Wivenhoe is a town and civil parish in northeastern Essex, England, approximately 3 miles south-east of Colchester. Historically Wivenhoe village, on the banks of the River Colne, and Wivenhoe Cross, on the higher ground to the north, were two separate settlements but with considerable development, in the 19th century, the two have merged. At the 2011 census, the town had a population of 7,637, compared with 7,221 in 2001. The town’s history centres on fishing, shipbuilding, and smuggling. Much of lower Wivenhoe is also a designated conservation area, with many streets being of particular architectural interest.