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One of the most enduringly famous Maldonians is Edward Bright (1721–1750), historically known as The Fat Man of Maldon - a much-loved grocer and family man who gained unexpected fame in his short life thanks to his great stature.
At the time of his death, aged 29, Edward was believed to be the heaviest man in Britain, with his weight estimated at around 57.5 stone (302kg). He was a thoroughly average 5ft 9in tall, but the measurement around his chest was 5ft 6in and around his stomach was an incredible 6ft 11in.
Despite his size, Edward led an active life until the last couple of years of his life. He is thought to have worked as a post boy as a young lad, riding daily to Chelmsford, then was apprenticed to Maldon grocer Joseph Pattison at the age of 12 (when he was already almost adult in size, weighing in at over 10 stone). At the age of 13, he was one of the people called to be witness to the Will of the Revered Joseph Billio, another famous Maldonian – a fact that shows his good character and standing in the community.
Court records show that Bright was discharged from his apprenticeship at the end of seven years, but as his skill and knowledge had grown so had his waistline – evidently by the age of 19 he was a sturdy 24 stone. As he left his apprenticeship to forge his own business, not only did he become a Freeman of the Borough of Maldon, but he also married his wife Mary, who went on to have six children, although only three survived to adulthood.
Bright had his grocery store and his married home in the building which is now 57 and 59 High Street (Kate Lifestyle nail salon and its neighbour) between Timpson and Coes – look out for the blue heritage plaque. He also had a candle-making factory near the top of Market Hill, where the Town Hall now stands.
At the age of just 29, Edward fell ill with what was called Miliary Fever – an old-fashioned medical term that referred to an infectious disease with a high-temperature and a rash (possibly scarlet fever or typhoid). By this time, his weight had more than doubled from a few years before, weakening his constitution. Contemporary reports state that during his final two weeks of illness, “his corpulence so everpower'd his strength that his life was a burden and his death a deliverance”.
After he died in the upstairs rooms above his shop, his size and weight provided a logistical challenge, and eventually a wall and staircase had to be knocked down to enable his coffin, 3ft 6in wide and 3ft 2in deep to be transported to All Saints Church on a carriage. Inside the church, the coffin was transported on rollers, rather than carried by pallbearers, and a pulley arrangement was used to safely inter it in a vault near the tower arch.
His burial record notes: “He was a very honest tradesman, a facetious [witty] companion, comely [handsome] in his person, affable in his temper, a tender father and valuable friend.” As you look around Maldon today you can find many references to this upstanding citizen, including his tomb in All Saints Church, the blue plaque on his home and his name immortalised in Brights Walk and Edward Bright Close.
You can also see the bronze statue that stands on the wall behind 38 High Street, created by well-known local artist and sculptor Catharni Stern. Rather than showing Bright himself, the sculpture recalls an incident not long after his death, when seven local men were buttoned inside his old waistcoat as part of a wager. The story goes that a man in a local pub tempted a gambler to bet that 700 men wouldn’t fit inside the jacket – well seven Hundred men (ie residents of the Dengie Hundred) did exactly that, and the gambler lost his bet. The following year, a second wager, over a ham and some wine, was settled when nine men, including Edward’s old boss Joseph Pattison, were successfully buttoned inside. You can see a full-size replica of the jacket at Maldon Museum, as well as a completely three-dimensional version of the artwork.
Bright’s son Ned (Edward) is also commemorated by a blue plaque, this one on the side of Mrs Salisbury’s tea room. He carried on the family grocery and candle-making business, as well as making Maldon salt, and became a prominent local politician, elected Mayor in 1837. One of his greatest accomplishments was setting up Maldon’s first bathing facility at the Promenade Park, off the sea wall. You can find the tomb of Ned’s son, also named Edward Bright, in the grounds of St Peter’s Church, which houses the Maeldune Centre, where the original Edward Bright is immortalised in the Maldon Embroidery. And if you are passing West Square and see Bright & Sons Solicitors – well the founder Frederick Bright was his great, great, grandson, and his descendants still serve the people of Maldon through that family business.
Follow in his footsteps...
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Maldon
Upstairs Downstairs
Maldon
Luxury home fragrances and scented products made on the premises in Maldon by Rachel Holland. The range includes diffusers, scented candles, wax melts, fragranced hand washes and lotions, room sprays, car diffusers and floor fragrance. Special…
Maldon
Maldon Masjid – the Maldon District Islamic Cultural Association is set in a building that was once the Labour Hall. The mosque opened in 2005 and has been restored and transformed into a tranquil place for Muslim prayers. There is a separate…
Maldon
Carlton Jewellers
Maldon
The Mayor of Maldon, Cllr Andrew Lay, is pleased to announce that nominations are now being sought for Maldon Town’s Community Awards 2024. Nominate your shining star, a person of any age, who you think deserves an award perhaps for a single act of…
Maldon
Maldon Town Council is thrilled to announce Light Up Maldon, this year's Christmas lights switch-on event and market, taking place on Thursday 28th November from 5pm to 9pm. The lights will be switched on at 6pm.
St Peter's Tower, Market Hill, Maldon
Saturday Family Craft workshops at
the Maeldune Heritage Centre
Free to all - first come basis.
Times: 11.30am – 12.30pm, 1.00pm – 2.00pm, 2.30pm - 3.30pm
• 3rd August - Mayoral paperchain making - celebrate 150 years of Maldon's Mayoral chains by…
Maldon
SMUGGLING IN ESSEX: The Romance and Reality
The Trust in partnership with the Workers Education Association are holding a 3 hour course on the history of smuggling.
How do the popular representations of smuggling in novels, songs, poems, paintings…
Maldon
Charity shop selling good-quality women's, mens' and children's clothes, along with china, collectibles, jewellery, housewares, accessories, shoes, books and more.
Maldon
The White Horse is a busy town-centre pub, with restaurant and bed and breakfast facilities, in the historic town of Maldon close to the Blackwater Estuary.
Maldon
The Club offers a variety of summer sailing programme and winter socials, RYA training courses and moorings. Both novice and experienced boat owners are welcome.
Maldon
Post Office within the Costcutter convenience store. Full range of counter services including Vehicle Tax, international Driving Permits, MoneyGram, document verification for CRB, ID, savings accounts and DBS, foreign currency, travel insurance,…
The Hythe, Maldon
Various dates. A Two Island Cruise on board a historic Thames Sailing Barge from Maldon Quay, past Northey Island, Mill Beach to Osea Island and back.
Maldon
Men's hairdresser and barber offering a full range of hair cutting and treatments.
Maldon
Our Male and Female practitioners are registered with the general osteopathic Council and undergo continuous training in order to maintain standards and stay at the forefront of the profession.
Maldon
Indian restaurant in Maldon.
Former mayor and mayoress restaurant adds spice to Maldon Current town mayor Mr Ogg joined at the official opening by mayoress Sharon Ogg, Maldon MP John Whittingdale, Maldon District Council chairman Mark Heard, Deputy…
Maldon
Historic sailing barges ‘Hydrogen’ and ‘Thistle’ are available for regular public cruises and also for private hire for groups up to 50 from a variety of East Coast locations including Maldon and Ipswich.
Maldon
The Bell is in the centre of the historic town of Maldon, dating from the 15th Century, it has many interesting features. This delightful home is opening as a family run guest house.
The Hythe, Maldon
Sunday 14 July. Fully day sail on a traditional Thames Sailing Barge learning about the history of barges, Maldon as a port and the River Blackwater.
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