Great Bardfield Walk

Gt Bardfield was a favoured home of artists between the wars who hosted a series of important open house exhibitions. The layout of the streets and the wonderfully varied houses and cottages make it a place of enormous charm.

Details of Walk

• Date of Walk: 10/07/2011

• Distance: 4.35 Miles

• Level of Difficulty: A Fairly Easy Walk

• Car Park: High Street Roadside CM7 4RG

• Refreshments:The Bell & The Vine Inn

• Photos Taken on Walk

Once upon a time the village had its own market and a horse fair took place annually on the 22nd June. Place house at the top of the High Street has a overhanging storey and a bracket carved to tell us it was built in 1564. The walk starts heading north towards the bridge over the river Pant. While walking up to the bridge we noticed an old building on the left which was a 19th century lock up known as the cage where local criminals were held till they were taken to Gt Dunmow later on.

As we passed the building a lady shouted out if we would like to look in as she was just unlocking it, see picture on the left. Along the walk we went passed the site where there used to be watermill which alas had been burnt down and just leaves the foundation and part the wheel. Then we went over a bridge over the river Pant and then we walked along finchingfield Brook towards Normans, a very attractive house part tiled, part thatched. A little bit further there is a fine view of the windmill known as Gibraltar was known to be there in 1707 but from some source is given even earlier 1680 it has been turned into a house. The walk takes you to Waltham cross and then we went along side a pastured field with to horses that followed us by the fence up to the gate. On the way back to Gt Bardfield there is a lovely greenway which brings you out by the church.