Villages

Introduction

Our villages come in all shapes and sizes - such as
those set around a green or square; a 'street' village
with the houses set along one long main road; and
the 'straggled' village spread over a wide area.

The traditional image of an English village is pretty
thatched cottages with overflowing gardens, set
around a green with its pond, stocks and maypole.

The look of the village was normally determined by
the building materials which could be easily found in
the area. In Norfolk there is an abundance of flint;
whilst in Suffolk, timber and plaster houses abound.
Essex and Hertfordshire are noted for their buildings
of weatherboard. Locally quarried stone can be
seen in Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire villages.

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Bedfordshire

Head north from the county town of Bedford into the
Ouse Valley to explore ancient limestone villages.

Harrold has a tree-lined green with a circular stone lock-up; whilst Pavenham - with
its lovely thatched houses, was once noted for its rush-matting industry.
Bromham's fine river bridge leads to its 17th C. mill. See the 14th C. medieval
cross, where author and preacher John Bunyan preached at Stevington - then
follow in his footsteps to his birthplace at Elstow. Visit the timber-framed Moot Hall.
Close by are the former airship hangers at Cardington, with its brick and
colour-washed buildings. Follow the River Great Ouse to Willington, where the
16th C. dovecote was once home to 1,500 nesting pigeons.

Head south now to Old Warden, which was re-created in the Swiss-style
(thatched roofs and latticed porches) by the 3rd Lord Ongley. The pretty houses at
nearby Ickwell are grouped around a large green, home to a permanent maypole.

Sitting amongst common land on the rolling Dunstable Downs, the village of
Whipsnade is famous for its zoo and unusual tree cathedral. Hilltop Toddington 
has elegant houses and a pond. At Heath and Reach, cottages cluster around
the green and 'clock tower' pumphouse. Set amid sandy pine woods - Aspley
Guise is a former 19th C. health resort. The village of Millbrook with its wooded
valley and 100 year old cottages once belonged to the Duke of Bedford.

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Cambridgeshire

Enjoy a punt ride from the University city of Cambridge to Granchester, the former
riverside home of poet Rupert Brooke. Head north now into The Fens - at
Prickwillow, the houses are overlooked by the massive river banks. Learn how
this happened at the drainage engine museum. Wicken - with its thatched houses
and pond is famed for its nature reserve. Whilst a walk along the tree-canopied
main street at Elm takes you past 17/18th C. buildings and pastel cottages.

Seek out the unusual 'flaming heart' stone at fen-edge Burwell - then discover
Ashley, set around its green and duck pond. Don't miss the riverside Hemingford
villages, where the church at Hemingford Grey sits right beside the water's edge.
Kimbolton was once an important medieval market town, with its handsome
17/18th C. buildings. Visit Thriplow in spring for the annual daffodil weekend. 

To the north of the county, Stilton is named after the famous cheese which was
once distributed from here. Whilst the 19th C. estate village of Thorney
is dominated by the remains of the former great abbey. The famous quarries
at Barnack provided much of the building stone for the handsome buildings - also
seen at Marholm, with its rich cream-coloured and thatched cottages. Birthplace of
'Peasant Poet' John Clare, Helpston is noted for its ancient buttercross.

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Essex

Start your journey at Colchester - Britain's oldest
recorded town. Head north to Dedham, set in the
heart of Constable Country. This is where the
famous landscape artist went to school. East from
here is Great Bentley, reputedly home to England's
largest village green.

Follow the coastline south now to Tollesbury,
a former fishing centre, with 19th C. sail lofts and a
lock-up. At Bradwell-on-Sea, you can seek out
England's oldest Saxon church. Whilst 
weather-boarded Tillingham has strong connections
with St. Paul's Cathedral. Set between the Rivers
Crouch and Roach, the old smuggling centre
of Paglesham is noted for its oysters.

The well-kept houses and gardens at Pleshey are
entirely surrounded by a ditch dug by the ancient
Britons. Head north again now through The Rodings,
a series of eight pretty hamlets set along the river
valley. Dominated by its 12th C. castle keep, Castle
Hedingham has narrow winding streets lined with
timber-framed and Georgian buildings.

Around Saffron Walden is a series of picturesque villages to discover - Arkesden
and Manuden, with their wood and plaster buildings; the thatched 'Dolls House' at
Clavering; and Little Easton - where the houses are adorned with pargetting
and Tudor chimneys. Picture postcard Finchingfield has its cottages and church
clustered on a gentle hillside overlooking the traditional green and duck pond.

The look of the village was normally determined by the building
materials which could be easily found in the area