Folklore of Essex

Folklore of Essex gathers traditions, legends, dialect and stories associated with the county, considering how older customs shaped later ways of life. Sylvia Kent covers Essex’s reputation as a witch-hunting county alongside tales of dragons, warriors, literary figures and legendary local characters.

The book also turns to the beliefs woven through ordinary life, including omens, maxims and superstitions, as well as calendar customs, music, dance and song. Its thematic sections range from witch country and traditional observances to reported phenomena, storytelling and legendary folk, bringing together practices that have vanished, survived in altered form or remained part of Essex’s cultural memory.