Sovereign state United Kingdom | Area 337.6 km² | |
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Status Non-metropolitan district Points of interest Clacton Pier, Harwich Redoubt, Mistley Towers, Ardleigh Reservoir, Jaywick Martello Tower Destinations Harwich, Clacton‑on‑Sea, Walton‑on‑the‑Naze, Frinton‑on‑Sea, Manningtree | ||
Tendring is a local government district in north east Essex, England. It extends from the River Stour in the north, to the coast and the River Colne in the south, with the coast to the East and the town of Colchester to the west. Its council is based in Clacton-on-Sea. Towns in the district include Frinton-on-Sea, Walton-on-the-Naze, Brightlingsea and Harwich. Large villages in the district include St Osyth and Great Bentley.
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Map of Tendring District, UK
Sometimes referred to as the "Tendring Peninsula", the district was formed on 1 April 1974 as a merger of the borough of Harwich, with Brightlingsea, Clacton and Frinton and Walton urban districts, and Tendring Rural District. The name Tendring comes from the ancient Tendring Hundred which is named after the small Tendring village at the centre of the area. The Tendring Poor Law Union covered the same area as the present district.
During the English civil war, the witch-finder general, Matthew Hopkins carried out many trials throughout this and the surrounding area especially in the town of Manningtree and village of Mistley on the River Stour.
The largest town in the Tendring district is Clacton-on-Sea, with a population of 53,000.
Etymology
There are these theories about the origin of its name:-
Topography
The highest part of the district is a low (35 metres) ridge running west to east only 3 km south of the River Stour. The greater part of the district is undulating land sloping very gently to the south which is traversed by a number of streams.
Politics and local governance
Tendring District Council is currently in a state of No Overall Control (NOC) after the Local Elections in 2015. The Conservatives are the largest party with 23 out of the 60 available seats. The UK Independence Party with 22 seats, the Labour Party with 4 seats, the Holland-on-Sea Residents Association with 3 seats, the Liberal Democrats with 1 seat, Tendring First with 1 seat, and 6 independents were also elected.
Prior to the 2015 elections, the council was controlled by the Conservatives who gained control of the authority in the 2011 local elections, holding 33 out of the 60 available seats. Tendring returns eight County Councillors to Essex County Council and at the 2013 local elections 4 seats were held by Conservatives, 2 won by UKIP, 1 won by Labour and 1 won by a Tendring First independent.
In 2014 the Council was described as "moronic" and "cretinous" after it destroyed a mural by Banksy on a toilet block in Clacton-on-Sea. A member of the public had complained that the mural was 'racist'.
Tendring's Golf Green ward contains the most deprived area in England and Wales, and is currently held by two UKIP Councillors.
Parishes
The district is divided into the following parishes. "From" indicates older parishes which have now been merged.
Soken
In the extreme east of the district is an area formerly known as the Soken which was granted special privileges in Saxon times. It is remembered in the place names Kirby-le-Soken, Thorpe-le-Soken and Walton-le-Soken (an older name for Walton-on-the-Naze).