On this walk around Rochford and the River Roach, Rob will be joined by writer Laura Agustin. They will take you on a tour of Rochford where pretty weatherboarded houses held meetings of the Perculiar People, religious group who broke away from the Methodist Church. The walk looks at how Essex was a home for Dissenting religious groups. The walk will pass Rochford Hall – once owned by Tudor Courtier, Richard Rich (who appears as a villain in the Shardlake novels), and we will see the parish church surrounded by a golf course.

After a tour around the town looking at the fine Georgian houses and interesting buildings like the old Fire Station, there will be a short pub stop. The second part of the walk goes along the River Roach, past the now derelict flour mill and salt marsh to view the riverside mud that still holds a few secrets.

The walk is about five miles and could involve some muddy paths so boots recomended.

Rochford about one hour by train from Liverpool Street Station.