Counties of Great Britain, Essex

england
bedfordshire
berkshire
buckinghamshire
cambridgeshire
cheshire
cornwall
cumberland
derbyshire
devon
dorset
essex
gloucestershire
hampshire
herefordshire
hertfordshire
huntingdonshire
kent
lancashire
leicestershire
lincolnshire

Essex (Chelmsford, Basildon, Romford, Southend, Colcheter, Harlow, Brentwood, West Ham)

The Essex Sunshine Coast has a variety of resorts, towns and villages stretching from Manningtree and Mistley in the north of the district to St Osyth and Brightlingsea in the south.

All along our beautiful coastline you'll find a range of beach resorts boasting two European Blue Flags and five Seaside Awards. Beaches Information.

But the real beauty of the Essex Sunshine Coast is that the beaches are just the beginning. This popular corner of England offers so much more besides the sea.

The Poll Tax Riot in 1990 was nothing new: the first took place in Essex in 1381, and unlike its 20th century descendent resulted in a full-scale revolt.

To raise more taxes to fund the war with France, Parliament imposed the first Poll Tax or head tax in 1377, then another in 1380. This proved unpopular with a population decimated by the Black Death and trying to break free from its feudal yoke. Tax evasion was widespread so the government appointed Commissioners to enforce payment.

Charisimatic figure Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, became the last traitor to be beheaded at the Tower of London.
Born in Wanstead in 1565, he came to court aged 16, and became the favourite of 'Virgin Queen' Elizabeth I when his step-father, the Earl of Leicester, died a few years later.

After refusing a request to come to court in 1601, Essex attempted a full-scale rebellion against the Government, although this only lasted 12 hours before he was arrested and tried for high treason. He was condemned and on February 25 of that year, he was led to a specially-constructed scaffold to be beheaded.

England Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire Cambridgeshire, Cheshire, Cornwall Cumberland, Derbyshire, Devon Dorset, Durham, Essex Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Herefordshire Hertfordshire, Huntingdonshire, Kent Lancashire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire