Monday, 23 June 2008

Thaxted in Essex

On our way to Finchingfield which I covered in my last post, we stopped to walk around Thaxted. These villages are so close (15 minutes by car) but are so different, each with their own individual charm.

I have been asked about the patterns on the plaster work of some of the buildings. This is called Pargeting and has been done for centuries and is quite common in Essex. Another point of interest is the differing patterns on thatched roofs. These patterns are the signatures of the thatcher.




The Guildhall built in 1390 a.d. by the Guild of Cutlers (Cutlery)
is still used today








Even the tiniest of back yards can be decorative




Willow admiring the cobbled street


and waiting for her coffee in the tea room




The Windmill










The old Almshouses




Pub on the left - church on the right





Stay tuned for more of Willow's adventures!
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20 comments:

  1. ellen b.23 June 2008 at 15:25

    Another wonderful village in England. Thank Barbara for all the great photos! Blessings...

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  2. Annie Jeffries23 June 2008 at 18:12

    So dreamy Barbara. I will be coming back for more and more and more and . . . well, you get the idea. Happy rambling, Annie

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  3. Vee23 June 2008 at 18:34

    Lovely! It's so amazing to think of a building of that age to still be in use! Really incredible...

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  4. Aubrey23 June 2008 at 19:03

    I have been lurking on your blog for a little while now and absolutely love it. I live in the U.S., but desperately wish I could live in England and Europe for awhile and visit old houses and village and gardens--little slices of heaven. In short, I think you have the most awesome blog ever, especially now that airline costs are so high.
    I have to know, how do you keep the edges of your flowerbeds so perfect and neat? They look so good.

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  5. Linda24 June 2008 at 01:23

    These pictures are a walk down memory lane for me. My husband used to work in Coggeshall ... such wonderful old building there too.

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  6. Marg24 June 2008 at 04:13

    I love the pictures and post.
    A Real reminder of my vacation in Europe a month ago.
    Enjoy your time. Relish it.

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  7. Maria24 June 2008 at 11:12

    So beautiful and interesting!

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  8. Elizabethd24 June 2008 at 12:54

    Arent the Old almshouses intriguing.I would love to peep inside!

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  9. Elizabeth24 June 2008 at 14:49

    I liked 'pub on the left - church on the right'........add the tea shop and you're all set!
    Am loving your Essex adventures.
    The weather looks as if it is holding up for you/
    I do hope so
    love to all

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  10. Susan Skitt24 June 2008 at 16:47

    What lovely trips. How nice to visit with friends :) I just love the architecture in your homeland :) Beautiful Barbara!

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  11. Come Away With Me24 June 2008 at 17:43

    That was fun...I wonder, do the people who live in these quaint villages have a sense of just how wonderful they are to us foreigners? I would be endlessly fascinated with all the history, and imagining who else lived there in ages past if I had such a home....despite what I know must be some drawbacks due to their great age.

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  12. nanatrish24 June 2008 at 19:27

    How beautiful! I would love to wander up and down those tiny streets looking at all those buildings. So much history and so much beauty. You and Willow have made such nice memories. Our oldest buildings don't hold a candle next to these. What great craftmenship! I would love to see in person someday.

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  13. Mike's Travels 24 June 2008 at 20:57

    Beautiful shots. It's amazing how many of these lovely villages there are!

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  14. Lavinia24 June 2008 at 22:30

    I so agree...even the tiniest of spaces can be ornamented with beauty, as here, with urns, rosebushes, a pretty scrolled iron gate....

    THese pics are absolutely delightful...how I wish I could stroll down these quaint village streets along with you.!

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  15. Willow24 June 2008 at 22:55

    Hi! Willow checking in here. Thaxted was just as beautiful as these photos show it. The tea room was delightful. Essex is a picturesque county.

    I too wonder if any of us appreciate the wonders of our home towns. People hear I am from 'Los Angeles' and they say they wish they could live there. Shall we all change places for a while so we can appreciate our own homes when we return?

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  16. Betty24 June 2008 at 23:06

    Barbara,
    What fantastic pictures...the little Almshouse is adorable.....

    I know you and Willow had so much to talk about as did Marion and myself....

    Edward was released yesterday (Monday) after 13 days...so blessed not to lose his leg....God is so good. We could feel the prayers going up and the blessings coming down.....

    I'm slowly reading a few blogs as time allows....Betty

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  17. Reflection Through The Seasons25 June 2008 at 07:25

    Hi Barbara.....

    First let me tell you that Edward went home on Monday and continues to improve...... Betty is now ‘nurse & carer’ so she’s got many demands on her time right now...... but its good that they are back in homely surroundings and sleeping in their own bed.

    How lovely to see that you and Willow are having such a great time together. I think its wonderful that you two have met up just as Betty and I did.... there is something very special about blogging friendships. Good to see that you are out enjoying excursions to the many pretty villages in Essex. You have taken some gorgeous pictures Barbara..... capturing such beauty.... from the tiniest back yard to the magnificence of the Guildhall.

    Take much joy from this special time together. Marion

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  18. Reflection Through The Seasons25 June 2008 at 07:27

    Oh! I've just noticed..... Betty has already left a comment for you. Marion

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  19. Mmm26 June 2008 at 02:06

    thank you for the pictures. Again, beautiful scenery.

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  20. Barbara26 June 2008 at 07:03

    You're so right. Finchingfield is so different to Thaxted, though both are lovely villages. But I especially love the charm of the old houses in Thaxted!

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