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Canvey Island sits on the edge of the Thames Estuary, reclaimed from the sea over centuries and protected by the sturdy sea walls that now define its perimeter. It’s a low-lying landscape, just five miles long and three miles wide, connected to mainland Essex by two bridges at Benfleet. Life here is shaped by the tides; the seafront at the island's eastern end offers wide views of the shipping lanes, while the western side remains more industrial, a nod to the area’s history in petrochemical storage. Historically, it was Dutch engineers in the 17th century who first drained the marshland - evidence of which remains in the distinct octagonal cottages still standing today. It is a self-contained community with its own busy high street and a strong sense of independence, where the flat terrain makes it easy to get around on foot or by bike, though there is only one main road on and off the island, which dictates the pace of local travel.