Burnham-on-Crouch the village in East Anglia where our Richmond ancestors came from. It is was famous for oysters and smuggling. [click on small pics for a larger view] Burnham-on-Crouch has many historic "listed" buildings along the quay (Ye Olde White Hart Hotel) and a few have small gardens. Some places are boat builders, some are oyster and mussel dealers' shops.  "Ye Olde White Hart Hotel"  overlooking the Burnham River   "Ship Inn" opposite the Clock Tower, on the corner of Ship Road. Here an old man  was allowed to drink there with his black dog at his feet! I had my lunch there 1997, and now 10 years later I have found out that one resident  publican, was  Alexander CRANMER whose daughter Eliza married James Richmond Customs officer - an uncle of my gt gandfather HJR	The Burnham Clock Tower - High Street - a landmark in the centre of town just behind the buildings on the quay. This was built in memory of Laban Sweeting christened  in St Marys church but not entered in the Registers as were many others christened between 1780s -1790s . [Proved by  a descendant of this man - Gary Schroder, Quebec] High Street as you enter the centre of Burnham with the clock tower just visible - left of centre in 1997.
Most buildings are pre 1920s in the centre of this village. The sea around here was famous for oyster beds and mussels.
Nowadays there are sailing regattas. The river and Burnham quay c1920s.- wooden sailing boats. The Quay beside the River Crouch which was about 30 feet below the quay when the tide was out, with some sand along the banks and many jetties jutting into it.
St Mary's, the only Anglican church in Burnham is about 1 mile north of the centre of the present village centre. Prior to the Middle Ages this higher area was the centre of Burnham. The town moved down to the riverside to develop sea trade and oyster dredging.
Many of the tombstones are above ground and some are little bigger than the body, in the shape of a mummy. This was probably done because the region was very prone to floods if dikes holding back the sea were broken. The walls of the tower are of Kentish ragstone brought by sea but the facing of the rest of the church are what seems to me like oyster shells. Construction took place from the twelfth to the fourteenth century.

The wrought iron fences in photos earlier this century were probably used for wartime steel production.

 "Burnham" where the church is high above the town and   "The Town" on the banks of  the Crouch River.

Scrimshaw Mug of William Richmond of Burnham, mariner who died 1828.  Carved horn mug / cup no handle- about 6 inches high. Sailors often did this carving to pass the time at sea.

Burnham Related Data : Estate and Family records ERO Fonds   DREW FAMILY OF SOUTHCHURCH Level: Series  Manor of Weekes Park Hall in Wix Reference Code  D/DS 83/22 Dates of Creation 23 July 1755  Memorandum by John RICHMOND, sen., of Burnham that he has 'well known' an oyster laying called Full Haven Laying in Wakering between layings called Brick and Carters, that Mr.John Stonard took possession of the laying, laid oysters therein and has taken them away again, and about six years ago offered to let the laying to RICHMOND Mark of John RICHMOND Date From 1755  Date To 1755 DEEDS OF BURNHAM ERO Reference Code  D/DU 200/1 Dates of Creation 13 Oct.1769 Scope and Content Probate of the Will (30 September 1767) of John RICHMOND, sen., of Burnham, oyster dredger Bequeaths messuage in Burnham wherein he was then living to wife Margaret for life, then to grandson Daniel Rogers and his heirs; bequeaths freehold oyster laying called Clift Laying in Althorne to grandson Saml. RICHMOND and his heirs Date From 1767 --Date To 1769 ---------------------------------- To read about the Smugglers of Burnham see this book that was in the ERO Chelmsford in 1997 and it mentions  boats and  Richmond smugglers!  Hervey Benham, The Smugglers' Century: The Story of Smuggling on the Essex Coast, 1730-1830 (Essex Record Office Publications, 1986)  Fascinating history of this place including the Richmonds.

St Mary's Font and  list of Ministers. Many thanks to all who are contributors to this site!   St Mary's Cemetery [ I think- Liz]      Burnham-on-Crouch 2003.

Grave stones In memory of  Lucy Emma Richmond & Lucy  [ born Lucy Bowton ] in memory of Peter Richmond her husband at Burnham on Crouch, Essex

Memorial to those killed in  World war 1 and World War 2 from Burnham, Essex, England includes one S.E.Richmond.
[ I must try and find out who his full name was- Liz]