Coordinates: 51°56′40″N 1°17′23″E / 51.944580°N 1.289852°E
Harwich /ˈhærɪtʃ/ is a town in Essex, England and one of the Haven ports, located on the coast with the North Sea to the east. It is in the Tendring district. Nearby places include Felixstowe to the northeast, Ipswich to the northwest, Colchester to the southwest and Clacton-on-Sea to the south. It is the northernmost coastal town within Essex.
Its position on the estuaries of the Stour and Orwell rivers and its usefulness to mariners as the only safe anchorage between the Thames and the Humber led to a long period of maritime significance, both civil and military. The town became a naval base in 1657 and was heavily fortified, with Harwich Redoubt, Beacon Hill Battery, and Bath Side Battery.
Harwich today is contiguous with Dovercourt and the two, along with Parkeston, are often referred to collectively as Harwich.
The town's name means "military settlement," from Old English here-wic.
The town received its charter in 1238, although there is evidence of earlier settlement – for example, a record of a chapel in 1177, and some indications of a possible Roman presence.
Harwich was a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Until its abolition for the 2010 general election it elected one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election.
From 1997 to 2010 the Harwich constituency included the towns of Clacton-on-Sea, Holland-on-Sea, Frinton-on-Sea, Walton-on-the-Naze and Harwich itself. It also included the villages of Beaumont-cum-Moze, Great Holland, Great Oakley, Jaywick, Kirby Cross, Kirby-le-Soken, Little Clacton, Little Oakley, Parkeston, Ramsey and Thorpe-le-Soken.
Following their review of parliamentary representation in Essex, the Boundary Commission for England created a new constituency of Clacton, which is based on the current Harwich seat.
Harwich will be moved into a new constituency called Harwich and North Essex.
Constituency founded 1604
Harwich /ˈhɑːrᵻtʃ/ is a town in Essex. It may also refer to: