Rural Wickham St Paul

Wickham St Paul lies roughly five miles to the north of Halstead in north Essex near the Suffolk border. The small village has a population of over four hundred and has a large village green surrounded by houses which is the pride of the village and rightly so. The horses, sheep and cows which used to graze the green in years gone by are now long gone however and the village green is now used for gentle pursuits such as neighbourly chats and ball games. Until recently schoolchildren too could have been seen on the green but now the school is used as a private residence.

There is a post office, pub and a church in Wickham St Paul which all make good meeting places for the locals. The village is tiny and there is a standing joke among people here that if you blink you will miss the village and indeed it is very small. However the village makes a good base from which to tour the local area for there is much to see. It is perfect for anyone looking for a quiet spot for a break.

The scenery is very rural with many farm houses scattering the nearby countryside. Some of the land is owned by the Dean and Chapter of London's St Pauls (hence the name) and there are many smaller land owners.

All Saints church lies just outside the main village and has a tower and four bells together with interesting stained glass windows. The church was restored in the 19th century but actually dates back to the 12th century and is well worth a visit.

The village and the area around it is primarily a farming community with small cottages and a varied selection of modern houses. Local people here are proud of their local accent and everyone will agree that the area contains its fair share of distinctive local characters. The village is proud too of its community spirit which remains alive and well in the twenty first century.

The charming town Sudbury in Suffolk lies to the north east and Colchester with its excellent shopping centre to the south east. The coast at Clacton on Sea and Walton on the Naze lie within a short driving distance, making Wickham St Paul an ideal spot to use as a base for touring the local area. Nearby Halstead contains a good selection of pubs and inns as well as shops and places to stay.

Wickham St Paul makes a great place to stay for those who desire rural seclusion and yet still be within easy driving distance of larger towns and the coast. It is not surprising that the village attracts people wishing to live here in order to experience rural England and yet still be able to travel to work in the larger towns and cities of the South East.

Just a short drive out of Essex's main towns the countryside is peaceful and beautiful. Visitors are often amazed by the amount of wooded areas that are tucked away in this county which is one of England's least known.