If you are, you might be interested in my new book about Great Dunmow and the English Reformation.

It’s taken me nearly 10 years and a global pandemic to finally stop making excuses and just do it…

10 years ago I spent countless sleepless nights studying and writing. This was coupled with many trips to Cambridge University and Essex Record Office before I emerged triumphant. 

I had finally studied, researched and written up my dissertation for my Masters degree in local history. 

My topic? 

The impact of Henry VIII and his three children’s religious policy on Tudor town of Great Dunmow in Essex.

The hard work was worth it – it’s the “MSt” you will see after my name – “Master of Studies”.

I was awarded my masters degree at the end of 2011.

And, as I enjoyed my research so much, I immediately created my blog – Essex Voices Past so I could continue to write about Tudor Great Dunmow.

I have also given many talks across Essex about the happenings in Tudor Great Dunmow.

And there was some terrific “happenings”…  Anyone for the burning of an effigy of a Scottish Catholic Cardinal in the middle of not so sleepy Great Dunmow in 1546!

The effigy even had its very own mock-castle built so that local youths could practice their archery by shooting at it and the Cardinal!

Despite all the stories I discovered, my complete dissertation got put to one side. To rub salt in the wound – Cambridge University even sent me back their copies of my dissertation. They didn’t have the storage room to keep masters dissertations so back mine came.

For nearly 10 years, only I had my dissertation. No archive or library had a copy. Only various bits of it I’d had the time to post online on this blog, Essex Voices Past.

Until covid-19 and lockdown…

Nothing like a pandemic to focus to mind and return to the past. 

Both my past and Great Dunmow’s Tudor past.

I’ve spent lockdown days productively and have turned my dissertation into a Kindle book. That was a feat in itself! But thanks to covid-19, I finally had enough time to devote turning my dissertation into a book:

Tudor Lives: Great Dunmow during the Reformation – The story of an Essex town during the turbulent 16th century.

My book is a must read for anyone interested in the English Reformation at a local level.

Or anyone interested in the Tudor local history of an Essex town.

It is also of interest for anyone with Tudor ancestors who hailed from Great Dunmow.  Numerous local family names are detailed within the book.

Phew! I’ve finally done it! 

Here’s the link to my new book on Amazon… At the moment it’s only available on Kindle.

Tudor Lives: Great Dunmow during the Reformation – the story of an Essex town during the turbulent 16th century

Numerous other Essex towns and villages – along with their association to Great Dunmow – are also mentioned in my book.  These include Great Bardfield, Barnston, Bocking, Broxted, Great and Little Canfield, Great and Little Dunmow, Great and Little Easton, Good Easter, Hatfield Broad Oak, High Easter, The Rodings, Lindsell, Northend, Panfield, Rayne, Little Sailing, Shalford, Stebbing, and Thaxted.

My book also includes Tudor history from the 1520s for Maldon and Heybridge. Both towns had a strong connection and association to Great Dunmow by way of Tudor vicar, William Walton.  

If you purchase it and enjoy, please could you leave me a review on Amazon? It would help me tremendously to get more exposure if my book has reviews.