Site of Second World War boom defence across the River Crouch, Holliwell Point (EHER 21282)

Now destroyed. A Second World War floating boom defence consisting of 1500 yards of special steel wire with 2000 yards of Kapok rubber sausages and moored with 5 cwt concrete sinkers at 15 points. The obstacle was constructed between June 1940 and October 1943. The remains of fencing which would have formed a permanent barrier at end of the boom can be seen in an aerial photograph from 1960, but by 2008 were no longer extant.

December 2008. World War Two Defences in Maldon survey. A report on Naval Control at Southend and the Thames, written in July 1945, includes a chapter on Burnham-on-Crouch. Regarding the boom across the Crouch, it states: ‘Boom Defence The question now arose (July 1940) of the best method of blocking the river entrance and a conference at Harwich under N.O.I.C. Harwich decided that the width of the river (nearly one mile) at the entrance precluded the use of block ships and the R.N.O. was directed to provide a boom across the entrance, which would be reinforced by extra motor yachts provided by N.O.I.C. Brightlingsea. As the R.N. Base at that time only consisted of the R.N.O. himself, the difficulty of personnel was got over by enlisting the services of the local yacht agents and builders, who, on the necessary wire ropes and drums arriving from Chatham and elsewhere, commenced the manufacture of a floating boom defence, consisting of wire Jackstays, supported by buoys and backed by Kapok sausages. The Admiralty Boom Defence Department were very helpful with plans and material.’ ‘Warhead Mines During July …. one pair (of warhead mines) was laid at the gateway to the Boom defence connected by cables to two of the Military pill boxes at Holliwell Point.’ A schedule of the work done during June 1940 to October 1943 states: ‘Boom Defence. 1500 yards of special steel wire 1½” Jackstay with 2000 yards of Kapok rubber sausages moored with 5 cwt concrete sinkers at 15 points and maintained’. <1> Following the pattern of the boom defence across the River Blackwater, wooden fencing, or scaffolding, would have been erected as a permanent barrier at each end of the boom, typically from the shore, across mud flats, to the floating element. The remains of this fencing can be seen on a 1960 aerial photograph. From TR 0249 9618 just SW of Holliwell Point, it parallels the mud flats to TR 0238 9610 before turning a right angle out into the river to TR 0241 9605. Assuming the floating boom continued this direction, the far end, with probably another fence, would have been in the bay on Wallasea Island known as Great Shell Corner. <2> During a site visit in December 2008, it was noted that nothing remains of the fencing which can be seen on photographs from 2000 and it appears unlikely that it still survives. <3>