We were delighted that our recent short publication, Southend, Victorian Town and Resort by Ken Crowe et al was reviewed by Simon Coxall in the most recent Friends of Historic Essex newsletter. We thank Simon and the Friends for permission to reproduce the review on our blog. Ken Crowe, with I. Yearsley, J. Butler, E.Continue reading “Southend Short Book Review”
Author Archives: essexvch
History through poetry at the ERO
On Tuesday 6th January members of the Victoria County History of Essex were very happy to be at the Essex Record Office to support a talk given by Professor Catherine Clarke, Director of the Centre for the History of People, Place and Community at the Institute of Historical Research, which is the home of theContinue reading “History through poetry at the ERO”
Clacton volunteer group update
Clacton on the Tendring coast is home to one of our three volunteer groups. In this blog, chairman Roger Kennell introduces the group and their current project. The volunteer members of the Group, founded as a collaboration with the VCH Essex in 2002, have met monthly ever since to research on a range of localContinue reading “Clacton volunteer group update”
Exploring Essex History: Crime and Society
Trustee Ben Cowell, Director General of Historic Houses, has provided this report about our annual symposium, which took place at the Galleywood Heritage Centre on Saturday 4 October 2025. The Essex VCH Trust was very grateful to all who joined in our 2025 study day, held at the Galleywood Heritage Centre on Saturday 4 October.Continue reading “Exploring Essex History: Crime and Society”
Interwar Harwich – new draft history available!
To mark the upload of a draft chapter on Harwich 1919-1939, VCH Essex researcher Dr Andrew Senter has written a post about the growth of motor traffic, and attempts to accommodate it, as Harwich and Dovercourt went through a period of considerable modernisation between the wars. The increased use of the roads by private motorContinue reading “Interwar Harwich – new draft history available!”
Annual Symposium programme
Join us for an exciting in-person afternoon event on Saturday 4th October at the Galleywood Heritage Centre, exploring research about crime and society in Anglo-Saxon, early-modern and eighteenth-century Essex. There will be a series of four fascinating talks with a mid-afternoon break for tea and cake (included in the £15 ticket price), a booksale andContinue reading “Annual Symposium programme”
A difficult start to his new post? William Innes, vicar of Dovercourt cum Harwich (1619–1639)
In this blog, Herbert Eiden uncovers the tricky relations between William Innes and his parishioners in Harwich. Shortly after Thomas Drax, the incumbent vicar of Dovercourt cum Harwich, died in January 1619, the bishop of London presented William Innes on 18th March 1619 as perpetual vicar to the parish. Since the dissolution of Colne Priory,Continue reading “A difficult start to his new post? William Innes, vicar of Dovercourt cum Harwich (1619–1639)”
Religion, Reformation and Society
As we continue planning for this year’s annual symposium at the Galleywood Heritage Centre on Saturday 4th October, a look back at last year’s event! We were grateful to three of our trustees, Lord Petre, Dr Amanda Flather and Sir Graham Hart for giving talks, alongside our long-term friend the architectural historian Dr James Bettley.Continue reading “Religion, Reformation and Society”
New volume on Southend published!
We’re delighted to announce the publication of our latest short-form volume, which was launched at the Civic Centre in Southend on Friday 11th April. In this blog, editor Ken Crowe introduces the book. With so many histories of Southend having been produced over the years, and many still in print, the aim of the VCHContinue reading “New volume on Southend published!”
A very warm welcome to our new Website
By way of introduction, a little background about the Victoria County History project. The VCH of England project was founded in the closing years of the 19th century, and originally dedicated to Queen Victoria. The aim was to research and write a history of every community within each of the counties of England. From its veryContinue reading “A very warm welcome to our new Website”
Victoria County History of Essex 