Gentle Countryside and Pretty Villages

Birdbrook is among the loveliest of Essex villages.  The small village street has not been augmented by modern building and to the great fortune of the residents retains to this day a variety of architecture, some of it 500 years old.  Situated near the chief source of the river Colne, 10 miles North West of Halstead, and 4 miles South east of Haverhill.

Local website addresses:
http://www.birdbrook.ukhome.net/village.htm
www.essexinfo.net/birdbrookpc/

Black Notley

At the time of the Domesday Book, Black and White Notley were listed as one settlement – Notley, as with almost all English villages there is some dispute over the origin of their names and why they were split. One, perhaps unlikely, version is that part of the township (Black Notley) was affected by the Black Death, but those who lived in the other part (White Notley) escaped that plague.  Another, It is thought that the difference in names between White and Black Notley stems from the fact that the Churches are some what different in colour. One was constructed in light coloured stone and rubble, which when first built looked very white - situated at White Notley, while the other was coated in tar to protect it's wooden walls from the weather, so the village became Black Notley.

The man who put Black Notley on the map was John Ray, born in 1627 to the wife of the village blacksmith.  Ray set himself to put in order man's recordings of his natural surroundings, especially the field of botany.  Scholars from all over the world sent specimens for his opinion and advice as he worked on his great book on the history of plants which was published in three volumes between 1686 and 1704, covering some 11,000 species.  His system of classification was so good that it continued in use for over 200 years.

Local website addresses:

Borley

Borley is situated in the north of our district on the borders of Suffolk. This small village made world news in 1929, when tales of ghosts at Borley Rectory were told in the ‘Daily Mirror’. Borley Rectory soon gained the reputation as the most ‘haunted house in England’, but unfortunately was burnt down on the 27th February 1939 and there is no longer a rectory at this site.   Visitors often remark on how peaceful and tranquil the villages of Borley and Borley Green are. Visit the Borley Smokery to see traditional methods of smoking still in use.

Local website addresses:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borley
http://paranormalresearch.harryprice.co.uk/Borley/modern_borley_into.htm

Bradwell

Named in antiquity after the well that supplied the local people with an abundance of clear, pure water. Bradwell village now sits astride the A120 east of Braintree. A reminder of the older, slower pace of life is in the tranquillity of the Essex Way, a path that stretches from Epping to Harwich - 81 miles of ancient lanes and footpaths that touch Bradwell close to its early 12th century Parish Church of the Holy Trinity. It is fitting that the A120 road is part of the highway between Italy and Ireland as it once was trodden by Caesar's legion when marching to and from the Roman garrison in Colchester along the Roman Road of Stane Street (A120).

Now it is a major Essex commuter route to the M11 motorway and London Stansted airport. Villagers depend on it to travel to the local market town of Braintree and Coggeshall, and themajor shopping centre in Colchester.  

Local website addresses:
http://www.essexinfo.net/bradwell/

Bulmer

Bulmer is a small rural Essex village on the Essex/Suffolk border which includes the hamlets of Batt Hall, Finch Hill, Upper Houses, Lower Houses as well as Bulmer Street and Bulmer Tye, consisting of 586 residents (as per the 1991 census) this compares with 733 recorded in 1871 and according to the 2001 Electoral Register this had fallen to 478. It is located 2 miles from the old Suffolk market town of Sudbury, the home of the artist Gainsborough. It is also the home of The Bulmer Brick & Tile Co. where handmade bricks are still made.

Local website addresses:
www.bulmeressex.co.uk
www.essexinfo.net/bulmer/

Bures Hamlet

The rural village of Bures lies on the B1508 between Sudbury and Colchester amongst fields and low hills in the picturesque Stour Valley.

It is not a single entity but a union of the twin villages of Bures Hamlet and Bures St. Mary, the former in Essex and the latter in Suffolk.  Despite this residents consider themselves to be part of one village, Bures.

Local website addresses:
www.bures-online.co.uk
www.bures.org.uk
www.bures.suffolk.sch.uk
www.parishchurch.co.uk

Castle Hedingham

We inherit a landscape moulded from the glaciers of 15,000 years ago, farmed, built and fought over by successive incursions of human occupation from continental Europe and the Norse Lands. A legacy that is still evident in the wood, lane and field names of the parish. During their 600 years of lordship in Hedingham, the De Veres erected many fine buildings, some of which still stand today. In addition to the lofty castle, they also built the ancient church of St. Nicholas, which has been called the most exciting church in Essex. An abiding memory of all those past and present who recall Castle Hedingham, is the vibrant sense of community.  This is the source of strength, which helps us flourish in yet another millennium, of new challenge and opportunity. 

Facilities: Castle; Pubs: The Wheatsheaf, The Bell and The Rising Sun; Memories Night Club and The Old Moot House restaurant; Magnolia Tea Rooms Tea shop and emporium; Village Stores and Post Office; bed and breakfast; youth hostel; two churches; Primary and Secondary Schools; doctors surgery; garage; art shop; cycle shop.

This village is a wonderful example of historic roots brought to life by a vibrant community.  There are a multitude of clubs and societies

Local website addresses:
www.hedinghamcastle.com
http://www.simondaw.freeserve.co.uk/castlehedingham.html

Colne Engaine

Across from Earls Colne, on the North Bank of the River Colne and possibly the most attractive of the four Colne villages due to its secluded position away from busy roads, on a hill commanding views of the Colne valley, lies the much smaller parish of Colne Engaine, named after the river and the family which which was principal landlord from 1279 to 1367 - the Engaines.

Local website addresses:
www.colnevalley.com
www.colneengainevillageshop.co.uk/

Cressing

This was the earliest British settlement of the Knights Templar, who were granted the manor in 1135 by King Stephen. Hops have been cultivated here; and the ditches and brooks have been noted for cresses, from which it is assumed that the village gets its name.

Cressing is known today for its medieval barns nearby at Cressing Temple, said to be the two finest Templar barns in Europe.

Local website addresses:
www.essexinfo.net/cressingpc
www.cressingtemple.co.uk
www.cressingrock.co.uk
www.cressing.info

Earls Colne

Earls Colne is a beautiful village nestling in the Colne Valley and named after the Earls of Oxford and the River Colne, which flows through the valley below.  St. Andrew’s Church dates from the 14th century and there are many houses built in the 17th and 18th centuries (see the House Detectives Trail available in the Library or Parish Council office).  Visitors to Earls Colne can visit the Heritage Museum, use the many footpaths to enjoy the surrounding countryside and nearby Chalkney Wood.  There are also two golf courses, several pubs and restaurants, and a selection of shops.

Local website address:
www.earlscolne-pc.gov.uk
www.colnevalley.com
www.echm.org.uk

Feering

Situated in the South Eastern extremity of Braintree District, Feering is a beautiful village centred on a picturesque village green, with more than 40 historic buildings and quite uniquely, a pair of courts for the Tudor game of real tennis.

The name Feering is thought to derive from Feringas or Pheringas meaning Bulls Pasture or Meadow or from the Saxon Feringe meaning dwellers by the road. However there is evidence of earlier habitation. Large areas of the parish are still agricultural and until recently orchards supplied fruit for a nearby jam factory. There were fields of strawberries, raspberries, tomatoes and vegetables and also fields growing flowers for seed, known as the Flowering Fields of Feering.

Local website addresses:
www.feering.org.uk.
http://www.feeringcommunitycentre.freeserve.co.uk/events.htm

Finchingfield & Cornish Hall End

Almost a textbook example of the traditional English village, Finchingfield is described as the ‘most photographed village in England,’ Finchingfield has won awards for its traditional picturesque setting. The combination of duck pond, village green, humpbacked bridge and pub, overlooked by colour-washed cottages, a windmill and a medieval church, give it an unbeatable series of views, which are often found on calendars, chocolate boxes, tea towels, postcards and jigsaws. Visit the Finchingfield Guildhall and Heritage Centre to discover more.

Local website addresses:
http://www.roger.beckwith.btinternet.co.uk/Finchingfield/index.htm
www.our-cottage.co.uk/html/finch.htm

Foxearth & Liston

Foxearth lies right on the border of Essex with Suffolk, north of the three Belchamp villages.

Local website addresses:
www.foxearth.org.uk

Gestingthorpe

Gestingthorpe is a small pleasant village. The village has reduced in occupancy over the years which is quite rare.

In the tower of the Norman Church of St. Mary is a message; with hindsight a message of sadness and regret. The fifth and sixth bells are inscribed 'In gratitude to god for the safe return with honour of my beloved son from the dangers of war in Soth Africa'. That son was Lawrance Edward Grace Oates. He grew up in Over Hall, better known today as Gestingthorpe Hall, in the 1880's. He was a frail boy, sent on sea voyages to improve his health, who grew up with a passion for horses. At 20 years old he was a subaltern with the Inniskilling Dragoons. In December 1900 he stepped ashore in Cape Town and was immediately sent into action against the Boers. His bravery earned him promotion to Lieutenant, and subsequent daring feats in action earned him the nickname 'No surrender Oates'. After a particularly bad injury he returned to Gestingthorpe to convalesce - the reason for the inscription on the bells.

To cut a long story short Oates got special leave from his regiment to join the famous Captain Robert F. Scott in his attempt to reach the South Pole.  It was an ill-fated expedition.  By 16th January 1912 they were just 27 miles short of the Pole.  They saw the tracks which showed them that Amundsen had beaten them to it.  They struggled on to the Pole just to say that they had made it.  On the fearful fight back to their base camp Oates, already badly frostbitten, became desperately ill.  He knew he was holding back the small band's attempt to reach safety.  He purposely walked out of the tent into a blizzard saying, 'I am just going outside, I may be sometime'.  Of course he never came back.  The date was 17th March 1912 - his birthday.  Essex, and Gestingthrope, are proud of him.  There is a brass on the north wall of the church which records this last act of bravery.

Local website addresses:

Gosfield

Gosfield Village is located in the northern part of Essex, approximately 4 miles from Braintree, 2 miles from Halstead and within easy reach of the main towns of Colchester and Chelmsford. The village has an approximate population of 1500 people and the properties are a mix of very old, dating back to Middle Ages, and others built up to the later part of the 1900’s. The village offers the local residents and visitors a range of restaurant’s, pubs, hairdresser’s, newsagent, sporting facilities and nature trails.  The village also runs an annual scarecrow trail, please take a look at there website for more information.

Local website addresses:
www.gosfield.org.uk
www.essexinfo.net/gosfieldparishcouncil/

Great Bardfield

Once the site of an important horse fair, traders would bring their horses from all across the country. The layout of the streets and wonderfully varied houses and cottages make it a place of enormous charm. Great Bardfield was the favoured home of renowned artists such as Edward Bawden, John Aldridge and Eric Ravilous. The Great Bardfield Cottage Museum gives you an insight into rural life and crafts.

Great Bardfield is certainly a place in which to walk about, even as far as the old windmill, Gibraltar Mill, now a private house, and down the lane beside it to the watermill, Footpaths run on along the river encouraging one to stroll a little further.

Local website addresses:
www.greatbardfield-pc.gov.uk

Great Henny, Little Henny, Middleton & Twinstead

These villages appear untouched by time, The river Stour flows past these small villages at the very north of Essex on the Suffolk border. The Hennys have a legend of two dragons, one black and the other red with spots, who fought each other across the river. This could just be a colourful description of the fighting that took place nearby between the Saxons and the Danes.

Middleton has a folly that was erected to commemorate the birth of Prince Edward in 1841.

Local website addresses:
www.follytowers.com 

Great Maplestead

Ten miles to the north of Braintree lies the village of Great Maplestead. With a population of some 350 clustered around our school, church, village hall and playing field, we are an active community where you are guaranteed a warm welcome. Look out for jumble sales, bazaars, quiz nights, cream teas and a variety of social gatherings through out the year.

Local website addresses:
www.essexinfo.net/gtmaplesteadpc

Great Notley

Very much a new village with lots to offer, Great Notley was the first development in the country to incorporate traffic calming measures throughout its road network and to introduce 20mph speed limits. 20mph zones have been proven to halve the number of casualties within residential areas and many different measures are utilised to achieve this including, speed control islands, chicanes and tables, with the additional benefits that air and noise pollution are also reduced.

Great Notley is centred around the 6-acre village green which is the venue for a variety of different activities including cricket on the square. Thirty six semi-mature English oak trees encircle the green in a traditional manner, with the family homes beyond them benefitting from superb views of this time honoured village scene.

The 100 acre country park has been created by Countryside Properties for the enjoyment of all in the Village, it can be reached by an underpass from the middle of the village, or by crossing at the Tesco roundabout. It contains 2 lakes, stunning views from the top of Notley Bowl, and lovely countryside walks.

Local website addresses:
www.greatnotley.gov.uk
www.greatnotley.com

Great Saling

Great Saling holds the first aerodome to be built by the Americans in this country.  Andrews Field aerodome, just behind the village was started in July 1942 and built in under a year and named after one of the famous generals of their airforce, Frank M. Andrews.  The hard core for the runways came from the ruins of the London blitz, men worked flat 24 hours a day to achieve construction.

Local website addresses:
www.essexinfo.net/greatsalingpc/
http://salings.tripod.com/

Great Yeldham

Great Yeldham is a large country village, here you can find the Yeldham Oak situated in the centre of the village on a small triangular green, wrapped in iron to support it.  Its age has defeated even the dendochronologists who count the annual rings of growth.  Some say that it has seen 1000 years of history.  It stands as the trunk of the oldest tree in Essex, the very last example of the forest of trees which once clothed the whole valley.  There is a successor growing beside it, an infant by comparison, planted by the parish council in 1863.

The White Hart Inn stands as a landmark to the passing motorist its appearance suggests of the old-world hospitality that is fast becoming a thing of the past.

 Local website addresses:
www.greatyeldhampc.org

Greenstead Green & Rural Halstead

Local website addresses:

Hatfield Peveral

Large urban village and civil parish in the centre of Essex, Hatfield means a 'heathery space in the forest', Peverel refers to the Norman knight of that name who was granted lands in the area by William the Conqueror after the Norman invasion of 1066.

Sited on high ground East of the river ter on the main A12 road from London to Colchester between Borehan and Witham, site of a proiry founded by the Saxon Ingelrica, wife of Ranulph Peverel and reputed to be the mistress of William the Conqueror to atone for her sins and dissolved by Henry VIII; the parish church St Andrew's (Church of England) being the surviving fragment of the norman priory church nave.  It is a tightly nit community run, with various events such as the family fete run by the Carter family.

There is a legend in Hatfield Peverel of a ghostly dog. The dog 'Shaens Shaggy Dog' has reputedly haunted the house of the Shaens for two centuries. It is a seemingly quiet dog until it is attacked. The story states that a driver, with his cart and two horses attacked the dog with his whip when they were reduced to smoking ashes.

Local website address:
www.hatfieldpeveral.org.uk

Helions Bumpstead

A small village of about 400 people in the top northwest corner of Essex, close to the borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk. Four long and winding roads meet at the crossroads at the village centre, by the village green and close to the ancient church, the pub and the village hall.

The village was documented in the Doomsday Book, and it is know that a church stood on the present site from that time; the present building dates from the 14^th century, with later additions. It is built on a low hill and the tower provides an attractive landmark for miles around.

Many houses and cottages in the village date back to the 16^th and 17^th centuries, with a typical wattle and daub construction and some thatched roofs. The village hall is housed in the former village school, built by public subscription in the 1850’s and currently undergoing major refurbishment. Helions Bumpstead is a very warm, friendly and busy little village.

Local website addresses:
www.helionsbumpsteadparishcouncil.gov.uk

Kelvedon

Kelvedon had a Roman settlement called Canonium on the southeast side of the High Street, flanked by the Roman road from Colchester to London. It eventually became a village with many shops, maltings and inns, which catered for travellers. 

The Feering and Kelvedon Local History Museum was opened in 1975 sharing the building with the library it houses items of archaeological interest, social and local history.

Local website addresses:
www.kelvedon.org.uk
www.kelvedon.uk.com
www.kelvedonstmarys.co.uk
www.kelvedonfreemusicfestival.co.uk

Little Maplestead

The village church St John the Baptist is attractive, unusual and unique in Essex and is one of only five round churches in the Country. Its design is modelled upon the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem and was built by the Knights Hospitallers in around 1335.

Local website addresses:
www.essexinfo.net/littlemaplestead
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/i.rose/littlemaplestead.htm

Little Yeldham, Ovington & Tilbury Juxta Clare

Local website addresses:

Panfield

Panfield is a pleasant village just North of Braintree and was also known as Pantfield as it lies on the western side of the vale of the river Pant. The heart of this little settlement 'open country on the banks of the pant' as the Saxons described it, was and still is its parish Church which stands a little to the east of the later development of the village.

Panfield Hall lies south of the Church. It's oldest part, on the west side, dates from 1546 and it's original building. The eastern part was completed in 1583. It looks a handsome place in a peaceful landscape.

Local website addresses:
www.essexinfo.net/panfield/

Pebmarsh

Pebmarsh is a gem of a village, lying in the glorious area of Essex countryside northeast of Halstead. The parish can boast several Tudor farms and houses, but the church has many older treasures including a brass dating from the 1300s. There are believed to be only about 16 surviving from this early date and this one depicts Sir William Fitzralph who fought in the wards of Edward I against the Scots. 

Local website addresses:
www.pebmarsh.com

Pentlow

Just outside of Pentlow you will find the Bull Tower; a polygonal brick tower built in 1859, it is one of the few follies to be found in Essex, although it is not open to the public.

Local website addresses:
www.follytowers.com
www.pentlow-tower.co.uk

Rayne

Rayne (UK) is a pleasant village of three thousand residents, located in the Braintree District of rural North West Essex. It is to be found situated along the old Roman Stane Street from Colchester to Braughing (near Buntingford) and now by-passed by the new A120. Approximately three miles to the east is the historic market town of Braintree. The transport system provides easy access to Colchester, Chelmsford, Cambridge and London and access to international destinations via Stansted airport, some 16 miles distant.

The village is rich in history with several farms listed in the Doomsday Book. All Saints Church, with its Tudor tower, built in 1510 by a member of the Capel family, is a fine example of Tudor brickwork with an original wooden clock face hidden behind the present one.

Many community groups organise activities for all age groups, further details are to be found on the Rayne Village web site.

Local website addresses:
www.rayne-essex.gov.uk
www.rayne-info.org.uk

Ridgewell

A small, picturesque village located in a rural area in north west Essex near the Suffolk border, 15 miles north of Braintree and 6 miles south of Haverhill. 

 At one time Ridgewell was a place of some importance with its own Trade Guild and was a fully self-supporting parish with many shops including a Butcher, Dairy, Baker, Cobbler, Tailor, Blacksmith, and Coal Merchant etc. Clare and Pembroke Colleges, Cambridge originally owned much of the land. Today Ridgewell suffers with the usual malaise of village life and has lost its post office in the last 10 years. It has two Public Houses, the King's Head (15th or 16th Century) and the White Horse Inn (18th Century) and a small general store.

Ridgewell played a major role in the Second World War initially being a base for British Stirlings and from 1943 home to the American Air Force 381st Bomber Group. This has attracted a number of visitors to the village, particularly American families who had a relative serving here during the war.

Local website addresses:
www.ridgewellvillage.co.uk
www.381st.com

Rivenhall

Rivenhall Parish is situated in the Southeast corner of the Braintree District, the main village being about 1 mile from the A12, which cuts through the other part of the parish, Rivenhall End.  It is, in the main, a rural parish with an agricultural landscape of woodland and arable land with some small areas of pasture.

Rivenhall has been inhabited for many centuries with evidence of Bronze Age ring ditches and a Romano villa, although the St. Mary's and All Saints parish church has been built upon the latter site.

Local website addresses:
www.rivenhall.org.uk

Shalford

The village itself sits comfortably in the river Pant Valley.  It was mentioned in the Doomsday Book and its history and geography have been well commented on by various authors over the years. The village is therefore a popular route for ramblers, cyclists and a stopover for caravaners.

Local website addresses:
www.essexinfo.net/shalford/
http://www.thelocalchannel.co.uk/shalford/home.aspx

Sible Hedingham

The village of Sible Hedingham in terms of area is the second largest in Essex covering an area of over five thousand acres.   It is situated in the north of the county and on the west bank of the River Colne.   On the east bank, opposite, is the historic but smaller village of Castle Hedingham with its splendid Norman Keep.

It is thought that the name 'Hedingham' is derived from the 'ham of Hedin's people' and 'Sible' from the family of Sibil, widow of Geoffrey de Laventon, who held land in Sible Hedingham in 1237.

Local website addresses:
www.siblehedinghampc.org.uk

Silver End

Frank Crittall, the owner of a company that made metal-framed windows, built Silver End in 1926 for his employees. The village was designed to be completely self-sufficient with its own water supply and drainage, shops, schools and churches. A farm was also established which sold produce direct to the village. The factory even generated the village’s electricity. It remains a nationally important village of ‘modern movement’ architecture.

Local website addresses:
www.silverendparishcouncil.gov.uk
www.silverendcommunity.co.uk

Stambourne

Stambourne is a pleasant, quiet, straggly village nestling in the countryside of north Essex near its borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk. The current adult population numbers only 320 with approximately 80 children

Fundamentally a farming community, Stambourne boasts 8 active farms mostly arable. The centre of the village has an unobtrusive charm, with its church of Norman origin; its playing field and its Victorian school house whose role is now that of village hall. The origins of Congregationalism are rooted here where John Spurgeon, grandfather of Charles, preached for many years.

Local website addresses:

Steeple Bumpstead

Bumstead is not an easy name to sort out. History books tell us it means `a place where flax or hemp grows'. This could well be true, as several osier beds were discovered in parts of the village

Nurse Edith Cavell died in Brussels on 12th October 1915, shot by a German
firing squad for helping Allied soldiers to escape. She became, of course, a legend for bravery and sacrifice. But her ties with Steeple Bumpstead occurred long before that and before she became a nurse. During 1886, Edith was appointed governess to the four children of the Reverend Charles Powell, vicar of Steeple Bumpstead.  The vicarage, where a stone plaque commemorates her stay, is no longer the residence of the local vicar, but it is still there, a private residence, on the corner of Chapel Street and Finchingfield Road. There is, in the 11th century village church, a plaque to Edith Cavell and there is also a road named after her.

There has been a long history on non-conformist belief in the village. A Bumpstead man was burnt to death in the parish for his beliefs in the days of the Catholic Church. Along the Blois Road, leading from Bumpstead to Birdbrook, is a field that has been called the ‘Bloody Pightle’, and that is where he is believed to have been martyred.  In 1527 john Tibauld and eight other village residents were seized and taken before the Bishop of London, charged with meeting together in Bower
Hall to pray and read a copy of the New Testament. Although the non-conformist in the village were encouraged by the powerful Bendyshe family that lived at Bower Hall, even their influence could not save Tibauld. He was burned at the stake.  Having fallen into ruin after use as a ‘concentration camp’ in the First World War, Bower Hall was finally demolished in 1926 and the materials sold off. The great staircase found its way to America. 

Mott Hall, or ‘the Old Schole’, symbolises Steeple Bumpstead. Built in 1592 by the inhabitants on land rented from the Crown, in the 1830s when it was ‘a school for farmers’ sons’ the villagers forcibly took possession of it, disputing the claim of George Gent of Moyns to have the right to appoint the headmaster. Eventually an Ecclesiastical Court upheld the villagers’ claim.  Colonel J. C. Humphrey, son of the village wheelwright, invented corrugated iron. He built and lived in the Iron House, North Street, which was sadly demolished in the 1960s. At one time Humphreys Ltd of London claimed to the be ‘largest works in the world’ and held a Royal Warrant as ‘supplier to His Majesty King Edward VII.’

Local website addresses:
www.steeplebumpstead.co.uk

Stisted

Stisted’s All Saints Church and the manor belonged originally to the monks of Christ Church, Canterbury, and it was not until 1895 that it became part of the see of Chelmsford. The Forster family had links with the parish - Charles Forster, the grandfather of E. M. Forster, held the living of Stisted. The Elizabethan Stisted Hall was destroyed in the 1820s and the existing hall is Georgian, built in the neoclassical style popular in this period. It was used by the army during the Second World War.

Local website addresses:
www.stisted.info

Sturmer

Sturmer is a little village in north Essex, which indents into the Suffolk borders near Haverhill. Surprisingly, there is a long history here. On the Haverhill side, there is a mound believed to be a burial ground of ancient Britons. The building of the nearby St Mary's Church was started by the Saxons and later fashioned by the Normans. The Church has undergone many alterations down the ages and it now represents a collection of varying architectural styles. The graveyard records many generations of Sturmer families. The Red Lion, the only pub in the village, is a 15th century thatched property, which was originally three cottages. Turned into an inn during the 19th century, it is situated next to the site of Dillistones Nurseries, where the famous "Sturmer Pippin" was propagated. The apple grew better in New Zealand, where it was taken by a member of the Dillistone family. Steps are being taken to resurrect the "Sturmer Pippin" in the village.

Local website addresses:
www.haverhill-uk.com/sturmer/index.shtml

Terling & Fairstead

Welcome to the parish of Terling & Fairstead villages, Essex, England, known as the "Cream of Essex Villages" and home to approximately 900 residents and the Terling International Trifle Competition. The villages are located on the Essex Way long distance walk, north of Chelmsford and west of Hatfield Peverel. Terling includes Flacks Green and Gambles Green and Fairstead includes Fuller Street, Church End and Ranks Green.

Although only small villages we have three Churches, a Village Shop including Post Office, Pub, Thai Restaurant, Swimming Pool, Primary School catering for both infants and juniors, Cricket Club, two new all weather Tennis Courts and a Football Club.

Local website addresses:
www.essexinfo.net/terlingandfairstead/
http://www.terling.org.uk/

Toppesfield

Local website addresses:

Wethersfield

Unlike its better-known neighbour, Finchingfield, Wethersfield is not a tourist trap. It is, however, a pleasant village with a long history and probably gets its name from a Viking invader named Wuthha or Wotha, whose 'field' or clearing it was.

Particularly it may interest visitors from the United States with which the village has close associations. People from Wethersfield were among those immigrating to New England at the time of the Pilgrim Fathers and other Wethersfield’s are found in Connecticut and western New York State. From 1941 to 1946 the traffic was in the other direction as USAF personnel arrived at RAF Wethersfield the airbase on the northern edge of the village in the Second World War. In 1952 the airfield was opened again with the forming of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and became home to the 20th Tactical Fighter Wing USAF. 

The last Americans, of the Red Horse Brigade, a heavy engineering unit, left in 1990 and the base is now occupied by the British Ministry of Defence police whose main job is to guard military establishments throughout the UK.

Local website addresses:
www.wethersfield-essex.co.uk

White Colne

White Colne is a village and parish on the north side of the river Colne, opposite Earls Colne and on the Colchester Road, 4 miles ESE of Halstead. It contains 419 souls and 30 acres of land; and was anciently called Colne le Blanc, from the Le Blanc family, who held it at the Norman survey, but it soon afterwards passed to the De Vere and other families. Ours is a small but vibrant village with much going on to provide facilities for our residents and others to enjoy in this beautiful part of the world. Ideally situated in the Colne Valley many parts of our village allow visitors to view the variety of scenery and wildlife that characterises this part of north Essex.

Local website addresses:
www.colnevalley.com
www.whitecolne.co.uk

White Notley & Faulkbourne

The parish of White Notley is a picturesque English country village in the heart of the Essex countryside. This tiny community nestles in the valley of the meandering River Brain creating a charming, rural scene with idyllic surrounding countryside characterised by undulating agricultural land, hedgerows, copses and woodland and quiet country lanes. The village adjoins Black Notley and Braintree to the northwest, Cressing to the northeast, Fairstead to the southwest and Faulkbourne and Witham to the southeast.

Faulkbourne Hall has been declared the finest 15th century mansion now existing in the county, carried out in warm, red brick even to its towers, turrents and battlements.  There is a nearby spring which in the earliest times was considered a holy well.  The god of water, the giver of life lived in this holy well.  Into medieval times the spring was thought to have healing powers which attracted pilgrims.

Local website addresses:
www.whitenotley.com
www.essexinfo.net/whitenotleyfaulkbourneparishcouncil/

Wickham St Paul

In a delightfully peaceful setting, Wickham St Paul has an old village green, and the church with Wickham Hall by its side, has been owned by St Paul’s Cathedral for over 1000 years. On hot days tired cyclists and walkers should ride along to the pub for a drink and then stretch out for a snooze under one of the huge trees on its beautiful green.

 Local website addresses: