Everybody who loves quaint villages which are steeped in history and full of century old buildings and cobble stoned streets is in for a big treat when visiting this charming little market town. Nestled in between fields, with the majestic spire of its grand church towering over it, Thaxted is particularly beautiful and one of the most visited villages in the region. Although Thaxted is only a small town, it is well worth a visit and will surely enchant you with its timeless beauty.

Thaxted

"There is no town in north Essex – and very few in England – to equal in beauty, compactness and juxtaposition of medieval and Georgian architecture, the town of Thaxted". (Sir John Betjeman)

History

Thaxted evolved from a Saxon settlement that was built along the old Roman Stane road. In 1066 King William I granted the Saxon manor to the Earl of Clare. Tachesteda, as Thaxted was called then, was also mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086. By the 14th century Thaxted had grown into a prosperous little town thanks to its flourishing cutlery industry. Along with Sheffield it was one of the main manufacturing centres for cutlery in the country. It was the cutler's guild of Thaxted who build the magnificent Guildhall which can still be visited today. Like 600 years ago, when it was the meeting place for the influential craftsmen, it is still the heart of the town and, surprisingly, still in use. The local parish holds its meetings here and it is often home to exhibitions.

The glorious church of Thaxted St. John the Baptist reflects how important the small town was at the beginning of the 14th century when the building works on it began. It had replaced an older church that stood there and the works would last for 170 years. Today it is the parish church and usually the first thing a visitor will see when approaching the village. St John the Baptist has an elevated position and its tall spire can be seen from miles away. The church was built in the shape of a cathedral and is regarded as one of the most beautiful parish churches in the country. Due to its size, shape and grandeur it is also nicknamed "The Cathedral of Essex".

The church and guildhall, the centre of the old and new Thaxted, are surrounded by many narrow, cobble stoned streets which are lined with centuries-old chocolate box cottages and Edwardian town houses. The best known are arguably the former almshouses of the village. These two single storied buildings are situated right behind the churchyard and lead up to the mill. Together the trio of almshouses, church and mill make up a scenery that hasn't changed in the last two hundred years.

The beautifully restored and graceful windmill dates back to 1804 and was build by a local farmer, John Webb. Due to an increasing demand in flour it was necessary to replace the old windmill that stood in its place. It was constructed completely with local materials and the quarry in which the bricks for its construction were manufactured also belonged to Mr Webb.

Today Thaxted is home to around 2600 inhabitants, which is roughly the same number as in 1858. Unlike other towns in the area, Thaxted almost stopped growing after the decline of its main industry, hence presenting us with the wonderfully preserved and unspoiled town we can visit today. Thaxted might not have changed much over the years, but there couldn't be a larger difference between the two most famous inhabitants it had: Dick Turpin, the legendary highwayman, was born in nearby Hempstead in 1705. It is believed that he lived in Thaxted while he was working as a butcher's boy in the town. The house he used to live in can be found right next to the guildhall in Stoney Lane.

The other famous resident was Gustav Holst, the composer of "The Planets", who travelled through Thaxted on one of his journeys, fell in love with the beauty of the small town and decided to stay. He first took residence in Monk Street and later lived in Town Street. During his time in Thaxted he finished his most famous work "The Planets" and here he also wrote "Jupiter", which he later named "Thaxted" and which nowadays is known as the melody for the hymn "I Vow to Thee, My Country". Gustav Holst's house is located opposite the guildhall. Both houses are privately occupied and not accessible to the public, but carry name plaques of their former famous inhabitants.

Getting there

Thaxted is connected to the regional bus system which provides transportation to Saffron Walden, Braintree and Bishop's Stortford. Stansted airport is only a 15 minutes drive away and a bus service to Stansted runs every hour. The town itself does not have a train station any more, the nearest train links can be found in Bishop's Stortford and at the airport. From there it is only a 45 minutes ride to central London.

Attractions

The annual Thaxted Festival, which was originally inaugurated by composer Gustav Holst, attracts many visitors who love classical music each year. The festival runs over 4 weekends in summer, during which a number of classical concerts are held in the parish church.

The Morris Ring Meeting is organized by the Morris Men of Thaxted. Thaxted is home to the oldest still existing Morris-clan in the country and the Morris Ring. Morris Men from all around the country and abroad meet in Thaxted for the traditional ring meeting and fill the streets with music and dancers.

Thaxted is surrounded by countryside and nature lovers and hikers will appreciate the large number of public footpaths which lead from the village and provide miles of scenic country walks. The House on the Hill Toy Museum and Mountfitched Castle are both located only a short drive away in Stansted-Mountfitched.

Audley End House with its magnificent gardens can be visited in Saffron Walden whilst Braintree, with its Freeport factory outlet, offers excellent shopping facilities.

Of course Thaxted also has a number of restaurants, bars and tea rooms. The Swan and Thaxted Hall both not only offer a restaurant and bar, but also provide facilities for meetings, parties and banqueting. For light refreshments after a walk through the town or the countryside, visitors will appreciate the homemade cakes and freshly made sandwiches in Poppy's Tea Room or at the tea room of the Crossways Guest House .

Accommodation

Thaxted offers a number of Hotels, B&B's and self-catering accommodations.
London-Stansted airport is only 7 miles away from Thaxted and Thaxted Hall as well as The Dairy Bed &Breakfast and the Cowels Farm Stables provide long term parking facilities and arrange airport transportation for their guests at a fee.

It's proximity to the airport makes Thaxted a perfect stop-over for those who prefer a more personal ambience to an airport hotel. For those who want to explore Essex it provides a good base as the town is not only exceptionally attractive, but also close to many of the attractions in the area. All self-catering accommodations are located on farms and surrounded by countryside, which will be welcomed by families with small children and visitors who want to get away from it all.

Conclusion

With its rural location and proximity to several attractions, Thaxted should appeal not only to nature lovers but also to all those who would like to explore this part of Essex. For more information about the town please also see our listing of recommended websites.