Osea Island History

In 1903 the island was purchased by Frederick Charrington who created what was probably the world's first temperance society. His reasons for buying the island involved quite a story. He was the director the family business, Charrington - The Mile End Brewers.

For more information, visit the Official Website of Osea Island.

The Tale

The tale goes that one Saturday night he saw a drunken husband repel his wife's appeal to come home to the family, as he struck her across the face before lurching into the bar and slamming the door. Charrington saw that on the signboard hanging above the inn, The Rising Sun Pub, Cambridge Heath Road, Bethnal Green, was the name of the proprietor.. Charrington. He paused in horror, the experience smote his conscience, and he made a determined effort to come out of the business and use his considerable wealth in an endeavour to offset the evil effects of alcoholism.

He purchased the island with a vision of temperance, where alcoholics and people with addiction problems could retreat and seek help. A considerable force of East End unemployed were brought from London and housed in wooden huts while they worked on the island carrying out alterations. Roads were constructed, houses were built and a village store was opened. Some attempts were even made to give the island an exotic appearance. Palms and fuchsias were planted, a large ornamental seal pond was created and wallabies were actually imported from Australia to roam free about the island.

Charrington was one of the last great Victorian philanthropists. He passed away in 1936. He had fed the hungry, fought against the exploitation of woman and backed workers in their struggle against social injustice but sadly with the outbreak of the First World War; Charrington's ambitious plans came to a halt.

The island re-opened as a haven of wellbeing in 2003 exactly 100 years from it's original inception.