Manningtree Walk: Town Centre | England's Smallest Town (by area)【4K】

Located in the county of Essex, and roughly equidistant between Colchester and Ipswich, is the town of Manningtree.

Geographically, Manningtree is situated on the south bank of the River Stour, which almost entirely defines the natural border between Essex and Suffolk. In the 13th century a market charter was granted to Manningtree.

From the 17th century the town became associated with Matthew Hopkins, also known as the Witchfinder General. Hopkins moved here in the early 1640s shortly before the outbreak of the English Civil War. According to his book 'The Discovery of Witches', he began his infamous witchfinding practice after overhearing women discussing their meetings with the devil in 1644 here in Manningtree. Across a three-year period up to his death in 1647, Hopkins is estimated to have been responsible for sending around 300 alleged witches to their death across Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk.

Between the 15th and 18th centuries Manningtree had a thriving wool trade. In the 18th century plans had been made to turn it, along with the neighbouring village of Mistley to its immediate east, into a spa resort, although these fell through in the end. Mistley has been home to a port for several centuries with many barges transporting grain to London at its peak, prior to the arrival of the railways.

In 1846 Manningtree Railway Station opened courtesy of the Eastern Union Railway. The station is actually not technically located in Manningtree, but rather the neighbouring village of Lawford to its immediate west, although the town centre is just under a mile away. The station is situated on the Great Eastern Main Line which runs between London Liverpool Street and Norwich. It is also a junction station, serving as the western terminus of the Mayflower Line to Harwich.

Manningtree is said to be the smallest town in England. Bear in mind that this is based on geographic area, rather than population. It is around 0.2 square kilometres (or 20 hectares) by parish area, or alternatively, around 0.4 square kilometres by built-up area.

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Filmed: 31st July 2023

Link to the walk on Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/LNB6fVwNzcPQp...

Filmed on a Sony FDR-AX700 with a Zhiyun Crane 2 and a Sony ECM-XYST1M Stereo Microphone.

TIMESTAMPS:

0:00 The Walls (Suffolk on the horizon)
0:12 The Walls
1:52 Quay Street
3:02 High Street
6:09 South Street
10:22 High Street
11:53 Station Road