Steve's World Blog Information and articles on cities, towns and villages around the world.

April 11, 2012

Basildon Essex

Filed under: England,United Kingdom — Tags: , , , , , , , , — needahand @ 3:13 pm

Basildon Essex – Basildon is a new town in Essex, created in 1949 after the Second World War, it was intended to house those who suffered due to the bombing in London and the destruction of many of its neighbourhoods. Part of its population comes from East London, near the docks. Basildon was created from four small villages, Pitsea, Basildon, Laindon and Vange. The first reference to Basildon in historical annals is in the Domesday Book, (records of 1086) being referred to as “Belesduna”. Basildon’s name means “the hill” and the words come from Anglo-Saxon, “Beorhtel” and “dun.” Throughout the centuries and in different historical documents, Basildon will be called in different names such as: Berdlesdon, Batlesdon and Belesduna. Within the district of Billericay, we can see a house dating from 1620 where the Pilgrim Fathers met, before emigrating to America on the Mayflower. Basildon today has a population of 185,000, it is situated to the south-east of Brentwood, to the south-east of Billericay and to the north-west of Southend-on-Sea, South Benfleet and Canvey Island.

View a map of Basildon here: http://www.my-towns.co.uk/basildon-map.html

April 5, 2012

Harlow Essex

Filed under: England,History,United Kingdom — Tags: , , , , , — needahand @ 3:25 pm

Harlow Essex – Harlow is a town in Essex in south-east England. It was created in 1947 as a New Town from the towns of Harlow, Great Parndon, Latton, Little Parndon and Netteswell and today with some 80,000 inhabitants, is one of the largest north-eastern suburbs of London. Administratively, Harlow is both a town and district in Essex. Harlow was the first British town, which was equipped with a pedestrian zone in the town, also here in 1951 was the first residential tower in the country, now a listed building. Harlow is located approximately 30 km northeast of London’s city centre. It has a highway access to the M11 (London-Cambridge) and a station on the London-Cambridge line.The Harlow area has been inhabited since the Neolithic period, in Parndon was found an axe, which was dated to about 6000 BC. The place name Harlow indicates a foundation by the Anglo-Saxons. Harlow was in the Magna Carta and was mentioned as a typical rural village. Harlow is situated to the north-west of Chelmsford and also to the north-west of Brentwood.

View a map of Harlow, Essex here: http://www.my-towns.co.uk/harlow-map.html

March 22, 2012

Ipswich Suffolk

Filed under: England,Travel,United Kingdom — Tags: , , , , , , — needahand @ 1:02 pm

Ipswich Suffolk – Ipswich is a city of 128,000 inhabitants. Ipswich is the administrative capital of the region of Suffolk in England, United Kingdom. The city is located in the east of the country a hundred miles from London. The centre of Ipswich provides a wide choice of boutiques, shops, bars and restaurants. The town offers a vibrant mix of heritage. The city has preserved traces of ancient origin: 650 houses and 12 medieval churches are classified. The beautiful parks of Ipswich are an important part of the legacies of the city and very popular when the weather is fine. Residents and visitors can access over 500 hectares of green space. Its location on the estuary of the River Orwell, about fifteen miles from the Port of Felixstowe gives it a dual purpose of river port and sailing centre. The city has a very diversified economy. The Orwell River that flows through the city is a real asset for aesthetics and tourism. Ipswich is a student town. Near the town are the coasts of Suffolk, impressive heritage of the region and the natural beauty of the forests of Thetford and Rendlesham. The nearest towns are Felixstowe, in the same area of Suffolk, and Harwich and Colchester in Essex.

Get a street map of Ipswich here: http://www.my-towns.co.uk/ipswich-map.html

November 7, 2010

Southend on Sea Essex

Filed under: England,Travel,United Kingdom — Tags: , , , , , — needahand @ 9:07 am

A large seaside resort and working town located on the Thames Estuary in Essex, Southend-on-Sea has been a popular resort since the early 19th century. Originally just a group of fishermen’s cottages at the southern end (south end) of the ancient village of Prittlewell, the town now takes in some 7 miles of coastline, pretty much swallowing up the areas of Westcliff, Prittlewell and Leigh-on-Sea, and has a population of around 165,000. Famous for its pier, which at one and a third miles long, is the world’s longest, Southend reached its zenith in the 1960’s and 1970’s, when it was particularly popular as a day tripper resort. The beach which can get quite busy when the weather is fine, is a mixture of shingle and sand , with a good helping of mud thrown in, due to its estuary location. As well as the beach and pier, Southend also has plenty of green areas, with over 1,000 acres of parks and gardens.

Map of Essex.

July 6, 2010

Chelmsford Essex

Filed under: England,Travel,United Kingdom — Tags: , — needahand @ 10:15 am

An agricultural and industrial centre in the county of Essex in eastern England, Chelmsford is split into three distinct districts by the Can and Chelmer rivers. The rivers are spanned by several bridges including the Stone Bridge (built in 1787), there are riverside walks that you can enjoy when the weather is pleasant. The 15th century parish church of St Mary the Virgin became a cathedral in 1914. Chelmsford has a population of approximately 120,000 and became the county town of Essex in the 13th century, much of its industry which centred around electrical engineering has now gone, though the town continues to grow and thrive.

Chelmsford Street Map.

June 25, 2010

Clacton on Sea Essex

Filed under: England,History,Holidays,United Kingdom — Tags: , , , — needahand @ 10:43 am
Clacton on Sea Essex

Clacton on Sea Essex

One of Essex’s popular coastal resorts, Clacton on Sea as a town was only established in 1871, when a railway engineer purchased some land and built Clacton Pier as a docking point for the Woolwich Steam Packet Company. The surrounding areas however, have been the site of human settlement since the time of the ancient Celts. A later Lord of the Manor of Great and Little Clacton, was none other than Henry VIII, who awarded himself the title after the execution of Thomas Cromwell (the former Lord). Clacton became a popular holiday destination in Victorian times and reached its zenith in the 1960’s, aided by the Butlins Holiday Camp, which had first opened in the resort in 1937. In recent years Clacton has fell into decline for various reasons, but not least the closing of Butlins Clacton in 1983. Still fairly popular for holidays and day trips, Clacton can get pretty busy when the weather is fine, and during the summer school holidays. At these times Clacton beach might remind those who remember, of its former heydays.

Clacton Street Map.

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