Bonzo next time try Great Wakering, allegedly the least rainfall in England
reat Wakering is one of several village communities in the green and pleasant marsh-lands of south-east Essex.

The Romans produced much of their salt here, by creating evaporation tanks, large vessels beneath which fires would reduce readily available seawater. As this method of extraction declined, the abandoned sites and apparatus gradually disintegrated, leaving the area covered with burnt red-clay, thus giving rise to sites now known as Red-hills. The available clay was also used in brick-making, an industry that has been carried on in the village over many centuries.

The area being marsh-land was very damp and supported many associated diseases which were particularly detrimental to women. This, plus the appalling death rate of women through childbirth etc, created a deficit of females, and replacements were persuaded to come from the more northerly counties to make up the shortfall. While being damp, the average rainfall is the lowest in the country, and Great Wakering’s greatest claim to fame is to be entered in the Guinness Book of Records as the 'Driest Place in the United Kingdom'.

The sea has always played an important role in the life of the village. Apart from its harvest of fish, oysters and wildfowl, it enabled the village to transport its surplus products to various markets and to import other essentials, such as spirits, tobacco, silks etc, that is provided the Customs men did not get there first, for the winding shallow creeks were a haven for smugglers.

The area is rich in stories of witchcraft, ghosts and superstition, much which is centred on the parish church of St Nicholas. The nave and chancel are said to have been built about 1100 while the tower, porches etc were added over the following centuries. It is thought that the church is at least the second such structure to stand on the site, replacing a Saxon church which served as the burial place of two murdered princes, Ethelbert and Ethelred.

Until recent years the village was a typical linear one. The High Street, approximately one mile long, runs directly east and west with the parish church at the eastern end. Many of the wooden cottages have demolished to make way for modern developments, resulting in a virtual doubling of the population.

Little Wakering Hall Lane runs past the village allotments to the 15th century manor house of Wakering Hall, alleged to be haunted by the ghost of Betty Bury, a serving maid. Close to the Hall stands a large 17th century barn. Near to the lane stands the Evangelical church, formerly the Peculiar People's church. This religious sect was started in this district.

Turning into Common Road you pass the village pond, used in earlier times for the washing down of carts. The road continues through the common to the creeks at Mill Head. The surrounding creeks are a haven for many types of wildfowl and a large proportion of the world’s population of Brent geese winter here each year. Here, at Mill Head, was situated the 19th century brickfield, where over 20 Thames barges were used to transport bricks to London. Gradually these were phased out due to the growth of motor transport in the 1930s. Unfortunately the beautiful sight of the barges is but a memory and the old brickfield is now a refuse tip.

The White Hart is an attractive 17th century building and stands opposite the old village school built in 1876 and enlarged over the years. The school is currently home to a Community Centre and a Youth Club. The Community Centre, run by volunteers, is used by many of the village's clubs and organisations, thus keeping this old building as a valuable asset to the village.