Great Dunmow
Great Dunmow, an attractive market town nestling in the heart of rural Essex, is known by many people as the home of the ancient Flitch Trials - the traditional test of a happy marriage. Held every four years on a leap year - the winning couple is paraded through the town on a special chair and then awarded their flitch or side of bacon with much celebration.
The name Dunmow has evolved and originally meant a ‘fortified hill’, it was home to a tribe of Ancient Britons and many prehistoric artefacts have been found in and around the town.
The Romans also knew Dunmow - in their day it was a station on busy Stane Street between Verulanium (St Albans) and Camulodunum (Colchester).
After the Norman Conquest of 1066, Dunmow grew to be an important market centre especially during the medieval period. The main trades carried on in the town from this time right up to the 18th and 19th centuries were the manufacture of baize cloth and brewing as can be seen in the magnificent example of Maltings recently restored and used as a museum. Today Great Dunmow retains the atmosphere of a prosperous market town nestled on the banks of the river Chelmer.
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