Essex
Harwich is not mentioned in the Domesday Book so at that time if anyone lived there it must have been a very small settlement. The name Harwich is believed to be derived from the old words here wich, meaning army camp because the Danes or Vikings camped there in the 9th century. However there is an entry for Dovercourt. It was a little village with a population of about 120. The inhabitants were peasants who farmed the land around a cluster of wooden huts.
Yet by 1177 a chapel existed at Harwich so by then there must have been a small number of people. In the 13th century the Earl of Norfolk turned the hamlet into a town. At that time trade and commerce were increasing in England and many new towns were founded.
In 1253 the Earl of Norfolk, Lord of the manor, started a weekly market in Harwich. In those days there were very few shops and if you wished to buy or sell anything you went to market. Once the market in Harwich was up and running craftsmen and merchants would go and live in the town. So new streets were laid out and wooden jetties were built for ships.
Medieval Harwich grew rapidly and in 1318 it was given a charter (a document granting the townspeople certain rights). In the later Middle Ages Harwich was a busy little port. At that time England's main export was wool and bales were sent from Harwich across the world. This part of the world is famous for its 'Wool Towns' The main import was wine (the drink of the upper class). Furthermore in Harwich there were the same craftsmen found in any town such as carpenters, brewers, butchers, blacksmiths etc.
HARWICH 1500-1800
At the time of Henry VIII strong defences were built at Harwich just in case! Three forts were also erected as Harwich was now a busy fishing port with a population of about 800.
In 1604 James I gave Harwich a new charter. As well as weekly markets Harwich was allowed 2 annual fairs. In those days fairs were like markets but they were held only once or twice a year. People came from all over Essex to attend a Harwich fair. In the 17th century Harwich continued to flourish and shipbuilding was a major industry in the town.
In the latter part of the 17th century, England fought 3 wars with Holland. Because of its position on the coast of Essex Harwich became an important naval base. In 1667 a wheel crane was built at Harwich. (In 1928 it was moved to Harwich Green). Meanwhile in 1665-66 the plague struck causing many deaths.
In the 18th century quieter times returned but civilian shipbuilding continued and fishing was still an important industry. Harwich was still a busy little port. However the town did suffer from flooding at intervals.
In the 1720s the writer Daniel Defoe (Robinson Crusoe) visited Harwich on his tour of the kingdom and he said it was 'a town of hurry and business, not much of gaiety and pleasure; yet the inhabitants seem warm in their nests and some of them are very rich'. Defoe was also impressed by Harwich Harbour. He said it was 'able to receive the biggest ships and the greatest number that ever the world saw together'.
MODERN HARWICH
In the years 1808-1810 a redoubt was built to protect Harwich from the French.Now surrounded by houses, when it was first fully-manned, during the years running up to The Battle of Waterloo, it had a 360-degree command of its view. A house and a venerable elm tree were reportedly sacrificed to facilitate this feature. A lighthouse was built in 1818 and St Nicholas Church was dedicated in 1822.
In 1801, at the time of the first census Harwich and Dovercourt had a population of about 2,700. To us it would seem no more than a village but by the standards of the time it was a fair-sized market town.
In the early 19th century an industry making 'Roman cement' flourished in Harwich although it had died out by the end of the century. Meanwhile the railway reached Harwich in 1854 and steam ships also began sailing from the port.
There were some improvements in Harwich during the 19th century. From 1870 Harwich was lit by gas and in 1880 the first sewer was dug and in 1887 Harwich gained a piped water supply. Big stuff.
In the early 20th century the fishing industry in Harwich petered out but the port continued to thrive. Harwich continued to grow steadily. By 1911 it had a population of over 13,000. Also in 1911 the Electric Palace Cinema was built and by 1971 the population was almost 15,000. It was from this port that the Beatles left to go to Germany and then onto change the world!
Today Harwich has a population of 18,000 with superb restaurants, little interesting shops and still a flourishing port. As you can see from this information - its well worth a vist.