Published in 1818 as a Complete Guide for Tourists and Travellers this book has historical and geological information on every town and village in Essex.

Bursting with entertaining stories, this comprehensive book contains a detailed map of the county and 100 beautiful engravings, which can be used in your own family history book.

A worthwhile and amusing read for those with ancestors from this area, this book will tell you the tales of their time.

Dedicated to memory of the late Ian Hunter of Essex.

Durham, Essex & Gloucestershire

The original Gentleman's Magazine contained articles on a vast array of subjects, including lots of wonderful topographical pieces.

In 1891 George Gomme republished all of these topograhical articles but edited and indexed them into county specific order. Each of Gomme's works contains between two and four separate counties, except for the London volumes.

An absolute goldmine of information about the county, its people and its places.

A compendium set comprising all 15 volumes. Each individual book includes between two and four counties, with the exception of London which is in its own three volume set but is included in the compendium.

This is one of the most important resources that we have seen, and one that should be of great interest to all family historians. Published in 1772 it was the handbook of the duties and responsibilities of the Parish Officer.

It includes the duties of the overseers of the poor, the power in relieving, employing and settling, etc. of poor persons; the laws relating to the poor, and settlements, and the statutes concerning masters and servants. The right of Settlement was something that was of great concern to all of our ancestors. Basically, to be able to have right of settlement in a parish, one had to be born there, married there or serving an apprenticeship there. Proof was all-important, especially if a person became destitute and needed support from the parish. Parish officers would have people literally evicted and transported to another parish under such circumstances. What happened about bastardy? What obligations does an apprentice have to his master and vice-versa? This book describes it all, together with the supporting laws.

Other sections of the book include the authority and duty of constables, tithingmen, etc.; churchwardens, how they should be chosen, their duties, church accounts, repairing of churches, etc. There are some very interesting punishments for not attending church and keeping to the rules! There is a section on surveying the highways, Scavengers, methods of taxation of the highways, and laws. And finally, the duties and powers of Watchmen.

Lyson's. The Environs of London being a Historical Account of the Towns, Villages and Hamlets within Twelve Miles of that Capital.

The full set of this incredibly rare and expensive set of books. This is probably one of the most useful London history books ever written and has been an invaluable reference tool for generations of eminent London historians.

Superb historical account of towns, villages and hamlets within twelve miles of the capital with numerous references to family names, extract from registers and dozens of beautifull illustrations. Each volume carries its own excellent index.

Originally published in 1791, this set has been bound into six books with the contents as follows:

Volume one - part one: The county of Surrey.

Volume one - part two: The counties of Kent, Essex and Herts.

Volume two - part one: The county of Middlesex. Acton - Heston.

Volume two - part two: The county of Middlesex. Hornsey - Wilsdon.

Volume three: Those parishes in the county of Middlesex which are not described in The Environs of London.

Volume four: The counties of Herts, Essex and Kent.