For 1000 years the county of Essex stretched eastwards from Harwich to Waltham Cross on the River Lea. The county boundary then continued south along the Lea to the Thames at Trinity Buoy Wharf, before turning westwards following the north bank of the capital's river to Shoeburyness.
This changed in 1965 with the formation of the Greater London Council. Whilst only a tiny proportion of the land was taken, nearly one third of the existing Essex population was removed from the county. Five new London Boroughs were created, Newham, Barking and Dagenham, Redbridge, Havering and Waltham Forest, - to become Metropolitan Essex.
Despite this change over two generations ago, many people who live there still refer to themselves as Essex people, as does much of the media. Metropolitan Essex is the latest book in the Essex Hundred Series and follows on from the Essex Hundred, Essex Hundred Histories and ON THIS DAY in Essex. Metropolitan Essex contains a wealth of fascinating tales such as King Alfred trapping the marauding Vikings in the River Lea, to Buffalo Bill's great show in Ilford, the mysteries of Stratford's pre -Olympic past, Dagenham's on and off evacuation and the Ski Slopes on the Beckton Alps - topics that reflect the diverse history of London's Essex, brought to life in an informative and entertaining manner.
