Medieval and post-medieval town, Burnham-on-Crouch (EHER 11228)

A medieval/post-medieval town, the market being granted in 1253. The present centre of Burnham represents a medieval town planted to take advantage of sea-borne trade.

Medieval town. <1> The present centre of Burnham represents a medieval town planted to take advantage of sea-borne trade. The town lies 3/4 mile South of the church (St Mary's) which may be the relict of an earlier village nucleus, the latter occupying a position comparable to other villages in the peninsula. Burnham town is the only Medieval settlement in the Dengie to be sited directly on the coast. The town exhibits planned elements, notably the High Street, widened for the market. The orientation of the High Street, tangential to the quay suggests planning to allow for the maximum number of plots of different size to back onto the quay, allowing access straight from ship to warehouse. A market charter was granted in 1253 to the Fitzwalter family who owned the manor and this is probably the approximate date for the foundation of the town. The post-medieval economy was based on the fishing-trade, especially oysters, and ancillary trades such as boat-building and coopering. On the Southern side of the High Street 18th century houses were built at the rear of the medieval tenement blocks, facing onto the Quay (see EHER 25026-25030). In the 19th century expansion of the town Northwards with the building of Chapel Road, Ship Road and Granville Terrace. <2> <3> <4> <5> See photos of the quay and High Street. <6> See also EHER 18400 for the market place. NRHE data transfer: Burnham-on-Crouch. <7>