ANIMAL ANTICS
Happy snaps?

First crocodile Braintree bizarre facts about Essex

Bizarre facts about Essex number one: a Braintree resident was the owner of the first ever crocodile brought to the UK. That’s right; back in 1701 Richard Bradley decided to buy a croc for his grounds! We certainly wouldn’t have taken up the offer of a dip in his lake come summer.

Snakes & adders

Danbury Common adders bizarre facts about Essex

Continuing with reptiles, there’s also quite a few venomous snakes in Essex slithering about. Danbury Common, to be precise. Not a huge fan? Keep an eye out, as the Common has the largest population of adders in the UK. Yikes.

No chee-ting

Bizarre facts about Essex cheetah racing

On to Romford; once classed as Essex before East London nabbed it. Back in the 1930s its Greyhound Stadium raced cheetahs to make more cash. Of course it didn’t go well, because the wild cats were far more interested in chasing the greyhounds instead of the hare.

BUSINESS BEGINNINGS
Sinking ship

Our bizarre facts about Essex continues with Crittall Windows, still used in buildings and residences worldwide. Founded in Braintree in 1849 and with its HQ now in Witham, it’s the world’s oldest continuous manufacturer of steel windows. It even supplied windows on the ill-fated Titanic.

In a right jam

Who doesn’t love Wilkin & Sons’ Tiptree conserves, chutneys, spirits and more? It began in Tiptree (funny that) in the 1700s, forming The Britannia Fruit Preserving Company in 1885 where the first preserves were made. They were then sold to a merchant who shipped them straight off to Australia.

Radio romance

Chelmsford is well-known as being the birthplace of radio, with Guglielmo Marconi transmitting his first-ever broadcast on 15 June 1920. But do you know what was played? The voice of opera star Dame Nellie Melba, who took to a microphone to sing Home Sweet Home to the world.

HISTORY IN THE MAKING
Fit for a king

Boreham’s New Hall School was one of Henry VIII’s royal residences after he bought the estate from Anne Boleyn’s father in 1516. Rebuilding ‘Beaulieu Palace’ in brick, his Royal Arms can still be seen in the Chapel at New Hall. If only his wives had been treated with that much care and attention.

The royle family

Next comes Henry’s daughter, Elizabeth I, and her 1588 Tilbury speech. With England facing the Spanish Armada, she declared, “I know I have the body of a weak, feeble woman; but I have the heart and stomach of a King”. We of course defeated the enemy – with a woman in charge what else do you expect?

Battle stations

Brentwood peasants revolt bizarre facts about Essex

If you watch TOWIE you know things kick off, big style. But what you don’t know is it might well have something to do with where it’s filmed, as Brentwood’s also where the Peasant’s Revolt began in 1381. See, we knew there’s something in the air that gets those cast members all riled up.

TRIALS & TRIBULATIONS
Double, double, toil and trouble

Matthew Hopkins Manningtree witch hunter

Between 1560-1680, 545 of us Essex folk were accused of witchcraft, with Manningtree Witchfinder General Matthew Hopkins responsible for 300 UK deaths. Women were often tied up and thrown in water, with the theory a witch would float, whereas innocents would drown and go to heaven. Nice.

Don’t hang about

Hanging crimes in Essex stealing a sheep

The last hangings for murder took place in 1964, however, a few hundred years back stealing livestock was also a capital offence. Earls Colne’s Thomas Turner stole a horse and was executed in 1559, while Chelmsford’s Thomas Lawrence was sentenced to hang in 1607 for stealing a sheep.

Bring home the bacon

Also on our bizarre facts about Essex are The Dunmow Flitch Trials, going back all the way to 1104. The lowdown? Couples married for more than one year and one day have to prove they’re still happily hitched to win a flitch of bacon. That’s half a cured and smoked pig to you and me.

LOCATION, LOCATION
Talk of the town

Thought London’s always been Britain’s capital? Nope – Colchester claimed that title back in 49AD. However, it didn’t last too long; in 60AD the Romans favoured London as the capital after the Boudiccan revolt destroyed both cities. Just think what Colchester’s house prices would be like if it stayed that way.

Little & large

Our bizarre facts about Essex keep coming, with Manningtree the smallest town in England. We’ve also got the largest village; Great Bentley. It’s also claimed to have the largest village green, but Wikipedia seems to have given that to Kent’s Duncan Down. I’m off to get my tape measure and go check.

Spice up your life

Saffron Walden’s a great place to call home – but do you know where it got its name? Originally called Walden, during the 16th-18th centuries it grew and sold saffron thanks to the town’s soil and climate. Please tell me you can link ‘Saffron’ with ‘Walden’ and that I don’t have to spell it out. Like I just did.

I’M A CELEBRITY
Acting up

First let’s reveal the actors and actresses born or raised in our fine county. You’ve Hellen Mirren (Southend) and Dame Maggie Smith (Ilford – yes, it was once Essex and not London). Anyone else? How about Harry Potter’s Rupert Grint (Harlow), and Game of Thrones’ Nathalie Emmanuel (Southend).

On the box

To the TV, and again we’ve a list of stars from Essex. Dermot O’Leary was born in Colchester, and Ben Shephard comes from Epping (read our chat with him here). Jamie Oliver’s from Clavering; Rachel Riley from Rochford; and The Inbetweeners’ star Joe Thomas was born in Chelmsford.

Sound of music

Last on our bizarre facts about Essex is the incredible amount of musical talent we claim as our own. Ready?
ANNE-MARIE: The singer was born in East Tilbury in 1991, meaning she was four when I met my husband. Yikes.
BLUR: Damon Albarn grew up in Colchester, meeting Graham Coxon and Dave Rowntree there.
DEPECHE MODE: Fun fact – right before the Basildon group formed in 1980 Martin Gore was in a band called Norman and The Worms with my dad’s cousin!
NOTHING BUT THIEVES: To Rayleigh now; where the rock group came together with bandmates Conor, Joe, Dominic, Philip and James.
OLLY MURS: It’s hard to remember, but Witham-born Olly started his career on The X-Factor back in 2009!
THE PRODIGY: Keith Flint formed the band in Braintree with co-founders Liam Howlett and Leeroy Thornhill.

That’s bonkers! Bizarre facts about Essex

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