Many will have seen and admired the enormous reptiles that are crocodiles. Famously menacing and known for lurking in warm waters in hot climates, they've become some of the most recognisable animals in our world. In the UK, crocodiles are famous features in many zoos and safari parks.

But in the wild, there are no recorded animals. Indeed, outside of zoos, there are no natural crocodiles in Europe because the climate here is too cold for them. The UK's temperature and ecosystems are generally not suitable to the natural habitat crocodiles need to survive, grow, and reproduce.

They instead require warm, tropical climates to survive. Read more: Epileptic mum died just feet from newborn son's cot in sudden and unexplained death as family fear sister will be next Read more: Tributes to 'beautiful' teenage girl 'loved by all' tragically killed in Essex crash With this in mind, you may think that the first crocodile to ever come to our country was taken to a zoo, or to the lands of an exotic royal in the past. In Essex, you may think the first crocodile here would have been taken to a place like Colchester Zoo.

However, you'd be very mistaken. The first crocodile ever believed to have come to the UK did in fact come to Essex - but several centuries again. In 1701, the first crocodile ever brought to the UK was taken to the home of Richard Bradley in Braintree.

The crocodile was kept in the grounds of Bradley's home. He was known for being an eccentric botanist and reports suggest .