A Benfleet pub which began life as a courtroom in 1381 because of a peasants' revolt, is to be featured in Castle Point Millennium Pageant.

The community pageant is now taking shape with scriptwriters recreating major historical events in Castle Point.

Historian Norman Chisman, 74, of Jotmans Lane, Benfleet, said: "The peasants' revolt started at Fobbing, but a lot of Benfleet men were involved, and nine of them later had proceedings against them at Chelmsford court.

"They were protesting about the very first poll tax. As they marched on London they sacked various manor houses along the way, where the court rolls were kept, because they feared their names would be among them.

"One of these was at Benfleet near the Methodist Church, and they razed it to the ground.

"In the last ten years, county experts have looked at the old beams at the Anchor pub there, and have found it was built in 1381. They built it as a court to replace the one which had been destroyed."

The pageant is all the brainchild of Diana Hawkins, of Sidwell Avenue, Benfleet, who said: "We are asking people who have stalls or sideshows to contact us. We are offering a special rate for charities, and another for non-charities.

"Three performance areas will be showing different parts of history, and the influence of Christianity on it. At 4pm on the day, July 8, there will be a procession to the main stage area which will be rigged up with microphones.

"Then the main performance, lasting up to two hours, will take place. We are getting a lot of people interested, and they are beginning to crystallise their ideas.

"The historical group have produced some very interesting facts."

Anyone interested in taking a stall or sideshow to the pageant should contact Diana on 01268 792292.

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