Geography Essex

the highest point of county of essex chrishall common near village of langley, close hertfordshire border, reaches 482 feet (147 m). ceremonial county of essex bounded south river thames , estuary (a boundary shared kent); southwest greater london; west hertfordshire boundary largely defined river lea , stort; northwest cambridgeshire; north suffolk, boundary defined river stour; , east north sea.

the pattern of settlement in county diverse. metropolitan green belt has prevented further sprawl of london county, although contains new towns of basildon , harlow, developed resettle londoners following destruction of london housing in second world war, since have been developed , expanded. epping forest acts protected barrier further spread of london. because of proximity london , economic magnetism city exerts, many of essex s settlements, particularly on or within short driving distance of railway stations, function dormitory towns or villages london workers raise families.

the village of finchingfield in north essex

part of southeast of county, containing major population centres of basildon, southend , thurrock, within thames gateway , designated further development. parts of southwest of county, such buckhurst hill , chigwell, contiguous greater london neighbourhoods , purposes these included in statistical unit greater london urban area.

a small part of southwest of county (sewardstone), settlement outside greater london covered postcode district of london post town (e4). north of green belt, exception of major towns such colchester, chelmsford , southend-on-sea county rural, many small towns, villages , hamlets largely built in traditional materials of timber , brick, clay tile or thatched roofs.