From soulless London suburbs to soulful bird calls on the marshes, from kiss-me-quick razzamatazz in gaudy seaside resorts to bucolic pastoral views in Constable country, from dingy industrial and port towns to the charm and tradition of small country towns, Essex is, perhaps more than any other in England, a county of contrasts.
Two of the most attractive towns are Saffron Walden and Great Dunmow. The latter is where the traditional Flitch Trials are held every leap year. This tradition is supposed to date from early in the 12th century and involves married couples attempting to satisfy the Judge and Jury of 6 maidens and 6 bachelors that in 'twelvemonth and a day', they have 'not wisht themselves unmarried again'. Learn more here. Colchester dates from Roman times and is said to be Britain's oldest recorded town. More visited, though, is the resort of Southend-on-Sea where England's longest pleasure pier stretches more than a mile into the Thames estuary.
Forming part of the boundary between Essex and Suffolk, its neighbour to the north, is the River Stour. This, together with Dedham Vale, is Constable country where the artist painted many of his famous landscapes. By way of tribute to him, our picture this week is of Dedham Lock, although I have to wonder if Mr Constable would recognise the spot were he to return nearly two centuries since he painted it.
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