Below the Wrack Line: Marking 70 years since the Canvey Island floods
A free exhibition and film screening, ‘Below the Wrack Line’, will open on Saturday 28th January at Canvey Island’s War Memorial Hall from 18.30 to 20.30 to mark the 70th anniversary of the 1953 Canvey Island floods.
Local residents will be able to watch an award-winning film about Canvey, ‘Until the Tide Creeps In’, view a collection of contemporary photographs taken by residents exploring the experience of living with wetlands, and hear survivors of the 1953 flood share their experiences.
The 1953 flood was caused by a storm surge, which has been described as “the worst peacetime disaster that the UK has known”.
Fifty-eight people died and 13,000 were evacuated from their homes after floodwater inundated the island in the middle of the night on 31 January 1953.
Kate Monson, Canvey Island BRIC Engagement Coordinator at Thames21, the environmental charity who are co-running the exhibition, said: “We very much hope as many people as possible will take the opportunity to visit our public exhibition, and share their stories and memories of the Canvey Island flood. We will host a drinks reception from 18:30, with the film screening starting at 19:30. The photographs will also be on display in the Knightswick Shopping Centre on Canvey Island on Wednesday 1st and Thursday 2nd of February from 10:00 to 16:00.”
Please contact Thames21 Canvey Island Officer Lucy Jackson if you want to attend the exhibition at lucy.jackson@thames21.org.uk or 07908410844
Pic featured in header. Sluice gate. Copyright Beverly Pyle.
