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Essex Leasing

Did You Know?

The Essex coastline is over 350 miles long – that’s as big as the distance from London to Germany, and further than London to Paris, to imagine the scale! The Essex Coastline is only the second longest of any English county, but it takes the top spot for having the largest number of islands – 35.

Rumour has it that five of the past US presidents owe their legacies to the county of Essex: claims have been made that the “Mayflower” which famously made the transatlantic voyage to North America, had a crew that hailed mostly from Essex, as well as the Captain and the actual ship being constructed there!

Across Essex there are some of the largest towns in the UK as well as the very smallest….. Manningtree is the smallest town in Britain, home to only 200 people! At the opposite end of the spectrum is the village of Tiptree which has a population in excess of 9,000, making it the largest village in Britain. 

The oldest recorded competition in Britain, the “Great Dunmow Flitch Trials” are one of the more bizarre historic events to come out of Essex. Happening every 4 years and dating back to 1104, married couples compete to prove their devotion to each other - and the winners are awarded a flitch of bacon.

There are an impressive 14,000 listed buildings and around 1000 of them are Grade I or II, dotted all throughout Essex. The town wall of Colchester spans 1.5 miles and is the oldest of its kind – just a short way away from the Roman remains of the enormous Temple of Claudius which can still be seen under the castle.

Loads of famous people hail from Essex. Jamie Oliver, Rupert Grint, David Gandy, Ross Kemp, Russell Brand, Sir Alistair Cook, Anne-Marie, Olly Murs, Dame Maggie Smith, Dame Helen Mirren – the list goes on and on. Dermot O’Leary also was born in Colchester, Essex.

One of Scotland’s most famous sons was thought to have been born in Essex. Historians believe that Robert the Bruce was actually born at Montpelier’s Farm in Writtle near Chelmsford in 1274. Bruce’s father was in Westminster for the coronation of King Edward I in the summer of 1274, and his son was born in July, so the dates match up.

Essex takes the top spot for having the largest number of islands compared to any other county in England. There are 35 islands off the coast in Essex, Mersea Island being the biggest and most populated. Again, it is an amazing day out (unless you get caught and stranded on the island at low tide…)

St Andrews in Greenstead is believed to be the oldest wooden church in the world dating all the way back to 1081. That means the church is nearly 1000 years old!

Greyhound racing is popular all over Essex, but once Romford Greyhound racetrack hosted a cheetah race in an attempt to draw in the crowds and make more money. Obviously it was banned soon after the race!

Little Scarlet strawberries are not found in too many places around the world but they are located in Tiptree. This style of strawberry is grown at the Wilkin and Sons farm, and they use it in their world famous jams.