Sitting comfortably amid the Blackwater Estuary, Maldon is one of the most interesting and lovable towns in the delightfully British county of Essex. While Essex no doubt has plenty of cities that are downright gorgeous and adorable, Maldon may arguably take the top spots when it comes to fascinating back stories.
Maldon translates directly from old Anglo-Saxon dialogue into "the meeting place on the hill". Clearly Maldon has been important since its inception. No one is quite sure exactly when Maldon got its name but the Saxons (arguably the people who crafted Maldon into a real town) were already settled into the area by the 500s. The fact that Maldon sat right alongside the Blackwater made it an indispensable port town and the Saxons used this proximity to the famed estuary to great effect when wresting control of England from the other warring and competing tribes and nations at the time. During these days there were only two real towns in all of Essex and thus Maldon was the home of King Edward the Elder. The King's influence on the town certainly would have been important and lasting and up to the beginning of the first millennium there were still coins being issued that had the visages of Saxon kings adorned on the front. Edward the Elder settled into Maldon for strategic reasons since, at the time, Danish rebels were beginning to stake their claim on this lush and fertile swath of land and England was in a general state of uproar. Vikings were making life generally uncomfortable for everybody all around the continent and the days of Saxon rule were, unbeknownst to much of the nation, coming to a close.
Throughout its history Maldon would always find itself as a place for invasion or defense due to its strategic location on the estuary. Aside from constant Viking and Danish attacks, Maldon was in fact the site where the French had planned to invade England in 1744. France was at the height of its powers in those days and one can only imagine how this invasion would have transpired. For better or worse, though, the fleet set to attack was capsized and lost in a storm. These days Maldon is still an important part of England due to its port capabilities and many people who ship along the Thames use the Estuary and Maldon to great effect. As such the town has never ventured from its role as one of the most necessary parts of the United Kingdom. Travel between London and Maldon is frequent and easy thanks to the vast plethora of people who not only commute to London for work but also residents of London who simply want to take in the lovely sights and atmosphere of Maldon. If you have yet to visit this historic and fascinating slice of wonder alongside the Blackwater, it is recommended that you do so in the Spring, when all of the Maldon flavor and atmosphere is at its peak and ready for displays of maximum beauty and wonder.
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