A scene from Walton on the Naze.

This day July 1st (1916) was the first day of the Battle of Somme that resulted in 57,000 British and Empire casualties. Battalions from the 1st, 2nd,9th 10th & 13th Essex Regiment were in action. The Thiepval Memorial to the missing, bears the name of 72,000 officers and men.

July 1st (1875) Southend Local Board (now Southend City Council) completed the purchase (£12,000) for Southend’s deep water wooden pier. The purchase followed a local ratepayer referendum (162 for, 14 against). More 'The Struggle to Build Southend's First Pier' bookshops/online

This day June 30th (1873) Rioting broke out in Tollesbury following the cancellation of the annual toy fair. Usually public houses were kept open for seafarers and landlubbers to meet on a Saturday night, drink and kick up a row’. The riot began when the toy fair cancelled.

This day June 29th (1994) Mrs Smith of Laindon was shocked to receive an electricity bill for £585.00 from the newly privatised Eastern Electricity. The bill was accompanied by threats to cut off the electric supply and send in the bailiffs.

This day June 28th (1667) A Dutch fleet of 45 warships, under the command of Admiral Michiel de Ruyter, sailed up the Thames & blockaded Tilbury. Virtually unopposed, they sent raiding parties ashore at Canvey Island & the Isle of Sheppey in Kent before striking Chatham

From 60 years ago. (yes it was that long ago) A message from Southend GOOD LUCK ENGLAND A double page spread In the Southend Standard Will history repeat itself?

A poem for Friday, Sad Days at High Beech. Just one of a 100 from the Essex Hundred. (The History Essex in 100 Poems) www.essex100.com/product/the-... or bookshops.

June 25th (1972) A Rochford medium and ghost hunter called Bill Dragon claimed that a series of mysterious accidents on Bread and Cheese Hill on the A13 in Thundersley were caused by ghosts.

Although there was a war on, this day June 24th (1941) William Gardiner, aged 35, was sentenced at the Old Bailey to eight months imprisonment for bigamy. (Grays & Tilbury Gazette)

June 23rd (1882) The Salvation Army declared ‘war on sin’ in Colchester. Salvationists gathered in the Market Place before marching through the town, headed by a brass band. There was considerable opposition to the SA across the country due to its opposition to alcohol.

This day June 22nd (2005) Trinity House personnel, from all over the country, moved into their news quay side offices in Harwich. Trinity House is the General Lighthouse Authority for England, Wales and the Channel Islands. Image 'The Alert'.

This day June 21st (1904) Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show performed in Ilford – the fifth and last time it was seen in Essex. The first REAL Reality show - and long before TOWIE. BUFFALO BILL’S THE WILD WEST by David Dunford Book shops or online

This day June 20th (1966) Shivering Sands, an abandoned military fort in the Thames estuary and the home of the ‘pirate’ Radio City, was boarded and occupied by a gang hired by a Major Oliver Smedley. Image show ‘gang’ leader big Alf Bullen with captive DJ Tony Pine.

More about some of these ships on T&C Memories.

Written June 19th (1910) There’s nothing like a glowing endorsement for a seaside hostelry -dainty tables, ferns, flowers - & ‘where you fancy in a world-famed Hotel-de-Luxe on the azure coast’! Unfortunately Illustrated booklet no longer available. www.essex100.com

This day June 18th (1931) Four of the Orient Line’s principal passenger ships docked together at Tilbury Docks. The big Os. Orontes, Otranto, Oronsay and the Offord. A sight to behold.

This day June 17th (1929) the first WALL OF DEATH opened at the Kursaal in Southend-on-Sea. ‘Cyclone’ Jack Cody was the first rider and one of a team of six on a world tour. Image ‘Tornado’ Smith in action. The WALL OF DEATH closed in 1974 at the same time as the Kursaal.

Snapshot from the past. What's (was) on at the cinema Southend and District published this day 17th June (1937) with full notes. Once upon a time there were 8 cinemas in Southend, 2 in Westcliff, 1 in Leigh , plus Hadleigh, Rayleigh and Wickford. And the Floral Hall too.

Bow Bridge was Once in Essex, Now in London Well at least half of it. BOW BRIDGE, (or the Lea Bridge) once the gateway to Essex. ( Daniel Defoe) More ONCE IN ESSEX, NOW IN LONDON Book shops or online

Big day this 15th June (1215) Sealed reluctantly by King John at Runnymede*. The Magna Carta. More, MAGNA CARTA IN ESSEX www.essex100.com/product/magn... *The only book detailing the Essex connections. At the time Runnymede was owned by an Essex Baron Richard de Monfitchet.

This day June 15th, a busy day and a first in 1920! A concert featuring the famous soprano Dame Nellie Melba was broadcast from the Marconi studios (Radio 2MT) in Chelmsford. See the video short, the Birth of Radio youtu.be/HeRBE0aldlY

Signs on a Sunday. Out and about. Signs on Sunday There are signs, signs, and more signs. At the Fire Station. Was it a planned cancellation? #SignsOnSunday

This day June 14th (1930) Southend Corporation was the first local authority in the country to take delivery of the new ‘dustless or covered collectors’ at £700 a unit. The corporation took three of them and each could take 10 cubic yards of household waste.

This day June 13th (1987) the Essex University Vice-Chancellor, Sir Albert Sloman, was knighted and retired. He was the UK’s longest serving University Vice Chancellor. He was succeeded by Professor Martin Harris, from the University of Salford.

The Great Dunmow Bookfest still going strong at the Maltings in Great Dunmow.

This day June 12th (1567) the great Tudor survivor, Baron Richard Riche died in Rochford of natural in his own bed in his own home, at the age of 70, surrounded his family. He was buried at Felsted Parish Church. More www.essex100.com/product/esse...

LESS than a couple of days to go - to - the Great Dunmow Bookfest. This Saturday June 13th. ALL ARE WELCOME Great Dunmow home to the Doctor's Pond and eccentric inventor Lionel Lukin. More on the Bookfest - essex100.com/2897/great-dun

This day June 11th 1938 Butlin’s Holiday Camp opened in Clacton-on-Sea on the West Clacton Estate. Clacton was the second Holiday Camp after Skegness. The camp closed in 1983 and was replaced with the Martello Bay housing estate. It was the ultimate staycation?

Twenty years ago. Following another devastating fire a year earlier this image shows ongoing repairs to reopen the pier in May 2006. The pier fully reopened in August 2006. More, ‘The Struggle to Build Southend’s First Pier’ essex100.com/product/strugg le-to-build-southends-first-pier/

This day June 10th (1381) Cressing Temple (near Braintree) was looted & partially destroyed during the ‘Peasant’s Revolt’. Peasants Revolt video short youtu.be/QZtg6JuAw4k Audio and full screen recommended.

The Essex 100 Top 10 and more. See the range at at the Great Dunmow Bookfest this Saturday 13th June 2026 More, www.essex100.com/2897/great-d...

The Dunmow Flitch with Shirley Baker. A Video Short Part of the ESSEX HUNDRED HISTORIES Video link youtu.be/sdFAYVtD-zU AND ALL ARE WELCOME to THE GREAT DUNMOW BOOKFEST this Saturday 13th June. More, www.essex100.com/2897/great-d...

The Great Dunmow Bookfest in conjunction with the Essex Book Festival is coming. This Saturday June 13th 2026. More, essex100.com/2897/great-dun

This day in Essex, June 8th (1967), the Lord Lieutenant of Essex, Sir John Ruggles-Brise, cut the first turf for the new Basildon Hospital in Nethermayne in front of 250 selected dignitaries. The envisaged cost was £5.5 million. The hospital opened fully in 1973.

This day June 7th (2000), a referendum by Wivenhoe TC on growing of genetically modified (GM) crops by a local farmer resulted in 159 in support, 80 don’t knows, & 1,894 against on a 38% turnout. In turn Colchester Council called on the government to suspend all local GM trials.

The 19thC Great Dunmow Water Pump in the High St. The removal of its predecessor led to local rioting. Today the pump is no longer in use but it’s close the ‘Opticians’ in the High Street. The Great Dunmow Bookfest this Saturday 13th June. More, www.essex100.com/2897/great-d...

This day June 6th (1976) the Royal Naval Training Establishment HMS Ganges closed. 100 cadets marched through Harwich to mark the event. Originally the Ganges was a training ship based at Harwich. In 1905 it relocated to become shore based at Shotley in Suffolk.

This day June 5th (1983), the Space Shuttle ‘Enterprise’ visited Stansted Airport on a promotional tour. Yet it never went into space. The Enterprise stayed for two days and was seen by around 250,000 visitors. Now housed in the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in New York.

Just about a week and a day until The Great Dunmow Bookfest in conjunction with the Essex Book Festival. This June 13th 2026. More, www.essex100.com/2897/great-d...

Fifty Years Ago. 4th June 1976 Essex County Standards Entertainment Guide Those were the days Marks Tey Hotel Dinner £2.95 plus VAT! The Man Who Fell to Earth & more.

The pier train 'Sir William Heygate' en-route to the end of the Pier. Still in service after 40 years. Named after Sir William Heygate one of the promoters of building the Pier. More, 'The Struggle to Build Southend's First Pier' www.essex100.com/product/stru...

This day June 2nd (1934) Morris Dancing was revived in Thaxted. Five clubs took part. The Morris ring was inaugurated. See out video short with late Robert Hallmann. youtu.be/xxUHO2DoptA

This day June 1st (2012) Chelmsford the county town of Essex (and birthplace of radio) was granted city status to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II.

Great Dunmow home of the 2026 Bookfest on Saturday 13th June 2026 where GD will become a book town as part of the Essex Book Festival. Regular updates over the next 10 days.

This day May 30th (1381) The Peasant’s revolt began in Brentwood led by Thomas Baker of Fobbing. For more see our video short. The Peasant Revolt explained in less than five minutes. youtu.be/QZtg6JuAw4k

This day May 29th (1943) Thurrock’s ‘Wings for Victory’ week began. Its aim was to promote a variety of fund raising events & sponsorship from local shops & businesses to raise £300,000 to buy 15 Mosquito fighter planes. A week later £386,000 had been raised. Job done!

This day May 28th (2008). The opening of the new Great Leighs racecourse took place. It cost £30 million & boasted a new all-weather floodlit track. Unfortunately, the new racecourse was short lived & closed a year later. In 2015 it reopened Chelmsford City Racecourse.

Just about two week to go. The Great Dunmow Bookfest in Great Dunmow. June 13th 2026 More, www.talliston.com/great-dunmow...

Esturiana – the Goddess of Creativity A mosaic on the Ha’penny Pier in Harwich by Anne Schwegmann –Fielding Inspiration for these troubled times? www.essex100.com