Harwich is a town in the English county of Essex. Positioned on the coast in the Tendring district, it is near Felixstowe, Ipswich, Colchester and Clacton on Sea, and it is the most northern seaside town within Essex. As a result of its position on the estuaries of the River Stour and River Orwell, along with its value to mariners as being the only safe anchorage between the Thames and the Humber, the town had substantial civil and military maritime value for a long time. In 1657, the town became a marine base and was heavily fortified with the construction of the Harwich Redoubt, Beacon Hill Battery, and Bath Side Battery. According to the 2011 Census, the town has a population of around 17684. Although it is a town of a relatively modest size, Harwich has a high standing for its architectural legacy. The town continues to be structured using the conventional street plan comprising of principal thoroughfares joined by a range of small alleys, which illustrates the town's medieval origins. Many of the existing medieval structures are private homes, although there is a variety of public structures of a historic nature. This includes the parish church of St. Nicholas, constructed in 1821 in a Gothic style, which consists of a number of the original home furnishings and an organ. Only one building is Grade I listed, which is the Guildhall of 1769. A striking building is the Pier Hotel of 1860, renamed the Great Eastern Hotel of 1864, which is a stunning demonstration of the town's changing role after the arrival of the railway line in Colchester, drawing in increasing quantities of visitors. For all of your home upgrades, make certain to make use of reputable contractors in Harwich to make certain of quality.