A dull, dull day, and a dull, dull picture to mark 1500 blips. So here are a few facts about Essex .......

Essex is home to Britain's oldest recorded town, Colchester. It was the first Roman capital in Britain.
Greensted Church is the oldest wooden church in the world. It was built in 1081AD.
Great Dunmow is home to the oldest recorded competition in Britain still running today, the Flitch Trials. Mentioned in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales and believed to have begun in the 13th century, the Trials aimed to find a married couple who had not quarrelled or repented their marriage during the preceding year and a day. A mock court of locals would test the veracity of stories of marital bliss, with a flitch of bacon the prize for success.
The oldest timber-framed barn in the world is at Cressing Temple near Braintree. The Barley Barn was built by the Knights Templar.
The 350 mile long Essex coast is the second longest coastline of any English county.
The county has 35 islands, more islands than any other English county.
Southend Pier, at 1.33 miles long, is the longest pleasure pier in the world.
Saffron Walden is home to the world's largest turf maze. It's believed to be over 800 years old.
Manningtree is Britain’s smallest town…whilst Tiptree is the UK’s largest village
The largest village green in England is at Great Bentley. It covers an area of roughly 43 acres.
Colchester Castle is the largest Norman Castle Keep in Europe.
Danbury Common, near Chelmsford, has the largest population of Adder snakes in Britain.
In 1920,  the first ever radio broadcast featuring Australian Dame Nellie Melba was made from Chelmsford, the Birthplace of Radio.
Chelmsford was once the capital of England for a few days when the seat of Government was temporarily moved to the town 600 years ago.
Waltham Abbey is the burial place of King Harold who died in the Battle of Hastings.
The first crocodile to be brought to the UK was in 1701 by Richard Bradley who kept it in the lake and grounds of his home in Braintree.