Roman Essex & Constable Country
Britain's oldest recorded town, a tidal island, the tallest Tudor gatehouse, and the landscapes Constable painted
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The tallest Tudor gatehouse in Britain, built by Henry, 1st Lord Marney — a courtier of Henry VIII who died in 1523 before finishing his grand design. The tower stands eight storeys high, the ambitious centrepiece of an estate that was never completed.
Take the A12 northeast — the tower is signed from the Kelvedon junction. Check opening days before visiting (Sundays and Wednesdays in season).
A tidal island in the Blackwater estuary, connected to the mainland by a causeway that floods twice daily. Home to a Roman burial barrow, native oyster beds farmed since antiquity, and a quiet beach town.
Check the tide times for the Strood causeway before driving — it floods for a few hours either side of high tide.
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