O n this walk around Rochford and the River Roach, Rob will be joined by writer and tour guide Laura Agustin.

This tour around Rochford and the River Roach will pass Rochford Hall, once owned by oft-maligned Tudor courtier Richard Rich, the parish church and the surrounding golf course. Rochford was a hotbed of Protestantism, and we’ll talk about how Nonconformists and Dissenters differed, from Congregationalists to Puritans, Methodists and the Peculiar People.

After a tour around the town looking at some fine houses there will be a short pub stop.

The second part of the walk goes along the River Roach, past a derelict flour mill and live saltmarshes into the estuary to hear about the perils of riverside mud, with the aid of Susan Hill’s Woman in Black.

Birds abound, and the marshes are beautiful as we head towards the North Sea.

The walk is about five miles and could involve muddy paths, so boots or high trainers with good soles are needed. Rochford is about one hour by train from Liverpool Street Station.

Rochford about one hour by train from Liverpool Street Station.