Essential Essex

This is a unique mix of historic and contemporary tales, facts and figures about Essex, one of the most complex and interesting of the English counties. Easy to read snippets of information and history about the land of the eastern Saxons, which has all the advantages of being close to London while retaining its marshy coastal headlands. Ever think that Essex Girl and Fort Escorts are all there is to Essex? Think again and dip into "Essential Essex" where you will discover a dynamic county whose events and personalities have helped to shape the nation. "Essential Essex" is a glorious mix of historic and contemporary tales from one of the most colorful and diverse counties in England. Essex is best described as a parallelogram of contrasts, from the industrial southeast border with London to the agricultural north, and the wild and often treacherous coastline along its eastern encounter with the North Sea. Pevsner wrote that the Essex variety of character 'must be given precedence over many larger counties', and so it must. It was here that Julius Caesar founded his capital, Camulodunum (Colchester), in the first century AD. Half a century later William the Conqueror ruled his new domain from Barking Abbey and at Tilbury, Elizabeth I rallied her troops as they awaited the Spanish Armada. Along with a plethora of fascinating facts and figures, customs and curiosities, meet an 18th century parson's wife who eloped with an Earl's son and both 'husbands' attended her funeral, an Ongar man who sold his wife to the highest bidder, and a husband who stayed silent for 7 years in penance for wrongfully accusing his wife of adultery. Discover a trinity of distinguished writers, Margery Allingham, Dodie Smith and Dorothy L Sayers and find out how the Essex estuaries were made famous by Charles Dickens and Arthur Ransome. Find out why the oystermen are partial to gin and gingerbread, which is the longest pier in the world, and was the 7th century 'King of Bling' really an Essex man? What is the story behind the Great Russian Myth, which had the population of Colchester agog in 1914...what is a Cog'shall job...an Essex harve...and why is the nickname Essex Calf given to impetuous boys? Do you know why the Red Hills along the river Colne are so named, when the Great Essex Road became the A12, and which church has the only pet tortoise commemorated in stained glass? Dip in and find out!

About the Author

Journalist and author CAROL TWINCH has written about Essex industry, farming, countryside and culture for over 20 years. A lifelong visitor to the county, she is constantly fascinated by its endless variety and diversity, and with her husband sails regularly off the Essex coast. As well as contributing to various magazines and newspapers, Carol has worked in local television and radio and written books on agricultural, social and local history as well as a number of short stories. Her books Ipswich, Street by Street, The Little Book of Suffolk and The History of Ipswich were published by Breedon Books. The Little Book of Suffolk was an Award Winner at the East Anglian Book Awards. 2008