Last Alteration: Sunday 07 April 2013
Tillingham Marshes
Tillingham Marshes
Howe Farm, Tillingham, Essex
Tillingham Marshes form part of a natural defensive barrier against the encroaching sea on the east coast of Essex; a long dyke separates fields on one side with the raw salt marsh on the other, whose stretches help to ease tidal action. It is owned by St. Paul's Cathedral, who were gifted the land in 604AD by the King of Kent.
The marshes came under threat from plans by power firm nPower to develop a large wind farm on the peninsula. The plan was eventually dropped in 2005 when St. Paul's decided not to allow it to proceed, having been opposed by local residents and those concerned with the wildlife in the area.
How to get here:
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Road: A12 - From the A12 at Chelmsford, take the A414 turnoff east towards Danbury and Maldon. At the roundabout with the B1010, follow that towards Cold Norton. When you reach that village, turn left onto the B1018 which heads towards Southminster, and then bear left onto the B1021 towards Bradwell, where it then passes through Asheldham and then bears right and through Dengie. As the road bears left through Tillingham, carry straight on onto Grange Road and then follow this until its end at Grange and Howe farms (note: it turns left at Tyler's Farm, with a phonebox opposite). Parking: roadside (don't block farm turnings!) Then make way along public footpath through the Howe Farm fields to the dyke. +
Access: publicStatus: recognisableMarshes
Photograph taken: 30th September 2006 by Chuck Foster
Carnival of Monsters (2)
Filmed: 30-31 May 1972
The Doctor looks out across the marshland.
Photograph taken: 30th September 2006 by Chuck Foster
Carnival of Monsters (2)
Filmed: 30-31 May 1972
The Doctor and Jo make their way through the marsh.
Photograph taken: 30th September 2006 by Chuck Foster
Carnival of Monsters (2)
Filmed: 30-31 May 1972
The Doctor and Jo make their way through the marsh.
Photograph taken: 30th September 2006 by Chuck Foster
Carnival of Monsters (3)
Filmed: 30-31 May 1972
The Doctor rescues Jo from the marsh.
Additional Notes:
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It is quite a hike from Grange Road along the footpath through the fields to the dyke (approx a mile each way!). But its quite worth the view when you ascend the dyke to see what lies beyond!
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The main problem with this location is that, though it is clearly recognisable as the marsh flats, over thirty-five years of tidal action will have changed all the main channels across the marshes around! Photos are best-guesses, based on the expectation that the film crew wouldn't have strayed far from the safety of the dyke in order to film!
Other nearby locations:
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Asheldham Nature Reserve (Carnival of Monsters). Road: Follow Grange Road back towards Tillingham, and then go straight on along the 1021 towards Asheldham and Southminster. At the village, turn right into Rushes road. Parking: Rushes Road. The footpath can be found along the main road as it bears left (opposite the Lafarge Aggregates working quarry).
Additional locations as the crow flies:
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Red Sands Sea Fort (Fury from the Deep): 22.62 miles. 
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Kingsnorth Industrial Estate (Inferno): 22.90 miles.
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Stone House Farm (caves) (The Mutants): 26.68 miles.
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Sky Charter UK Limited (The Mind of Evil): 28.68 miles.
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Botany Bay (Fury from the Deep): 29.73 miles.
In the News:
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8 Apr 2005: The Independent - "St. Paul's scraps plans for wind farm"
Further links about the location:
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University of Cambridge - Research into the effects of saltmarsh techniques against flood risk.
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John Whittingdale, MP for Maldon and East Chelmsford - A Doctor Who fan whose consituency includes the marshes!
Related Stories
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Carnival of Monsters [30-31 May 1972]: Marshland inhabited by Drashigs
Information, downloads, photographs and other media are provided for reference and for personal use only (planning visits etc.) - they remain the copyright of their respective authors and may not be duplicated on any other website or media without prior permission.
All screen captures are the copyright of the BBC and appear here as reference to illustrate the location in comparison with how it looked at the time of filming and the present day; no attempt is made to supercede this or any other copyright.
