Harwich, A Town in the Tendring District of the English County of Essex
The town of Harwich is in the English County of Essex. The port is one of the traditional Haven Ports together with the ports of Ipswich and Felixstowe. The town is part of the Tendring district and is located on the coast, with the North Sea to the east. It is Essex’s northernmost seaside town. The name of this town was taken from Old English here-wic which means “military settlement.”
In spite of, or maybe because of Harwich small size, it is acclaimed for its architectural heritage, so much so that the entire older part of town is designated as a conservation area. This does not include the Navy Yard Wharf. The orderly street plan with the major roads connected by various small narrow passages or paths points out to the medieval origin of the town even though some structures of this period hide behind 18th Century facades.
Food, Shopping and Accommodation in Harwich
There is a flea market on Market Street that offers quirky items best for gifts. Other than that, there is not much shopping to be done in this town. But the town hosts a respectable number (thirty-three) of eating places in such a small town. There are several coffee houses, British dining halls, a pizza parlour, Indian restaurants, a wine bar, burger house, seafood joints, fast foods and more choices. And there are six hotels, and five inns/B&Bs.
Things to See and Do in Harwich
The surviving medieval buildings are mostly private homes. Famous old public buildings include the St Nicholas parish church built in 1821 and the Guildhall built in 1769, the lone Grade II building in Harwich. There are very few prominent structures erected in the later part of the 20th Century, but significant additions include two new buildings for Trinity House and the lifeboat station.
A popular destination in town is the Dovercourt Bay, a quiet and relaxing seaside resort with a lot of facilities on the promenade such as a boating lake and a skate park. It is also near the Hemford Water National Nature Reserve famous for its seals.