This October, join your host Eri Berry for a three-part deep-dive into the truth behind the Essex witch trials. In this first part, we'll uncover the wider historical context to better understand how we ended up with anti-witchcraft legislation in the first place, as well as identifying likely candidates for the first women executed under these questionable pieces of statute.

Click here for the show-notes, including image attribution.

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DISCLAIMER:

While I do my best to bring you accurate, well-researched content, I’m only human! If you spot a mistake, have a correction, or want to share additional context, please feel free to reach out via email at unexpectedessex@gmail.com.

Time Stamps:

00:00:00 - Intro

00:00:21 - Context for the episode

00:01:57 - The Origins of Magic

00:06:38 - The Early Modern Era and how Henry VIII caused religious chaos…

00:10:04 - The Religious Pendulum begins to swing…

00:13:46 - Elizabeth I takes the throne

00:14:53 - Essex begins its witch trials

00:22:37 - Next time, and thank you!

00:23:15 - Credits

Key Names and Places:

Essex, Henry VII, Henry VIII, Edward VI, Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Mary I, Elizabeth I, Lady Jane Grey, Great Waltham, Chelmsford, Hatfield Peverel.

On this episode of Unexpected Essex, your host Eri Berry deep dives into the murky world of 18th century highway robbery. Today, we answer the question: just who was Dick Turpin, how was he connected to Essex, and exactly what was the real deal with highwaymen?

This episode explores the life of highwayman Dick Turpin, the circumstances of his eventual execution, and how society came to romanticise the figure of the gentleman highwayman in popular culture. Turpin was born in Hempstead, a small village in the north west of Essex. Initially working as a butcher, it isn't long before he's drawn into a shady world of poaching, robbery, and even murder.

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

00:17 The Concept of the Highwayman

04:13 The Origin of Dick Turpin

07:25 The Gregory Gang a.k.a The Essex Gang

21:36 Turpin on the Run

26:53 A Fateful Letter

29:15 The Trial

31:02 Execution

34:25 The Legend Begins

38:52 The Myth of the Highwayman in the 20th Century

40:44 Introducing the Turpin Tally

41:19 Thanks for Listening!

41:48 Credits

Key Names and Places

Dick Turpin, Hempstead, Epping Forest, York, London, Thaxted, Waltham Forest, Lincolnshire

Show Notes and Image Attribution

Click here.

Socials and Subscribe Links:

YouTube: Unexpected Essex

Instagram: @unexpectedessex2026

TikTok: @unexpectedessex

Facebook: Unexpected Essex

Website: www.unexpectedessex.co.uk

Contact: unexpectedessex@gmail.com

DISCLAIMER:

While I do my best to bring you accurate, well-researched content, I’m only human! If you spot a mistake, have a correction, or want to share additional context, please feel free to reach out via email at unexpectedessex@gmail.com.

In this episode, Eri Berry brings you the stories of three areas of Essex that have been through significant transformations to demonstrate the positive impact of what can happen when we work with nature rather than against her.

Join Eri on a journey to discover the conservation work that has taken place across three locations in Essex: Abbotts Hall Farm, Wallasea Island, and Spains Hall in Finchingfield. Each of these places has a story to tell and a lesson to learn about the potential solutions to flooding that can found through the restoration of saltmarshes and the reintroduction of native species.

Time Stamps:

00:00 Intro

00:28 Essex's Ecosystem

01:28 Abbotts Hall Farm

04:51 Wallasea Island

13:02 Spains Hall

17:06 Conclusion and ways you can help

18:20 Thanks for listening and credits

Show Notes and Image Attribution:

Click here.

Key Names and Places:

Abbotts Hall Farm, Great Wigborough, Wallasea Island, Finchingfield, Spains Hall, Ealing.

Socials and Subscribe Links:

YouTube: Unexpected Essex

Instagram: @unexpectedessex2026

TikTok: @unexpectedessex

Facebook: Unexpected Essex Page

Website: www.unexpectedessex.co.uk

Contact: unexpectedessex@gmail.com

DISCLAIMER

This episode is not sponsored by any of the organisations discussed, though Eri Berry is a member of the Essex Wildlife Trust.

While I do my best to bring you accurate, well-researched content, I’m only human! If you spot a mistake, have a correction, or want to share additional context, please feel free to reach out via email at unexpectedessex@gmail.com.

When people think of the Peasants' Revolt, usually, the focus is on the Kentish Rebels. But what about the rebels north of London? Join Eri Berry as she explores how the 1381 Peasants' Revolt kicked off in Essex, the stories of the key players from this rebellion and the legacy they left behind.

In 1381, widespread anger over unfair tax burdens, economic hardship, and centuries of feudal control sparked the Peasants' Revolt - one of the most famous popular uprisings in English history. In this episode, Eri traces the origins of the rebellion and explore the pivotal role played by the people of Essex, who fired the very first sparks of revolt and marched alongside Wat Tyler to demand fundamental change from the young King Richard II.

Time Stamps:

00:00 Intro

00:26 Life as a Peasant

02:23 How Essex is involved

03:15 The Feudal System

07:39 The London Social Hierarchy

07:59 The Impact of the Plague

08:57 Some questionable legislation

14:13 Poll Tax

18:10 The Great Rumour and attempted tax collection

20:26 Meanwhile in Kent…

22:35 John Ball

25:57 Richard meets the Rebels

27:22 The Flemish Weavers

32:13 The Rebels' Demands

33:07 Meanwhile in the Tower of London…

35:28 The Death of Wat Tyler

37:10 Rebellions elsewhere quashed

38:35 The legacy of the Peasants' Revolt

40:38 Thanks for listening!

41:00 Credits

Key Names and Places:

King Richard II, John of Gaunt, Thomas Baker, John Ball, Wat Tyler, Essex, Fobbing, Brentwood, Colchester, London, Tower of London, Canterbury, St. Albans

Show Notes and Attribution:

Please click here.

DISCLAIMER

While I do my best to bring you accurate, well-researched content, I’m only human! If you spot a mistake, have a correction, or want to share additional context, please feel free to reach out via email at unexpectedessex@gmail.com.

Socials and Subscribe Links:

YouTube: Unexpected Essex

Instagram: @unexpectedessex2026

TikTok: @unexpectedessex

Facebook: Unexpected Essex Facebook Page

Website: www.unexpectedessex.co.uk

Contact: unexpectedessex@gmail.com

Join Eri Berry as she explores a sweeter side of Essex in this deep dive into the history of one of the county's most beloved products - Tiptree Jam!

Eri has loved Tiptree Jam since she was a child and thoroughly enjoyed researching the history of Wilkin and Sons Limited who have been manufacturing jam in the village of Tiptree for over 140 years. From humble beginnings to a globally recognised brand, this episode pays tribute to a truly Essex company. Sit back, grab a cup of tea, maybe some toast or a scone, and enjoy!

With special thanks to Wilkin & Sons Ltd for kindly granting permission to use some of their images for the video!

Time Stamps:

00:00 Intro

01:05 Tiptree's Origin

02:13 John Mechi

03:08 Arthur Charles Wilkin

04:26 The beginning of the jam

07:10 Charles John Wilkin

09:05 The First World War

10:26 Queen Mary's Dolls House

12:10 The Second World War

15:20 The Centenary

16:13 The 1990s and 2000s

18:00 Conclusion

19:04 Thanks for listening and end credits

Key Names/Places:

Tiptree Jam, Wilkin & Sons Ltd., Tiptree, Essex

Attribution:

For Show Notes and Image Attribution click here.

https://www.rct.uk/collection/stories/queen-marys-dolls-house/queen-marys-dolls-house/cellar-kitchen-and-pantry - link to the pictures of Queen Mary's Dolls House referenced in the episode.

DISCLAIMER: This episode was not sponsored by Wilkin & Sons Ltd. This is a passion project, and is not affiliated with them in any way.

While I do my best to bring you accurate, well-researched content, I’m only human! If you spot a mistake, have a correction, or want to share additional context, please feel free to reach out via email at unexpectedessex@gmail.com.

Socials and Subscribe Links:

YouTube: Unexpected Essex

Instagram: @unexpectedessex2026

TikTok: @unexpectedessex

Facebook: Unexpected Essex Page

Website: www.unexpectedessex.co.uk

Contact: unexpectedessex@gmail.com

Unexpected Essex host Eri Berry answers the question: how did a man who lived miles from the sea, with no nautical experience, no opportunity to go to university build the world’s first offshore lighthouse? And why isn’t he better known?

This episode explores the fascinating life and tragic end of Henry Winstanley, builder of the first offshore lighthouse on the Eddystone rocks off the coast of Plymouth. Winstanley was born in Saffron Walden and grew up dreaming of a career as an architect. A chance meeting with a wealthy London businessman leads to him building his most ambitious project which sadly costs him his life.

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

00:20 Why Essex?

01:26 A misleading poem…

02:48 Winstanley’s early life

06:18 After the gap year

07:47 The house in Littlebury

10:13 Why build a lighthouse?

12:07 How hard can it be?

13:58 How was this funded?

16:03 What did the lighthouse look like?

19:26 The Great Storm of 1703

21:52 The later lighthouses

22:47 Conclusion

23:32 Thanks for listening!

24:00 Credits

For Show Notes and Image Attributions, click here.

Key Names/Places/Dates

Henry Winstanley, The Lighthouse Builder, 1703, The Great Storm, Plymouth, Saffron Walden, Littlebury, Essex, local history.

DISCLAIMER

While I do my best to bring you accurate, well-researched content, I’m only human! If you spot a mistake, have a correction, or want to share additional context, please feel free to reach out via email at unexpectedessex@gmail.com.

Socials and Subscribe Links:

YouTube: Unexpected Essex

Instagram: @unexpectedessex2026

TikTok: @unexpectedessex

Facebook: Unexpected Essex Page

Website: www.unexpectedessex.co.uk

Contact: unexpectedessex@gmail.com