By Freddie Lynne Northey Island, a remote spot off the Essex coast, is a world away from the hustle and bustle of our cities and towns. This wild island, found in the Blackwater Estuary, is surrounded by unique salt marshes and mysterious estuaries. It’s cut off from the mainland when the tide comes in, making it accessible only at low tide or by boat. But this peaceful place has a rather violent history. Northey Island was once a battlefield during the Viking era under King thelred the Unready. In 991 AD, Vikings used the island as their base while they raided Maldon. This battle is remembere…