A SLICE of Maldon’s history will be broadcast nationwide in September.

‘The fat man at Maldon’ painting dates back to the eighteenth century, and depicts Edward Bright who weighed a remarkable 44 stone.

The painting will feature on The Antiques Roadshow on September 11, after being viewed by the television cameras at Audley End House, Saffron Walden, on May 26

Edward was born in Great Waltham in 1721, and by the time he was 19 weighed 24 stone.

He was tenant of a house and grocers shop on Maldon High Street.

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

A portrait was painted by Chelmsford artist, David Ogborne. After completing the painting five engravings were made of the work.

Edward got married to a woman named Mary in the early 1740’s. They had six children together, one of whom was born after Edward’s death, but only two survived to adulthood.

He died a year later, aged 29, weighing 44 stone.

The painting was taken in by Lynne Raymond, owner of Ansell & Sons family butchers in Maldon High Street.

Lynne said: “The show decided to concentrate on filming my oil painting and a mezzotint of Edward Bright, which had very kindly been loaned to me by Bill and Val 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.”