East Anglia is one of the Regions of Britain that, it would seem, has been passed by. This however helps to make it an ideal location for family holidays and weekend beak destination.
The Rump of England to the North of London has a large mass compared to the population that inhabits its small towns, cities and numerous villages down twisting country lanes. In recent years the electrification of the train service from Liverpool Street Station in London to the City of Norwich in Norfolk has encouraged the commuter to buy up homes and weekend cottages but still the population is small compared to other areas as close to London.
It is tempting to look back on the history of the region and claim that it was all the fault of a local girl by the name of Boudica or Boadicea as she is more commonly called. When, as Queen of the Iceni whose people inhabited what is now known as Norfolk (As the name suggests the area to the North of the region), she lead a rebellion against the Romans who were inhabiting Britain at the time. Her Army destroyed the Roman capital city of Colchester in Essex followed by St Albans. Unfortunately, for her, the Romans where not defeated and beat her army at the Battle of Watling Street in AD60 / 61 following punitive action against the remaining Iceni the population of East Anglia was devastated and power passed to London.
The population recovered but the power had shifted never to return. However, the flat lands of the area proved perfect for agriculture which remains the mainstay of the region. Now we see large fields of wheat, and barley and other cereal crops whilst root crops and, in particular sugar beet, have sustained the rural economy in recent years.
Like many other areas of Britain, it was the Black Death 1665-1666 and the subsequent decimation of the population that transformed the area from strip farming by peasant farmers to the use of large tracts of land for sheep farming, which required far less labour. The beautiful villages and churches of East Anglia and in particular Lavenham Suffolk were a result of sheep farming and the resultant wool industry. It is hard today, when one looks at the half timbered medieval cottages, that village of Lavenham was once amongst the wealthiest towns in England. In its day the cottages where a hive of industry carding, teasing, spinning, weaving and dyeing the wools and the large merchant houses, guild hall and church were built on the results.
Unfortunately for the entrepreneurs of East Anglia of the day hills do not figure large in the geography of East Anglia. Consequently, when the power of water was harnessed in 1762 by the Water Frame and other later developments the production of clothes began to move to regions of Britain with hills and water, where the power of fast flowing water could be harnessed to drive the modern equipment. The latter use of the steam engine did not help much either since East Anglia lacked the coal of the North Country that was required to drive these engines.
With the industrial revolution passing the economy of East Anglia largely by but with great farmland the future of the region was firmly tied to the production of food. No large motorways were required and the region remained a true backwater; a quite and largely undiscovered gem.
In the past the residents looked towards the West Country and the choked summer roads filled with tourists and thoughts of all the rain and wondered why. East Anglia is the driest county of Britain with may beautiful beaches on its interesting coastline. Image, however has always been a problem.
Great Yarmouth is thought of as the family tourist destination of the area but for the discerning tourist the region offers so much more from the quiet sanctuary of the North Norfolk coast to the sophistication of Southwold, Aldeburgh and Snape with its world famous concert hall. Shopping in Norwich and Cambridge are particular delights with a mixture of history and good food that can keep most people entertained. However, wherever you go in the region you will find wonderful places to visit and see, with easy walks, and history that should not to be missed.
To find out more about East Anglia Click the “PDF Guide” Button and Get the Easy Print A4 Guide and Maps. Please note these files are large due to the high definition maps so may take a few minutes to download.
