| Osea Island | |
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Osea Island
Osea Island shown within Essex |
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| OS grid reference | TL913065 |
|---|---|
| District | Maldon |
| Shire county | Essex |
| Region | East |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Maldon |
| Dialling code | 07810 |
| Police | Essex |
| Fire | Essex |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| EU Parliament | East of England |
| List of places: UK • England • Essex | |
Osea Island 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.
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Before 2004, the island had a small community of tenants such as the painter Luke Elwes, author Rodrick Kalberer, photographer Helene Binet and Den Phillips, and architect Raoul Bunschoten and philosopher David Papineau.
Osea Island was the site of a Coastal Motor Torpedo Boat base during World War I and 2000 sailors were billeted there, mainly in temporary huts which were removed after the war.[1] Commander Agar was awarded the Victoria Cross while stationed on the island. See his book "Baltic Episode" for details .[2]
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.[1]
In World War II, the island was occupied by the army.[1]
The 1979 Children's Film Foundation film 'Black Island', produced by Kingsgate Films and directed by Ben Bolt, was shot on and around the island.[3] This rare film is not on general release but can be obtained from collectors. The film is about two young castaways who get captured by escaped convicts on the island, and their subsequent escape attempts.
The television adaptation of Susan Hill's novel The Woman in Black, made for ITV in 1989, was filmed on the causeway.
Osea Island holds a place in the history of drug and alcohol treatment in Britain. It was formerly owned by a member of the Charrington brewing family, Frederick Nicholas Charrington,[1] who also founded the Tower Hamlets Mission ,[4] which continues to house a drug and alcohol treatment centre, Charis.
Charrington established a retreat for wealthy alcoholics on Osea Island, among whom it is rumoured that Walter Sickert was included.
From 2005 to 2010, it was a rehabilitation centre specializing in the treatment of addiction problems and mental heath called the Causeway Retreat, managed by former nurse Brendan Quinn.
In 2008, Amy Winehouse checked into the rehab clinic on the island.
The Causeway Retreat was refused registration on 30 September 2010 by the Care Quality Commission, and Brendan Quinn was suspended as a nurse by the Nursing and Midwifery Council on 20 September 2010.[5] On the 19th November 2010 Brendan Quinn's Twenty 7 Management, which had run the Causeway Retreat, pleaded guilty at Chelmsford Magistrate's Court, and was fined £8,000 plus £30,000 costs for running an unlicensed hospital.[6] District Judge David Cooper said the firm's standards "would really shame a third world country".[7]