Osea Island

Coordinates: 51°43′21″N 0°46′16″E / 51.7225°N 0.7711°E / 51.7225; 0.7711

Osea Island (Old English: Ōsgȳþes īeg, "Osyth's island"), formerly also Osey, is an inhabited island in the estuary of the River Blackwater, Essex, East England. It is approximately 380 acres (1.5 km²) in size and is connected to the north bank of the river by a causeway, covered at high water.

Northey Island lies about a mile to the west and Mersea Island is about five miles to the north east.

Famous residents

Before 2004, the island had a small community of tenants such as the painter Luke Elwes, photographer Helene Binet, and philosopher David Papineau.

History

Military use

Osea Island was the site of a Coastal Motor Torpedo Boat base during the First World War and 2,000 sailors were billeted there, mainly in temporary huts which were removed after the war.Commander Agar was awarded the Victoria Cross while stationed on the island. See his book Baltic Episode for details .

In 1913 the British Deperdussin Aeroplane Company tested a newly developed seaplane at Osea. It was a single-engined seaplane with two large floats. It was piloted by Lieutenant Porte, the managing director of the company and took off from the deep water channel to the south of the island. It had a successful ten-minute flight.