Guide of Harwich

Harwich is a town in the county of Essex, in the south east of England. It is a port situated on the east coast of the North Sea.  

A brief history of Harwich

In Old English, the name Harwich means ‘military settlement’. There is evidence of an early settlement in 1177, as the remains of a little church were found, but the town was officially established in 1238. It was an important port because of its strategic location, as one of the few safe harbours on the North Sea between London and the north of England. The Harwich Royal Navy Dockyard was created in 1652 and the dockyard was responsible for both building and repairing numerous warships during the wars with France and Holland. Today there is no longer a military presence in Harwich and the town has settled back into its tranquil rhythm.

Things to do in Harwich

Given its strategic military location, there are plenty of bits of military architecture to explore. The former lighthouse was made of wood, but the new stone structure, called The Harwich lighthouse, was designed by John Rennie Senior and built in 1818. Walking around the town and visiting a few pubs or cafes is really pleasant as Harwich is highly regarded in terms of architectural heritage, the centre, the oldest part of the town is designated as a conservation area. The Pier Hotel and the Halfpenny Pier are both worth visiting also Kings Head Street is full of little old English houses.

Beaches around Harwich

Dovercourt Beach has a mixture of sand and shingle, the water is quite shallow, and there is plenty of parking nearby. Pets are welcome and there are some beautiful sand dunes.