Essex
Old English East-Seaxe
County of southeast England, which has contained the unitary
authorities Southend and Thurrock since April 1998
Area:
3,670 sq km/1,417 sq mi
Towns and Cities:
Chelmsford (administrative headquarters), Basildon, Colchester, Harlow,
Harwich (port), Clacton-on-Sea (resort)
Physical:
Flat and marshy near the coast; richly wooded in the southwest ; rivers:
the Blackwater, Crouch, Colne, Lee, Stour, and Thames
Features:
Former royal hunting ground of Epping Forest (2300 ha/ 5680 acres,
controlled from 1882 by the City of London); since 1111 at Great
Dunmow the Dunmow flitch (side of cured pork) can be claimed every
four years by any couple proving to a jury they have not regretted
their marriage within the year (winners are few); Stansted, London's
third airport; new Roman Catholic cathedral at Brentwood (designed
by Quinlan Terry) dedicated 1991
Agriculture:
Cereals (wheat), fruit, sugar beet; livestock rearing, dairy products;
oysters
Industries:
Brewing, cars, cement, engineering (at Dagenham, Chelmsford, and Colchester),
food processing, oil products (there are large oil refineries
at Shellhaven and Canvey)
Population:
(1995) 1,577,500
History:
In 991 the Saxons were defeated by the Vikings at the Battle of the
Maldon.
Famous People:
William Harvey
Historic Buildings
The abbey at Waltham is reputedly the oldest Norman building in England.
Founded in 1030, it was enlarged by King Harold in 1060.
|
Top
