Today I've been reminiscing about a place back home in England that I've been visiting for years - Maldon, and it's promenade. It's perfect for a casual stroll along the promenade, boat trips or just for a spot of lunch (and ice cream of course!) Though be warned, the birds are fearless!
Maldon is a town and civil parish on the Blackwater estuary in Essex, England. It is the seat of the Maldon District and starting point of the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation. It is most renowned for Maldon Sea Salt which is produced in the area. The place-name Maldon is first attested in 913 in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, where it appears as Maeldun. Maldon's name comes from mǣl meaning 'monument or cross' and dūn meaning 'hill', so translates as 'monument hill'. East Saxons settled the area in the 5th century and the area to the south is still known as the Dengie Peninsula after the Dæningas. It became a significant Saxon port with a hythe or quayside and artisan quarters. Evidence of imported pottery from this period has been found in archaeological digs. From 958 there was a royal mint issuing coins for the late Anglo-Saxon and early Norman kings.
On this particular day the weather was extremely indecisive (almost as bad as me) which reminds me of this...
Anywhooo.. In the end the weather decided to play ball and was 'just what the doctor ordered' as they say! After my sausage sandwich that I'd bought off one of the food stalls (I wasn't really 'feeling' chips, and who doesn't love a sausage sarnie!) we continued with the walk and just admired the peace and the open space.
Unfortunately a man dived head first into the water, however he dove far too close inland and died instantly. I remember that day like it was yesterday, I was floating in the sea in my rubber ring and my parents desperately trying to distract/shelter me from what was happening. And now, as you can see in the previous photo, a lovely pond sits in its place and with two fountains (those are not visible in the photo).
There's plenty to do here and is great for all the family, from an outdoor splash park, parks, a giant maze, reptile centre, and during the warmer months (when England decides to have those of course, haha!) there's usually rides for the kids that are set up along with bouncy castles, bands, etc, and is great fun during the carnival season! Once a year Maldon also holds a mud race, I've never done it but would love to give it a try!
The Maldon Mud Race is an annual fun race held in spring at Promenade Park in Maldon, Essex, England, in which entrants compete to complete a 500 metres dash, in thick mud, over the bed of the River Blackwater.
Who wouldn't want to get stuck in with this? Quite literally...
