Explore a Series of Essex Heritage Talks this Autumn

Featuring specialist expert speakers, the Essex Record Office and Jaywick Martello Tower talks include:

• Discovering the Tudor tunnels beneath New Hall School in Chelmsford. Join speaker Tony Tuckwell for this talk about Henry VIII’s royal palace of Beaulieu.
  
  
• Unearthing a Tudor blockhouse at Cudmore Grove. Join Adam Wightman for this talk to learn more about the Tudor blockhouse at east Mersea.
  
  
• Essex and the French wars. Join the Essex Record Office for this day conference, held in conjunction with the Waterloo Association, about the period of the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars.
  
  
• The discovery of a Saxon coin hoard. Join speaker Philip Wise for this talk about the Braintree and Hatfield Peverel hoards, why they might have been buried and what they can tell us about the use of coins by the population of Essex in the 11th century. 
  
  
• A history of mudlarking on the shores and riverbanks. Join Kerrie Masters for this talk on mudlarking as a way to reconnect, offering a glimpse into our shared history and the lasting connection between people, place and time.
  
  
• How to dig up a castle. Join speaker Simon Coxall for this talk about excavating the Anglo-Saxon castle at Clavering, in north west Essex. 
  
  
• A fascinating talk by David Grocott about Colchester born William Gilberd, who was Elizabeth I's personal physician from 1601 until her death.

We’re also celebrating St. Cedd, the county’s patron saint on Essex Day (Monday 26 October).

Held annually on 26 October, Essex Day celebrates the arrival of St. Cedd to the county in 654AD.

Originally born in Northumbria, and raised on the island of Lindisfarne, St. Cedd arrived in Essex and began converting the county’s inhabitants to Christianity.

St. Cedd also became known as the Bishop of the East Saxons and founded many monasteries and churches throughout the county. The most famous being St Peter-on-the-Wall Chapel at Bradwell-on-Sea, which you can still visit to this day.

From rolling countryside and tranquil seaside towns to ancient Roman sites and cultural attractions, Essex offers an abundance of experiences for residents and visitors alike, with something to inspire every generation.

Essex Day shines a spotlight on everything that makes the county unique. It’s a chance to celebrate its remarkable heritage while recognising the communities that continue to shape it today.

Search for Essex Day events marking St Cedd’s life and legacy: www.visitessex.com

With so much history on your doorstep, why not take a trip and unearth the past this autumn with one of these talks?