Links to local sites exist in the first two and the last picture,   Move the mouse pointer to the picture and left click the mouse button.  Close at the upper right X on the link.

Maldon has a long and varied history, Iron and Bronze Age settlements and a small Romano-British port were part of its early life but it only became intensively occupied in Anglo-Saxon times, and was well established by 900 A.D. It is formed around a steep sided hill that led to its name 'Mael'  for stone or monument and 'Dun' for hill in old English.  King Edward the Elder built a huge royal fortification on the hill in 912 and lived in this fort campaining against the Danish invaders.  A Royal Mint existed from 958 issuing coins for the later Anglo-Saxon and Norman Kings and only Maldon and Colchester existed as towns in Essex (land of the East Saxons) during the 9th and 10th centuries.  Population in 1086 was around 950 and stayed at that level for the next 700 years.  The town was given a Royal Charter in 1171 allowing it to form its own local government and was a major trading town and port throughout the middle ages.  From 1328 until 1832 it had two members of Parliament in the House of Commons and boasted two railway stations by 1900.  Above and below are views of the High Street.

Jutting out is the 15th century Moot Hall with court room, dungeon and execution yard.

Left is the unique 12th century church with triangular tower and to its left is the 15th century Blue Boar pub and hotel. 

The quay and river front retains its charater of a port with old sailing barges and other interesting craft. 

A short distance east, down river, is the site of the battle of Maldon,  this was a major battle in 991 between the Saxons and the Danes and followed many years of the Danes raiding and settling along the east coast.  In 917 the Saxons were defeated at Colchester and besieged at Maldon, but the Saxons eventually retained control, 991 changed all that, and probably changed the next 1000 years of history, all because of mis-placed chivalry.  The Danes had landed on Northy island in the middle of the Blackwater and had to cross a narrow causeway to the mainland at low tide, the Saxons, led by a Saxon Earl called Bryhtnoth, held a commanding position on the mainland preventing the Vikings landing.  The Vikings, led by Olaf Trygvassen, asked Bryhtnoth to let them land so that there could be a 'fair fight', he was silly enough to agree.  The Danes, some 3000 strong, won the battle and went on pillaging though Kent, Hampshire and Western England eventually forcing the English government to give them provisions and five ton of silver.  A weakened and demoralised England became an easy pray to William the Conqueror, another Viking descendant, in 1066.