Leysdown-on-Sea is a village on the east coast of the Isle of Sheppey in the borough of

Swale Swale or Swales may refer to: Topography * Swale (landform), a low tract of land ** Bioswale, landform designed to remove silt and pollution ** Swales, found in the formation of Hummocky cross-stratification Geography * River Swale, in North ...

in Kent, England. In 2020 it had an estimated population of 936. The civil parish is Leysdown and includes the settlements of Bay View, Shellness and

Harty Harty is a small hamlet on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent consisting of a few cottages, a church and a public house, the Ferry Inn (a ). It is part of the civil parish of Leysdown. History The earliest recorded evidence of human occupation co ...

. In 2011 it had a population of 1,256.

History

It is noted in the '' Domesday Book'' as being called "Legesdun" and the name is thought to be derived from the Anglo-Saxon words ''Leswe'' (pasture) and ''Dun'' (hill). A very small hamlet up to late Victorian times, it was developed a little after the arrival of the

Sheppey Light Railway The Sheppey Light Railway was a railway on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent, England, which ran from Leysdown to Queenborough, where it connected with the South Eastern and Chatham Railway's Sheerness Line. It was engineered by Holman Fred Stephens a ...

in 1903, though grand plans for the establishment of a large resort with hotels never materialised. The railway was closed in the 1950s. On 2 May 1909, John Moore-Brabazon became the first resident British citizen to make a recognised powered heavier-than-air flight in the UK flying from the Aero Club's ground at Leysdown in his

Voisin Voisin (French for "neighbour") may refer to: Companies *Avions Voisin, the French automobile company :*Voisin Laboratoire, a car manufactured by Avions Voisin *Voisin (aircraft), the French aircraft manufacturer * Voisin, a Lyon-based chocolat ...

biplane A biplane is a fixed-wing aircraft with two main wings stacked one above the other. The first powered, controlled aeroplane to fly, the Wright Flyer, used a biplane wing arrangement, as did many aircraft in the early years of aviation. While ...

''Bird of Passage''.

Geography

Leysdown is located a mile to the SSE of

Warden A warden is a custodian, defender, or guardian. Warden is often used in the sense of a watchman or guardian, as in a prison warden. It can also refer to a chief or head official, as in the Warden of the Mint. ''Warden'' is etymologically identic ...

and three miles to the ESE of Eastchurch. To the SSE lies the hamlet of Shellness and to the southwest is an area of marshland known as the Leysdown marshes. The island is located partly in The Swale and partly in the North Sea with a shingle beach and mudflats extending out to sea. It is recommended in the 2009 Good Beach Guide.

Economy

There are several large farms surrounding the village, with a mixture of pasture and arable land, but the local economy is primarily driven by tourism in the summer months, with many visitors coming from London. Leysdown has one of the largest concentrations of holiday parks in Kent, with many caravan and chalet parks. During the winter months the shops, clubs and pubs stay open, with the population of Leysdown, Warden and Bay View providing custom. In the past few years a boot fair has become a regular fixture on Sundays and there is also a market on Saturdays. Briefly, in the early 20th century a significant part of the economy came from the embryonic aviation industry, with the UK's first aircraft factory built in Leysdown in 1909 by the Short Brothers. By the following year, however, operations had moved to nearby Eastchurch.

Amusements

Leysdown is well known for its family amusement arcades adjacent to the sea. There are 6 arcades, each with its own 18-only section with high jackpots. Some arcades give tickets from their many machines which can be exchanged for small trinkets, toys and other prizes.

Landmarks

The Spinney is an area of open space in the middle of Leysdown, with children's play area and benches. It takes its name from the woodland that was there until the 1960s. Leysdown is also known for one of the UK's few official naturist beaches, sited beyond the town along the un-made road.

Transport

The B2231 is the only road into Leysdown, with regular bus services from Chalkwell providing public transport links to the rest of the Island and the mainland. There was formerly a bus station in Leysdown but it was demolished in the early 1990s. The

formerly provided a rail link to the rest of the Island but was dismantled in the 1950s.

Education

The nearest primary school is St Clements Primary School situated on Leysdown Road, Warden, while the nearest secondary school is

Oasis Academy Isle of Sheppey Oasis Academy Isle of Sheppey is a coeducational secondary school and sixth form with academy status, located over two sites in Minster-on-Sea on the Isle of Sheppey in the English county of Kent. It is currently managed by the Oasis Communit ...

(formerly the Oasis Academy). Leysdown has its own primary school

Churches

On the outskirts of Leysdown is the graveyard of St Clement's Church, which was demolished in the 1980s. All Saints' (

Anglican Anglicanism is a Western Christian tradition that has developed from the practices, liturgy, and identity of the Church of England following the English Reformation, in the context of the Protestant Reformation in Europe. It is one of th ...

) church in Eastchurch and Sheppey Evangelical Church, part of the Countess of Huntingdon's Connexion are close to Leysdown.

In popular culture

Leysdown was used as a filming location for the Channel 4/ Netflix black comedy '' The End of the F***ing World''. It was also the location for the Orbital and Sleaford Mods video for 'Dirty Rat'.

References

External links

Parish Council
{{authority control Villages in Kent Populated coastal places in Kent Seaside resorts in England Beaches of Kent Isle of Sheppey Nude beaches