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Essex
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Anglo-Saxon England's Realm of...
Essex
 Essex Coat of Arms
The name Essex derives from the East Seaxe or East Saxons. Traditionally founded by Aescwine in 527AD, the Kingdom of Essex occupied territory to the north of the River Thames and incorporated much of what would later become Middlesex and Hertfordshire. Later, its territory was restricted to lands east of the River Lea.
The County's Coat of Arms consists of three Saxon seax daggers arranged on a red background. The county town is now Chelmsford, which was founded in 1199. Some other well known places around Essex include these significant areas: SAFFRON WALDEN A small market town in the north west of the county which is about 15 miles (24 km) from Cambridge. Famous for the saffron crocus, it became an area for malt and barley. It is also home to the largest parish church in Essex, St Mary and the Virgin. WALTHAM ABBEY A market town about 24 km north of London which lies between the River Lea in the west and Epping Forest in the east. It takes its name from Waltham Abbey, which was prominent in the early history of the town. The ancient parish covering Waltham Abbey was known as Waltham Holy Cross. The name Waltham derives from weald or wald "forest" and ham "homestead" or "enclosure". Legend has it that after his death at the Battle of Hastings in 1066, King Harold's body was brought to Waltham for burial near to the High Altar. 
The tomb of Harold II
EPPING FOREST Epping Forest is an area of ancient woodland which lies on a ridge between the valley's of the rivers Lea and Roding. It is approximately 18 km long from north to south, but no more than 4 km wide from east to west at its widest point. HEDINGHAM CASTLE Magnificent Norman Keep built c.1140 by the de Vere family which stands over 100ft high. It features ashlar masonry and second floor great hall, with a spiral staircase in the north-west corner of the tower. The Banqueting Hall has very distinctive moulding decorating the windows and arches. There is also a minstrels gallery, tunnelled within the thickness of the walls, which runs around the room 12ft above floor level.  |
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