Nostalgic memories of Canvey Island's local history

Share your own memories of Canvey Island and read what others have said

For many years now, we've been inviting visitors to our web site to add their own memories to share their experiences of life as it was when the photographs in our archive were taken. From brief one-liners explaining a little bit more about the image depicted, to great, in-depth accounts of a childhood when things were rather different than today (and everything inbetween!). We've had many contributors recognising themselves or loved ones in our photographs.

Why not add your memory today and become part of our Memories Community to help others in the future delve back into their past.

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Displaying all 5 Memories

We were on holiday. I remember 5 of us in a chalet. I was the eldest child about 9 years old. There was an entertainment area where we attended the Woody Woodpecker Show. Can vaguely remember a small beach. We had to get water once from a standpipe as something went wrong in the chalet?
It would have been mid August 1970 when I had my first holiday here, together with my parents, aunt, and our two dogs. I was 8 years old. It was 50 years ago this month. We rented a chalet for two weeks. There was a duck pond in front of it. Canvey and Kings memories: The sweet shop near the camp run by a lady who owned a lot of dogs! Those 4 wheeled bikes with bench seats you could hire on camp. They were ...see more
It must have been in the 60`s. We stayed in a caravan and loved it all. Flying a kite or playing football then walking along the sea wall and having a swim. We always walked to the funfair in the evenings where I absolutely loved the helter skelter with that huge bowl at the bottom. Just wonderful fun. We also took trips to Southend, Rayleigh Castle and Shoeburyness. We came by train from Fenchurch ...see more
I have never seen Canvey Island when it got hit by the flood in 1959. I know what it did to Canvey but I was looking at the black and white pictures that my grandad showed me and it was different to what it looks like now and I'm only 15 - what a change.
My family and I stayed in a caravan at Thorney bay beach camp, oh my god what fun. There was nothing there so you made your own fun. Walking along the sea wall to the funfair every night, and eating saveloy and chips along the sea wall returning to to Thorney bay. I remember my last holiday there when I was 16 and I walked down to the store, bought the Sun newspaper and found out Elvis had died. I spent ...see more