Harwich is a town in Essex, England, located on the coast with the North Sea to the east. It is in the Tendring district. Nearby places include Felixstowe to the northeast, Ipswich to the northwest and Colchester to the southwest. The town is believed to date from the mid-12th century. Harwich was the home town for Christopher Jones, the master and quarter-owner of the Mayflower, and was also a base for that ship.