Music Bar, the venue for Brilleaux’s last public gig before his death in 1994.
Oysterfleet Hotel, Knightswick Rd, Canvey Island (01268 510 111).
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The secluded seaside views of Leigh-on-Sea

The shoreline at Leigh-on-Sea

Leigh-on-Sea's coastal flats

Thaxted

St Mary the Virgin, Great Warley
The UK’s finest art nouveau church, St Mary’s was consecrated in 1902 with an interior designed by Sir William Reynolds-Stephens, the British arts-and-crafts sculptor. The church – one of only three art nouveau churches in the country – has been awarded Grade I-listed status and its lychgate has Grade II status. The liberal use of mother-of-pearl has earned the church the unofficial name ‘the pearl church’.
www.stmary-greatwarley.org.uk

Castle House
This large country house in Dedham is home to the Sir Alfred Munnings museum, celebrating the work of the artist best known for his paintings of racehorses and famous for wanting to join Sir Winston Churchill in kicking Pablo Picasso in the knackers. The house itself, Munnings’ former home, has been well restored and is based in spacious grounds. Two galleries featuring Munnings’ work are attached to the house. Dedham was also the birthplace of John Constable, and is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Castle House, Dedham, Colchester (01206 322 127). Open Easter-Oct Sun, Wed, bank hol Mon 2-5pm; Aug 2-5pm Thur, Sat.

Mole Hall Wildlife Park
Just outside Saffron Walden this small wildlife park has otters, monkeys, goats, flamingo, deer, a fantastic butterfly pavilion and a water maze. The last feature isn’t actually underwater – that would be stupid – but is a normal maze with built in sprinklers to soak those who’ve taken a wrong turn. Deer- and otter-feeding is another popular attraction.
Mole Hall Wildlife Park & Butterfly Pavilion, Widdington, Saffron Walden, Essex CB11 3SS (01799 540 400). 10am-5.30pm daily. Adm £6.50, concs from £5.20.

Museum of Power
Not a museum devoted to political control but one about different machines designed to generate energy through the ages, such as steam engines, water mills and clockwork. Housed in a former water-pumping station, this is a peculiar and fascinating museum that also boasts a steam-driven miniature railway that travels through the seven acres of woods and meadows that make up the museum grounds.
Museum of Power, Steam Pumping Station, Hatfield Rd, Langford, Maldon (01621 843 183/www.museumofpower.org.uk).

HIDDEN GEM
House on the Hill Toy Museum
The largest privately-owned toy museum in Europe, this wonderful collection was built from one man’s love of Hornby and now features 80,000 exhibits dating from the Victorian era. There’s also a collection of rock memorabilia and a large number of vintage slot machines. Check out the old board games based on Tony Hancock, the wide selection of kids’ annuals and the astounding, and rather scary, collection of Sindys. The Toy Museum is connected to Mountfitchet Castle, a mock Norman village and castle experience, located on the site of one of William the Conquerer’s earliest forts.
The House on the Hill Toy Museum, Bayley Walls, 10 Grove Hill, Stansted, Mountfitchet, (01279 813 237/www.stanstedtoymuseum.com). Open Feb half-term-Nov daily 10am-5pm. Adm £8.50 incl entry to Mountfitchet Castle.

Mersea Island Vineyard
Mersea Island, the most easterly inhabited island in the UK and famous for its oysters, also has a vineyard and brewery. Tours of the former can be privately booked, where you will learn about winemaking and the grape-growing cycle. While in town, you should also sample the Mersea Island Brewery’s beers, including the Oyster, into each cask of which eight local oysters are added. The island also holds a regatta, Mersea Week, in August, which includes the round-the-island race, the only problem being you can’t actually sail round the island without hitting the road that connects it to the mainland, so sailors need to enlist helpers who will carry their boat across the road.
Mersea Island Vineyard, Rewsalls Lane East, Mersea (01206 385 900/www.merseawine.com).

Southend Pier
The longest pleasure pier in the world, built in 1830 and immortalised in ‘Minder’, was devastated by fire in 2005 but is now starting to slowly reopen. The fire destroyed the amusements, gift shop, pub and restaurant, but a walkway now allows access to the Pier Head with its RNLI station and gift shop. The restaurant is currently being renovated. The pier is a Grade II-listed building and extends more than a mile into the Thames Estuary. It has its own railway, though since the pier station burned down in 2005 a temporary stop has been built to take passengers as close to the area of the blaze as possible.
Southend Pier Museum, Marine Parade, Southend-on-Sea (01702 611 214). Open May-Oct Tue, Wed, Sat, Sun and bank hol Mon. Adm £1.

Greenery | Culture | History | Nightlife