Hidden Gems – Finchingfield

24th July 2020

Did you know that one of the most iconic photographs of a typical English village was actually taken in Essex? Finchingfield to be precise.

The picture is characterised by the church of St John the Baptist in the background and the village pond in the foreground. The pond is part of Finchingfield Brook which feeds into the River Pant and becomes the River Blackwater on the outskirts of Braintree. Flowing generally south east, it skirts the east of Witham before joining the River Chelmer to form the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation at Maldon. It becomes the tidal Blackwater at Heybridge and eventually flows into the North Sea.

Finchingfield appears in the Domesday Book but there is evidence of a Roman villa close to the centre of the village villa which suggests there has been a settlement there far earlier.

Trivia teaser: what connects Finchingfield with Disney? Answer below.

In the meantime, if village life appeals to you, take a look at some of the properties we currently have on the market near Finchingfield.

Trivia teaser answer: Finchingfield was the home, and is the resting place, of Dodie Smith, author of 101 Dalmations, one of Disney's most famous films.