Things to do in Bradwell on Sea, Essex
With a population of 877 at the last count, it is a delightfully unspoilt place to visit.
Located in the district of Maldon, the nearest town is Southminster 9 km (5 miles) away or Colchester 30 km (19 miles) to the west.
The Anglo-Saxons knew the area as Ithancester and it has also been called Bradwell-juxta-Mare and Bradwell-next-the-Sea in its long history.
In 653 AD Saint Cedd was sent by Pope Gregory to found a monastery and bring Christianity to Essex.
The building has survived as the old chapel of St Peter-on-the-Wall and it is the oldest church in England.
However, in 1920 it was restored and reconsecrated although the chancel, apse and tower were long gone.
Today St Peter's Chapel remains a place of pilgrimage and is always open.
In the 13th century, Bradwell built a quay and from it, wool was exported. Records from 1478 show a ship called the Christopher carried wool from Bradwell Quay to Calais.
Today, visitors can see the old runways, control tower and a mosquito plane erected as a monument in memory of those who died in combat.
In more recent times, Bradwell-on-Sea hit the headlines as the site of the Bradwell nuclear power station.
It was closed in 2002 and has since been decommissioned.
Present Day Bradwell-on-Sea
Bradwell-on-Sea is a pleasant village with odd houses from various centuries lining the main street.
The village is not really "on sea"; it is about a mile from the Blackwater Estuary.
Overlooking the Blackwater Estuary it has a pretty beer garden and an inglenook fireplace in the bar which offers a cosy welcome.
The Church of St Thomas was built in the 14th-century to serve the village in place of St Peter's Church.
The square tower was added in the 18th-century. The village still has an old village jail with stocks and a pillory nearby.
Famous residents from Bradwell-on-Sea include the 16th century priest, Thomas Abel, Sir Henry Bate Dudley and journalist and MP Tom Driberg, also known as Baron Bradwell.
Things to do in Bradwell-on-Sea
The Blackwell Estuary offers excellent opportunities for watersports and the village has an excellent sailing club.
Take a walk along the track to the remote St Peter's Chapel or join in the annual Bradwell Pilgrimage in early July.
Inside, the chapel is very plain with a simple stone altar and a cross depicting Christ with St Cedd.
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Days Out in Bradwell on Sea
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Mangapps Railway Museum (6 Miles)*
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Layer Marney Tower (8 Miles)*
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Maeldune Heritage Centre (9 Miles)*
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Colchester Zoo (10 Miles)*
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Bourne Mill (11 Miles)*
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Beth Chatto Gardens (12 Miles)*
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Marsh Farm Country Park (13 Miles)*
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Coggeshall Grange Barn (13 Miles)*
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Paycockes House (14 Miles)*
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RHS Garden Hyde Hall (14 Miles)*
Places to Visit near Bradwell on Sea
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Southminster (5 Miles)*
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Goldhanger (6 Miles)*
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Maldon (9 Miles)*
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Copford (10 Miles)*
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Langford (10 Miles)*
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Messing (10 Miles)*
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Colchester (11 Miles)*
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Great Bentley (11 Miles)*
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Little Clacton (12 Miles)*
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Great Clacton (12 Miles)*
Also near Bradwell on Sea |
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