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The Colchester earthquake, also known as the Great English Earthquake, occurs on the morning of April 22, 1884 at 09:18.

It causes considerable damage in Colchester and the surrounding villages in Essex.

In terms of overall destruction caused, it is certainly the most destructive earthquake to have hit the United Kingdom in at least the last four hundred years, since the Dover Straits earthquake of 1580.

At 9:18 am the earthquake strikes, centering mainly in the villages of Wivenhoe, Abberton, Langenhoe, and Peldon, and causing the surrounding area to rise and fall violently as the waves spread, lasting for around twenty seconds.

Measuring 4.6 on the Richter scale, the effects are felt across England, as well as in northern France and Belgium.

The earthquake damages about twelve hundred and fifty buildings, including almost every building in Wivenhoe and Abberton, and in settlements all the way to Ipswich.

The medieval church in Langenhoe is significantly damaged, as are those in the villages of Layer-de-la-Haye, Layer Marney, Layer Breton, and Peldon.

In Peldon, the local newspapers claim that every building has been damaged in some way.

The Guardian reports that the earthquake had been greeted with terror by the people near Colchester.