Welcome to Bata

In the early 1930’s, the Czech shoemaker to the world, Tomas Bata sought to create a community, within the depressed marshlands of Essex, based on the ideals of healthy living, to inspire his workers to work hard, be innovative, seek creativity and increase profits for the organisation. There was little reason to ever leave the Bata estate, and many didn’t. As a result East Tilbury, in contrast to many communities today, has retained a distinctive, strong relationship to place.