The ruins of the 13th Century castle were the subject of several studies and a well-known painting by John Constable. there are remains of wall-paintings in the Norman church.
Editor
Halstead
Gosfield Hall, situated two and a half miles South West of Halstead is one of the county’s most imposing mansions with it’s large courtyard. Halstead itself boasts some fine Bouchier monuments in the flint church, a good example of this Essex building material.
Harwich
Harwich is not just a busy port through which millions of tons of freight and hundreds of passengers travel each year. Along with nearby Dovercourt, Harwich is a town steeped in history. Harwich’s connection with the sea trade dates much further back than large modern ferries. The Navyard Wharf is […]
Layer Marney
Layer Marney Tower is signposted off the B1022 Colchester to Maldon Road and open to the public April to September every day except Friday and Saturdays. The red brickwork of the many-storied gateway with it’s towers and twisted chimneys are all that exist to suggest the splendour of the Tudor […]
Manningtree & Mistley
Picturesque and historic are just two words that describe Manningtree and Mistley. The area is a magnet for walkers, birdwatchers and sailing enthusiasts and those coming to the area chance upon these two delightful small settlements. Manningtree proudly boasts that it is England’s smallest town and is also the gateway […]
Saffron Walden
The discovery of large Saxon burial grounds confirm the age of this charming town. Many pargeted houses, the one-time sun Inn a particularly good example of this type of plaster work to be found across the county of Essex. Sadly little remains of the 12 Century castle that once stood […]
Southend-on-Sea
Think of Southend and you think of…. the world’s longest pier! But there is much more to the town than just it’s famous pier. Take seven miles of award winning beaches, (Southend is actually not a seaside resort as such – it’s situated on the Thames Estuary). You will also […]
Thaxted
Small town at the very heart of Essex, surrounded by some charming villages. The town is dominated by it’s noble church (justly called locally “the” cathedral of Essex), one of few in the county built of stone. There are a variety of houses in the town dating from Tudor and […]
Waltham Abbey
Of the great abbey, the gateway and an old bridge remain, the nave of the abbey church, containing the oldest Norman work in the county. The East end was added in the 19th Century is still in use today. The body of Harold was buried before the high altar after […]
Walton on the Naze
Situated 8 miles Norh East of Clacton on the B1034. A seaside resort that focuses around it its pier. First built in 1830 and originally made of wood the pier measured 330 feet in length. It was extended in 1898 to its current length of 2,610 feet making it the […]