Hamford Water

{{Short description|Tidal inlet in Essex, England}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox SSSI |image = Hamford Water National Nature Reserve - geograph.org.uk - 1182562.jpg |image_caption= |name = Hamford Water |aos = Essex |interest = Biological |gridref = {{gbmappingsmall|TM 235255}} |area = {{convert|2185.8|ha}} |notifydate = 1986 |map = [[File:Hamford Water.png|250px|[http://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=sssiIndex&query=HYPERLINK%3D%271001010%27 ''Magic Map'']]] }} {{Designation list | designation1 = Ramsar | designation1_offname = Hamford Water | designation1_date = 8 June 1993 | designation1_number = 607<ref>{{Cite web|title=Hamford Water|website=[[Ramsar Convention|Ramsar]] Sites Information Service|url=https://rsis.ramsar.org/ris/607|access-date=25 April 2018}}</ref>}} '''Hamford Water''' is a {{convert|2185.8|ha|adj=on}} biological [[Site of Special Scientific Interest]] between [[Walton-on-the-Naze]] and [[Harwich]] in Essex.<ref name=citation>{{cite web|url= http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1001010.pdf|title= Hamford Water citation|series= Sites of Special Scientific Interest|publisher= Natural England|access-date= 27 May 2016|archive-date= 4 March 2016|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160304032143/http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1001010.pdf|url-status= dead}}</ref><ref name=map>{{cite web|url=http://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=sssiIndex&query=HYPERLINK%3D%271001010%27 |title=Map of Hamford Water|series= Sites of Special Scientific Interest|publisher=Natural England|access-date= 27 May 2016}}</ref> The site is a tidal inlet which has marsh grasslands, creeks, mud and sand flats, salt marshes, islands and beaches. It is described by [[Natural England]] as "of international importance for breeding [[little tern]]s and wintering [[Brant goose|dark-bellied brent geese]], wildfowl and waders, and of national importance for many other bird species." Rare plants include [[hog's fennel]] and [[slender hare's-ear]]. The main invertebrates are worms and thin-shelled molluscs.<ref name=citation/> The largest island, [[Horsey Island]], can be reached on foot at low tide across The Wade from [[Kirby-le-Soken]].

It is also a [[Ramsar site]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-1389|title=Designated and Proposed Ramsar sites in the UK and Overseas Territories & Crown Dependencies|publisher=Joint Nature Conservation Committee|access-date=27 May 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://rsis.ramsar.org/ris/607?__goaway_challenge=meta-refresh&__goaway_id=346b391bb908b08fad8bbb04fc9011c9&__goaway_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F|title=Hamford Water|publisher=Ramsar Sites Information Service|access-date=2025-12-21}}</ref> a [[Special Protection Area]],<ref>{{cite web|url= http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-2012-theme=default |title= Hamford Water |publisher=Joint Nature Conservation Committee|access-date= 27 May 2016}}</ref> a [[Nature Conservation Review]] site, and most of it is a [[National Nature Reserve]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/essexs-national-nature-reserves/essexs-national-nature-reserves|title=Essex's National Nature Reserves|publisher=Natural England|access-date= 27 May 2016}}</ref> Two small areas, [[Skippers Island]] and [[John Weston Nature Reserve]], are managed by the [[Essex Wildlife Trust]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.essexwt.org.uk/reserves/skippers-island|title= Skipper's Island |publisher=Essex Wildlife Trust|access-date= 27 May 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.essexwt.org.uk/reserves/john-weston |title= John Weston Nature Reserve |publisher= Essex Wildlife Trust |access-date= 27 May 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160401234549/http://www.essexwt.org.uk/reserves/john-weston |archive-date= 1 April 2016 |url-status= dead }}</ref>

Hanford Water was used as the basis for [[Arthur Ransome]]'s novel ''[[Secret Water]]''.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Hardyment |first1=Christina |author1-link=Christina Hardyment |title=Arthur Ransome and Captain Flint's trunk |date=1984 |publisher=Jonathan Cape |location=London |isbn=0224029894 |page=186}}</ref>

As of 2017, most of Bramble Island (on the North side of the area, now part of the mainland) was used by [[EPC Groupe|Exchem]] for explosives testing.<ref>{{cite web |first=Tom |last=Bolton |url=http://www.caughtbytheriver.net/2017/07/08/essex-coastline-walking-tom-bolton/ |title=Edge Walking # 9: Thorpe-le-Soken to Harwich |website=www.caughtbytheriver.net}}{{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170711231149/http://www.caughtbytheriver.net/2017/07/08/essex-coastline-walking-tom-bolton/ |date=11 July 2017 }}</ref> In previous years it had been the site of an explosives factory, which saw fatal incidents occur in 1913,<ref>{{cite web |title=Explosion of nitro-glycerine in final washing house at Factory No. 188, Essex. |quote=Accident no. 99, 1913. No. CCV. Report to the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Home Department on the circumstances attending an explosion of nitro-glycerine which occurred, in the final washing house of the factory of the Explosives and Chemical Products, Limited, at Bramble Island, in the county of Essex, on the 11th March, 1913, by Major H. Coningham, H.M. inspector of explosives |url=https://catalog.libraries.psu.edu/catalog/47783695 |publisher=House of Commons |access-date=6 May 2026 |date=1913}}</ref> 1928,<ref>{{cite news |title=EXPLOSION IN POWDER FACTORY. FIVE PERSONS KILLED. |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/KCC19281016.2.22 |access-date=6 May 2026 |publisher=Australian Press Association |quote=(Received 10.30 a.m.) London, October 15. (1928)}}</ref> 1942,<ref>{{cite web |title=Wilson Charles Geoffrey BALDWIN GC |url=https://vcgca.org/our-people/profile/1432/wilson-charles-geoffrey-baldwin |website=vcgca.org, Victoria Cross and George Cross Association |access-date=6 May 2026 |language=en |quote=20th November, 1942, a violent explosion occurred in a building in which explosives were being mixed, and resulted in the immediate death of the two occupants of the building, the complete destruction of the building itself, and considerable damage to adjacent structures}}</ref> 1950,<ref>{{cite web |title=AIR VIEW OF ESSEX EXPLOSION TODAY |quote=Explosion in an explosives factory near Harwich killed three men and put twenty-five men and women workers in hospital today. One man is missing . Accident occurred at the mixing room of the Bramble Island ( Essex ) explosives and chemical products Ltd factory 5 miles south of Harwich. Men were working in the mixing house and the missing man was wheeling a trolley of explosives when the explosion occurred. Windows were shattered at Clacton, 10 miles away. PICTURE SHOWS:- An air view of the Bramble Island explosives factory, after the explosion today. Demo Stock Photo - Alamy |url=https://www.alamy.com/air-view-of-essex-explosion-today-explosion-in-an-explosives-factory-near-harwich-killed-three-men-and-put-twenty-five-men-and-women-workers-in-hospital-today-one-man-is-missing-accident-occurred-at-the-mixing-room-of-the-bramble-island-essex-explosives-and-chemical-products-ltd-factory-5-miles-south-of-harwich-men-were-working-in-the-mixing-house-and-the-missing-man-was-wheeling-a-trolley-of-explosives-when-the-explosion-occurred-windows-were-shattered-at-clacton-10-miles-away-picture-shows-an-air-view-of-the-bramble-island-explosives-factory-after-the-explosion-today-demo-image624413355.html |website=www.alamy.com |access-date=6 May 2026 |language=en}}</ref> and 1956.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Schofield |first1=H.H |title=Report on a fatal accident in an explosives factory at Bramble Island, Great Oakley, Essex on 3rd. July, 1956 |url=https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/catalog/1218835 |via=catalogue.nla.gov.au |access-date=6 May 2026 |publisher=Her Majesty's Stationery Office |date=1957}}</ref>

==See also== * [[Beaumont Cut]]

==References== {{Commons category|Hamford Water}} {{Reflist}}

[[Category:Special Protection Areas in England]] [[Category:Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Essex]] [[Category:Nature Conservation Review sites]] [[Category:Coastal environment of Essex]] [[Category:Ramsar sites in England]] [[Category:National nature reserves in England]]