A vision of Britain through time
A vision of Britain from 1801 to now.
Including maps, statistical trends and historical descriptions.
A vision of Britain through time
A vision of Britain from 1801 to now.
Including maps, statistical trends and historical descriptions.
MERSEA, an island in Lexden district, Essex; on the right side of the mouth of the river Colne, averagely 3½ miles WSW of Brightlingsea r. station, and 7¼ S by E of Colchester. It has an oval form, 5 miles long and 2¼ broad; is bounded, along the S side, by the sea between the mouth of the Colne and the mouth of the Blackwater; and is separated from the mainland, along the N side, by Pyefleet creek, famous for oysters, crossed by a causeway, and dry at low water. The island is prevailingly flat, but fertile and wooded; and is divided into the two parishes of East Mersea and West Mersea. It was known to the Saxons as Meresige; it seems to have been occupied by the Romans, probably as a good station for defending the neighbouring rivers and coasts; and it was, for a brief period, in 994, held by the Daues. Traces of several barrows are on it; a large mosaic pavement, ascertained to extend under West Mersea church, was discovered in 1730; and some other antiquities have been found. A strong dyke or sea-wall defends the entire island.
(John Marius Wilson, Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales (1870-72))
| Linked entities: | |
|---|---|
| Feature Description: | "an island" (ADL Feature Type: "islands") |
| Administrative units: | Lexden and Winstree RegD/PLU Essex AncC |
| Place names: | MERESIGE | MERSEA |
| Place: | Mersea |
Go to the linked place page for a location map, and for access to other historical writing about the place. Pages for linked administrative units may contain historical statistics and information on boundaries.