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Essex Chronicles: Photographs of life around the mouth of the River Thames

The mouth of the Thames, in the southeastern corner of the UK, is one of the country’s largest inlets and a major shipping route in and out of London. Essex Chronicles is Mark Massey's personal exploration of life along the northern side of this estuary.

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All images courtesy of the artist. Via Creative Boom submission.

All images courtesy of the artist. Via Creative Boom submission.

"I've focused on our interaction with the everyday places that occupy the land alongside it, rather than life on the water itself," Mark explains. "The coast is home to a diverse mix of industry, human habitation and leisure, all co-existing with the natural environment and varied wildlife. Different communities, with different relationships to the estuary, live, work and play here.

"Edgelands, marshes and mudflats rub shoulders with amusement arcades, power stations and wartime relics. To some, this is the land of 'Estuary English' accents and lazy stereotypes but it has always been a source of inspiration to artists and writers."

Mark has lived in Southend, on the estuary, all his life. He adds: "When I was a child, I took the seaside for granted but now I’m older I can appreciate how the coastline contributes to the identity of the entire area."

Mark has recently self-published a 28-page newsprint publication of the project, available for £5 plus postage. Discover more at markmassey.co.uk or follow Mark on Instagram.

A table decorated with a blue circle pattern holds a turquoise vase with red and pink flowers alongside glasses and a bottle in bright sunlight
Vintage seaside amusement arcade storefront with red and yellow striped canopy roof featuring circus and fairground graphics beneath a white building
Three men stand beside stacked colourful plastic crates outside a weathered building near the River Thames estuary
Street-level view of Essex waterfront buildings including a market sign, parked cars and a green parking post under cloudy sky
Boomerangs amusement arcade storefront with red neon signage and a window displaying colourful illustrated figures on a brick building
A man in a checked jacket holds a long pole while standing on mudflats beside a woman in a high-visibility jacket, with water and cloudy sky behind them
RNLI crew member in yellow and black uniform stands beside orange lifeboat marked RNLI in boathouse with equipment stored nearby
Industrial facility with yellow corrugated metal buildings, storage silos and processing equipment beside the River Thames estuary under cloudy sky
Cover of Essex Chronicles publication featuring a modern seaside building with large windows and wooden details, alongside a blue silhouette map of Essex with wavy lines representing water
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