Following the 1968 guide to Essex, Richard finds a very different Essex to the latter day flashy stereotypical image of the county. He visits the historic town of Colchester to see an archaeological dig on the high street and travels to Mersea Island where he goes oyster fishing on a boat. He then follows the controversial recommendation from the guide to visit the "new town" of Harlow and the rather more predictable one of the Jacobean Palace, Audley End.