town (parish), Maldon district, administrative and historic county of Essex, England. The town lies on the left bank of the Crouch, 5 miles (8 km) inland from the North Sea. There are many oyster beds in the Crouch Estuary, which opens out just below Burnham-on-Crouch. The community is one of the best-known yachting centres in Britain; boatbuilding and sail making also take place there. The Church of St. Mary dates mainly from the 14th century. Pop. (2001) 7,759.