Essex

Abstract

Apart from the metropolitan counties, Essex is today the second most heavily populated county in England, mainly as a result of its close proximity to London and its industries in the south. Its situation at the mouth of the Thames and in relation to the continent have given it, like Kent, a special role in most of the major events of national history. The deeply indented inlets of its low-lying coast made it accessible to seaborne attack from Romans, Saxons, Danes and Normans. It built defences against Napoleon and later against Hitler when it suffered heavily through airborne attack.