Essex

Essex is a county of immense contrasts, not so much in its landscape but in the change from the bustle and industry of the Thames side part of the county to the loneliness of the marshland to the north of Shoeburyness. Southend on Sea rivals Blackpool in energetic gaiety and is a favourite seaside resort of Londoners. It boasts the longest pier in the country and has all the entertainment and 'fun of the fair' atmosphere that anyone could wish for.

Whilst the population of places like Southend on Sea is greatly swollen by its influx of visitors in the summer, quite the reverse is true of Foulness, the largest island in the Thames Estuary. In the winter, thousands of Brent Geese fly here from their breeding grounds in the arctic and it is estimated that the goose population reaches ten thousand!

Nothing could be further removed from the excitement of Southend or the solitude of the marshland than the village of Finchingfield. It has all the right ingredients; a village green, duckpond, timber framed guildhall and pretty houses clustered around a church on a hill, to make it acclaimed as the most picturesque village in England.

The Roman Emperor Claudius built a city on the site of an ancient British stronghold and gave it the name Camulodunum There are many roman remains to be found in this city of Colchester as well as later Norman buildings, including the larges castle keep in Britain. The mud flats and winding creeks with which this part of the coast abounds has made for ideal con ditions for the oysters that are produced here, and an annual Oyster Feast is still held.

At Great Dumnow a curious custom is the re enactment of the famous trial, at which a flitch, or side of bacon is offered to any married couple who can show that they have not quarrelled with each other for the preceding year. A mock 'trial' 1 held, at which the authenticity of each claim is Judged, before the award is made.

Apart from the land reclamation that has been such a feature of the coastline of Essex for many years, the county ha remained largely unchanged. Roads now cross the wide acres of Epping Forest but there are still many parts of it to wander through in peace. In these sunlit glades the outside world seems far away, and any changes that the world has cared to in" seem quite insignificant.

Essex Hotels

Brentwood Guest House - 75-77 Rose Valley, Brentwood, Essex, CM14 4HJ Tel: +44 (0)1277 262713 Fax: +44 (0)1277 211146
Valley Farm Holiday Park Hotel - Valley Road, Clacton on Sea, Essex, CO15 6LY Tel: +44 (0)871 664 9787 Fax: +44 (0)1255 687599
The Westcliff Hotel - 18-20 Westcliff Parade, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, SS0 7QW
Coopers Beach Holiday Park - East Mersea, Mersea Island, Nr. Colchester, Essex, CO5 8TJ Tel: +44 (0)871 664 9731 Fax: +44 (0)1206 385483
Camelia Hotel - 178 Eastern Esplanade, Southend-On-Sea, Essex, SS1 3AA
Chimneys - 44 Lower Street, Stansted Mountfitchet, Stansted, Essex, CM24 8LR
Rivenhall Hotel - Rivenhall End, Witham, Essex, CM8 3HB Tel: +44 (0)1376 516969
Barking Park Hotel - 56-60 Tanner Street, Barking, Essex, IG11 8QF Tel: +44 (0)208 594 2720 Fax: +44 (0)208 594 2525
Stansted Manor Hotel - Compass Hotels Ltd, Birchanger Lane Birchanger, Stansted, Essex, CM23 5ST
The Tower Hotel - Main Road, Harwich, Essex, CO12 3PJ Tel: +44 (0)1255 504952
The Oasis Hotel - 2 Hart Road, Old Harlow, Harlow, Essex, CM17 0HL
The Marks Tey Hotel - London Road, Colchester, Essex, CO6 1DU Tel: +44 (0)1206 210001 Fax: +44 (0)1206 212167
Naze Marine Holiday Park - Hall Lane, Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex, CO14 8HL Tel: +44 (0)871 664 9754 Fax: +44 (0)1255 682427