A SLICE of Maldon’s history may be broadcast nationwide in autumn, with a showcase of ‘the fat man of Maldon’ from the eighteenth century.

An oil painting of Edward Bright, who became known as ‘the fat man of Maldon’ due to his remarkable peak weight of 44 stone, was filmed for BBC One’s Antiques Roadshow last week at Audley End House and Gardens in Saffron Walden.

Edward Bright was born in Great Waltham in 1721 into an obese family, and by the time he was 19, weighed 24 stone.

Edward apprenticed as a grocer in Maldon, eventually settling in the high street with his wife Mary, with whom he had six children.

At the time of the portrait in 1749, Edward was 28 and weighed 41 stone and ten pounds.

The following year his health began to fail and in October 1750 he developed a miliary fever with coughing, inflammation and breathing difficulties, and after 14 days of suffering Edward died upstairs in his High Street house in November.

At the time of his death he was estimated to weigh 44 stone, he was five foot nine inches tall, measured five foot six around his chest and six foot 11 around his belly.

Edward was described as being good natured, a kind husband, tender father and a very fair and honest man.

In January 1751 a wager was placed in the town over how many people could fit into Edward’s waistcoat. Nine people managed it without issue.

The painting, as well as other images of Edward, was taken in by Lynne Raymond, owner of Ansell & Sons family butchers in Maldon High Street, and her friends Yvonne and Mike Kneller.

Lynne said: “The show decided to concentrate on filming the oil painting, a mezzotint of Edward Bright, which had very kindly been loaned to me by Bill and Val Bright, (Bill is a four times great grandson of Edward Bright).

“As an amateur researcher I have been studying Edward Bright and his family for a couple of years and although my research has already revealed new information about his life I am keen to discover more about him.

“The Antiques Roadshow team were genuinely interested in all the items we took along and made us feel very welcome.

“Yvonne was pleased to learn details about the watch she took along and for me, being filmed with the portrait wasn’t quite as scary as I thought it might be!”

The portrait of ‘the fat man of Maldon’ will be considered for broadcast on the show in autumn this year.