Isle of Sheppey

The Isle of Sheppey is a small (36 square miles, 94 km²) island off the northern coast of Kent in the Thames Estuary, some 25 miles (40km) to the east of central London. Sheppey is derived from the ancient Saxon "Sceapige", meaning isle of sheep, and even today the extensive marshes which make up a considerable proportion of the island provide grazing for large flocks of them. The island, like much of North Kent, comprises London Clay and is a plentiful source of fossils.

Related Topics:
Kent - Thames Estuary - London Clay

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Much of the island is low-lying, although two areas – the Isle of Harty and the Isle of Elmley – show slightly higher contours. The following is about life in Sheerness in the 1860s, taken from a report in The Sheerness Times Guardian in 1931:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"The sea wall of this period consisted solely of a mud bank. On the seaward side of this bank at Marine Parade was a water pump for the purpose of pumping sea water to fill the water carts for street watering – a method used to conserve the town's water supply. Records show that the original esplanade was built at a cost of between £6000 and £7000. The money was raised by loan, the last instalment being paid in 1906."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Some Sheppey inhabitants like to call themselves Swampies – a term that began as an insult but has become a term of endearment.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~