The history of Osborne Bros
This page gives the reader an insight into Old Leigh and the history of the Osborne family in Leigh-on-Sea. Click on the following links:
Leigh-on-Sea
Thirty miles east of London sits the fishing town of Leigh-on-Sea. First references to Leigh, or Legra as it was known date back to the Domesday Book which was compiled in AD 1085 and 1086. Leigh has long been associated with the fishing industry with much of the local population once being largely dependent on the sea for its livelihood. Today, only a small number of local families work in the industry.
The local fishing industry has varied over the years ranging from catching shrimps, to cockles, whitebait and oysters. Since the 1900s cockles have been the main source of shellfish caught in the Thames Estuary although the methods used have changed over the years.
During the early years, cockles were hand raked from the seabed between tides all year round. The cocklers would carry a yoke laden with two baskets from the boat to shore where the cockles were cooked by steaming and then the meat would be separated from the shells by sieving.
Today Kent and Essex Sea Fisheries Committee who control when and where cockles can be fished regulate the local industry.
The Osborne Family
Thomas George Osborne started Osborne Bros in 1880. He sold cockles from Cockle Shed Row in Old Leigh (see also the Old Factory and the new Cockleshed). Osborne Bros’ first boat – the Old Galley was purchased for £10 by his sons Ernest, George, Frank and Walter from Chatham, Kent in 1910. Shortly after this, Thomas Osborne took over the running of the Crooked Billet pub opposite the Café (see also the new Café) and his son Walter followed him.
Ernest, George and Frank remained in the family business and commissioned the building of the Mary Amelia in 1914 by Haywards of Southend. When the 1st World War finished the Café (and another) in the High Street was opened. This sold a range of shellfish, teas and rolls.
In 1928, the first Renown boat was build by Haywards of Southend. This boat was used in the evacuation of the British army from Dunkirk in 1940 along with five other Leigh cockle boats. These boats were used to ferry troops from the beaches to the ships anchored in the deep waters. The boats each rescued around 1,000 troops during this mission but as they were starting back home the Renown hit a mine and the boat was completely destroyed with the loss of all the crew – Frank Osborne (son of Frank Osborne), Leslie (Lukie) Osborne (son of George Osborne), Harry Noakes and Harold Graham Porter. In 1972, a memorial statue was erected in St. Clement’s churchyard in Leigh honouring these men.
In 1947, the second Renown boat was built, but this drew too much water so it was sold and the third Renown LO88 was built by Seacraft of Leigh-on-Sea in 1948. During this time, the business was run by the remaining children of George Osborne – George (Pie) Osborne, Florence Lawrence, Freda Meddle and Cyril Osborne.
During the 1980s, Peter Osborne (son of Cyril Osborne) and Steven Lawrence (son of Florence Lawrence) took over the business. It was not until 1991 that the fourth Renown boat was launched which is the one that is currently used to today.
In over one hundred years of trading the business has remained within the Osborne family passing through the generations to the present day where fourth and fifth generation descendants of Thomas George Osborne run the business.