Click on the Castle name below the map to see a picture and some text about the Castle.

CASTLE HEDINGHAM

COLCHESTER

HADLEIGH

ONGAR

PLESHEY

SAFFRON WALDEN

STANSTED MOUNTFICHET

The county of Essex sits to the immediate north and east of London and is the most southerly of the Anglian counties.  As a consequence of London's proximity much of the south and south west of the county is made up of the urban overspill from London's East End.  Once further from London Essex becomes a county of gently undulating hills and pretty unspoilt villages, often a surprise to those whose only view of the county is the area around the Thames. Two of the oldest towns in England, Colchester and Chelmsford, are in Essex, although the latter is mostly fairly modern in character. Other major towns include Southend-on-Sea, Frinton, Walton-on-the-Naze, Harlow, Saffron Walden and Braintree.

In common with all the flat eastern counties Essex has only a few Castles of great merit, but amongst the most famous are Hadleigh (painted by J.M.W. Turner), Colchester (with the largest floor plan of any medieval keep) and best of all Hedingham - one of the best preserved and neatest of all England's great keeps.

Back to the
Castles of
East Anglia

© Text copyright - Raving Loony Productions, Andrew J. Müller and Roy Barton
© Photos and Artwork - Andrew J. Müller, Roy Barton and Shaun Runham
© Web Design and Layout - Andrew J. Müller
2024