Colin Crosby Heritage Tours

Coggeshall

Coggeshall, or more properly Great Coggeshall, is a picturesque small town in Essex, 6 miles from Braintree.

It stands on Stane Street, the Roman road to Colchester, and beside the River Blackwater.

Coggeshall`s mediaeval prosperity was based on cloth and lace.

St. Peter ad Vincula Church, basically 15th century, was rebuilt, after a direct hit by a bomb in 1940.

Paycocke`s House was built about 1500, and is generally regarded as one of the finest timber framed buildings in England. Originally a wealthy merchant`s house, it is now in the care of the National Trust.

Grange Barn, with an enormous roof, dates back to the 12th century, and is the oldest timber framed barn in Europe. This too belongs to the National Trust.

There are many other attractive buildings, many timber framed and many featuring the local pargeting.

The Woolpack is said to be one of the prettiest inns in England.

Little Coggeshall, otherwise known as Coggeshall Hamlet, has the remains of a 12th century abbey, founded by King Stephen. One of the buildings has what is believed to be the oldest mediaeval brickwork in the country.

The inhabitants of Coggeshall, like those of Gotham in Nottinghamshire, gained a reputation for studied foolishness. They attempted to use hurdles to divert a stream, and chained up a wheelbarrow that had been bitten by a mad dog, fearing that the barrow was now rabid. A foolish action has thus come to be known as "a Coggeshall Job".

Coggeshall also has a reputation as a much haunted town.

Blue Badge Guide Colin Crosby is available to lead Guided Walks around Coggeshall for groups.