It's a county to the east of London, and south of Cambridgeshire. Don't know why Rob objects to the place so strongly, though...

Well, if it's anything like it's Canadian counterpart (the southern-most county in Canada), I can understand perfectly why Rob would object to its namesake. That was, without doubt, the ugliest, flattest, worst place I have ever had the misfortune of living. Once I escaped (hooray for going away to university!), the only times I have gone back were to pass through on my way to somewhere else. Here's to never setting foot in Essex County ever again!