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Clacton-on-Sea - Tourism is a vital part of Clacton with its coastal position and leisure facilities including two theatres, a pier and a large free air show each year.
Good weather also helps boost the army of tourists, which regularly swell the population of 135,000 each summer.
The town came into existence in 1864 when land was offered for development as other resorts were starting to blossom.
It was later to become linked
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with Radio Caroline, a pirate radio station broadcasting from a ship off the Essex coast.
But by the 1970s the town had become known as a place for caravan holidays, guest houses and small hotels.
Colchester - Britain's oldest recorded town can trace its origins from Roman times where a former temple formed the basis for Colchester Castle, built around the time of the Norman conquest.
It was sacked by the warrior queen Boadicea who led the Iceni tribe against the town in AD60.
During the civil war it was also put under an 11 week siege before falling to the Parliamentarians
Nowadays the town maintains its strong historical tradition with a range of museums and a range of digs at various sites.
The town also has a zoo, theatre and many pubs and clubs to cater for its population of 100,000.
There is also strong military links with more than 5,000 troops stationed at the garrison on the outskirts of the town.
There are also close links to the coast with easy access to the port at Harwich and coastal towns such as Clacton, Frinton and West Mersea.
Frinton - Seen as a contrasting town to nearby Clacton, Frinton has tried hard to push back the inevitable progress of time and until recently did not even have a pub within its gates.
The gates are part of the level crossing, which bisects the town with more status associated to those living inside the gates.
Fierce opposition had to be overcome to install the first fish and chip shop inside the town's gates and Connaught Avenue is still protected by conservation orders that have helped maintain its Victorian architecture.
The town is also known for its clean sandy beach and greensward.
Leisure facilities include a golf course and lawn tennis club.
Southend -
The town has the largest population of any in Essex with more than 172,000.
It started life in Saxon times where it took its name from the southern end of the village of Prittlewell.
But the area had been settled since the Iron Age and remains of a fort from that period have been discovered.
The Romans extracted salt from the sea in this area and in the 19th century Princess Caroline of Brunswick and her daughter Princess Charlotte came to the town for the benefits of sea bathing.
Among the many leisure attractions at the town are more than 300 restaurants and nighclubs as well as museums and the longest pier in the country, which survived a devastating fire.
Braintree The town has steadily developed on a main route between Stansted Airport and Harwich port.
Flemish Protestant immigrants brought their weaving skills to the town at a time when the woollen industry in the town began to prosper.
Samuel Courtauld opened his silk factory in Braintree in the 1830s.
Among the various shopping facilities are the George Yard shopping centre which has been designed to incorporate older buildings with those with newer designs.
On the outskirts of the town is the Freeport Factory Shopping complex.
Leisure facilities include the equestrian centre and a working silk museum as well as a leisure centre.
Brentwood
Pilgrims played a part in how Brentwood got its name.
As they were travelling in a great forest on their way Tomas Beckett's shrine in 1170 they made a clearing for a fire and named in Burnt Wood.
The town was granted a market charter in 1277 and became know as a place of rest for pilgrims, travellers and merchants.
Now the town is on the key route between Chelmsford and London with access both to the A12, the main road into Essex, and the M25 for access to London.
Currently Brentwood has a population of more than 71,000 and is twinned with towns in Germany and France.
The Brentwood Centre has been used both as a sporting venue and for concerts while Brentwood Theatre caters for drama, music and dance.
Epping
Epping is at the centre of Epping Forest District Council, which covers Epping, Loughton, Chigwell, Buckhurst Hill, Waltham Abbey and Ongar.
London is just a journey on the Underground away.
Epping Forest, which once covered all of West Essex, is now just a tenth of its original size.
The town started to grow during Tudor times but the frequent traffic between London and East Anglia prove a lucrative route for highwaymen.
Among the various attractions are the parish church, built in 1899 and a Gothic water tower while the grocery store Cullens stands on the site of the home of explorer-botanist Henry Doubleday (1808-75).
Maldon
One of the oldest towns in Essex, Maldon has picturesque views of the Blackwater Estuary and is probably most famous for its sea salt.
The salt is packaged and sold nationwide.
There are also links with London bookstore Foyle's as founder William Foyle once had a library at his home in Beeleigh Abbey.
Maldon also benefits from a low crime rate but traditional industries such as the fishing trade are giving way to newer areas such as tourism.
Leisure facilities for the 20,000 residents include 13 golf courses within the district and three leisure centres.
There is also the annual Proms Fantasia concert - a big draw during the year.
Thurrock
Evidence of man in the Thurrock area can be traced as far back as pre-historic times.
Mammoths once grazed in the area, and archaeologists have unearthed the remains of a jungle cat.
Now the town sits on the north side of The Thames with easy access to London via the M25.
Thurrock also takes in the towns of Grays and Tilbury and has a huge shopping complex -Lakeside.
Among the many leisure facilities in the are two multiplex cinemas and the Circus Tavern at Purfleet which plays host to various bands and live acts.
for more on Essex please visit http://www.thisisessex.co.uk |
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