The History of 1 Cockle Shed & The Harvey Family, Leigh Old Town, Essex

The origins of the row of cockle sheds situated along the creek in the old town of Leigh-On-Sea, Essex can be traced back to a time when they were little more than wooden shacks sitting in front of an ever-growing mountain of discarded shells.

No. 1 Cockle Shed Row was run by Richard HARVEY from c.1892. Richard was from a local Leigh fishing family and was amongst the first to start selling directly from the sheds.

This A5 booklet contains 24 pages of fascinating information on the Leigh cockle industry during the 19th century, the origins of no.1 Cockle Shed Row and the lives of the Harvey family who ran it for several decades. It also includes several illustrations, photographs, maps and newspaper reports.

A mixture of history and genealogy, this booklet is a must for anyone with a connection to Old Leigh or who simply enjoys nibbling cockles by the creek!