A rare opportunity to own a slice of the Essex coastline; new owners will have access to 380 acres (1.5 square kilometres) of an eclectic private island just 40 miles from central London. The island would particularly appeal to investors with music connections, with strong potential for business diversification via extensive accommodation and events space.
At a glance
- Private island off the Essex coastline
- 38 residential properties include a grand Edwardian manor, cottages, pub and recording studio
- Business model includes event hosting, holiday lettings, music production, and private events
- Celebrities to have hired Osea Island include Rihanna and Stormzy
- Accessible by boat, air, or an ancient Roman causeway
38 residences total 90 bedrooms and 61 bathrooms.
The Storied Osea Island off the Essex coast at Maldon occupies a privileged spot in the estuary of the River Blackwater (near Maldon).
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The island’s thickly layered roots can be traced back to Norman and Viking civilisations – inhabited for over 5,000 years. A historical bookmark left by the Romans is a usable tidal causeway, linking the mainland with the island.
More recent history has seen Osea Island playing a covert role in 20th-century military history, used as a naval base during World War I, known as SS Osea. During World War II a bomb hit the island when it fell short of its London target, adding a layer of intrigue to its already colourful legacy.
Later owned by Cambridge University and designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest, Osea Island returned to private ownership in the 1950s with most recent iterations including a Victorian-era rehabilitation centre and cutting-edge recording studio.
In its most recent history, since 2005, Osea Island has been used as a private retreat for a well known music producer, whose glamorous catalogue of musician friends to have hired out the island include Stormzy, Charli XCX and Rihanna, who reportedly rented out the island to record her album bringing family and friends with her.
Pop star Olly Murs chose it as the setting for his 2023 wedding, according to Hello Magazine.
Osea’s natural beauty and privacy has caught the eye of film location scouts, with the island serving as the backdrop for The Woman in Black starring Daniel Radcliffe and HBO’s The Third Day with Jude Law.
New owners will have access to approximately 1.5km of diverse landscape, 38 residential properties, a world-class events venue, luxury holiday lets, and a state-of-the-art recording facility Miloco Studies.
Lapped by 4.5 miles of secluded coastline and clear waters, nature lovers will enjoy a private ‘reserve’ dotted with private beaches and breathtaking scenery.
Rustic gardens, orchards, meadows and salt marshes create a sanctuary for wildlife with rich and varied biodiversity home to owls, kestrels, muntjac deer, rabbits and a vibrant ecosystem of flora and insects.
Osea’s buildings create a patchwork quilt of styles from a variety of eras. The island’s eclectic portfolio of 38 accommodations include cottages, which form ‘the village’ apartments and grand houses, available for holidays and family get-togethers.
Homes range from a grand Edwardian manor, sleeping 20 and offering panoramic views of the Estuary, with swimming pool and an orphanage which has been converted into luxury flats. Further down the waterfront The Captain’s House provides a picturesque and serene retreat.
Another quirk is Osea Island’s also own ‘village pub’ , The Puffin, a quintessential English pub housed in a 300-year-old building complete with Inglenook fireplace.
“Osea Island represents the opportunity for an incoming buyer to own not only a piece of history but a truly unique asset with a variety of end uses, from a private residence to a destination venue for hospitality and entertainment in an exceptional, one-of-a-kind location,” says Knight Frank’s agent Thomas van Straubenzee.
Osea is accessible by a few means of transport.
Approximately 40 miles central London, about an hour and 40 minutes from the capital by car, vehicles can cross the aforementioned causeway at low tide twice a day.
At high tide, access is possible by river taxi. Those commuting from further afield can drop in by air. Osea Island has its own light aircraft landing strip and helicopter landing area.
The island can pay for its own upkeep, with many established and new income streams available for new owners to diversify. A world-leading recording studio will appeal to those with music and film connections and A-list friends.
Exclusive hire of the whole island is also possible for private events with both indoor and outdoor event spaces, ranging from chic wedding venues to those to host more intimate gatherings.
Osea Island is on the market for £25 million, listing with both Knight Frank and Fine & Country.
