Chelmsford and Colchester: Two Historic Essex Cities

Essex has two very different cities. Let’s meet both of them:

Colchester (England’s Oldest Recorded Town)

Colchester dates from Roman times, and is England’s oldest recorded town. Sitting on the River Colne, it’s known as the driest place in England, and even suffered an earthquake in 1884 that made the news. The effects were even felt in Suffolk and London, damaging over 1200 buildings (cracking walls and damaging chimneys). Caused by a fault in the underlying ancient bedrock.

Did you know that the nursery rhyme Old King Cole, was likely based on Coel Hen, a ruler from Colchester? Some also say that Humpty Dumpty was named after a large cannon, used during the Siege of Colchester in the English Civil War in 1648.

One of England’s Last Department Stores

Fenwick is one of England’s last remaining independent department stores (it doesn’t sell food, so thankfully unlike Harrods in London, it does not sell foie gras). And unlike Harrods, it has a policy of not selling real fur either (it even sells vegan leather coats).

Began by merging a haberdashery with a hardware store, independent stores retain money in the local economy, rather than sending it out to billionaire owners overseas (Fenwick is family-owned, Harrods is owned by Qatar Investment Fund).

Although now terribly dated, the comedy Are You Being Served? had millions of viewers back in the 70s, not thanks mostly due to John Inman and Mollie Sugden. Based on the author’s time working in a Piccadilly department store, and John Inman’s first job as a department store window dresser.

Born to two hairdressers in Preston (Lancashire), some criticised John Inman’s camp persona, as giving the wrong impression of gay people. But John said all he wanted was to make people accept through comedy (he was in a committed relationship for 30 years).

Mollie Sugden became a national icon with her purple hair and references to her beloved cat (in a survey in the early 90s, she was better known than then-Prime Minister John Major).

She was a classically trained actress (married to a professor of drama) and died at 86. Four months after the death of her co-star Wendy Richard, who in real life had quite a posh accent, having lived in Mayfair as a child.

Chelmsford (the birthplace of modern radio)

Chelmsford’s claim to fame is being the birthplace of modern radio, the first wireless broadcast made (using technology that later helped survivors of the Titanic to be found, thanks to broadcasting to a nearby ship).

It sounds good (the inventor was a handsome Italian immigrant – until we find he went onto become a member of Mussolini’s Fascist Party). A bit like statues of slave traders in England have been removed, in Italy memorials to his intellect have now been destroyed, Italians preferring to forget this ugly part of their history.

Where the Porridge Film (was filmed!)

A happier memory for Porridge fans is that the indoor scenes for the feature film (where Fletch and Godber accidentally escape and have to get back inside) were filmed at Chelmsford Prison (which was empty due to a refurbishment, after a fire).

Some of the football players were real ones from a local team. One recalled that unlike his character, Ronnie Barker was very reserved (almost shy) and very posh (unlike his character!) And that Richard Beckinsale would often happily visit the local Oddfellows Arms, to have a brandy and smoke a huge cigar!