Finchingfield

Finchingfield is on the B1052 Braintree to Saffron Walden road, fifty-four miles from London and close to Constable Country. In the time of William the Conqueror it was called Phincingfelda. A textbook example of the traditional English village, Finchingfield is described as the 'most photographed village in England,' Finchingfield has won awards for its traditional picturesque setting. The combination of duck pond, village green, hump-backed bridge and pub, overlooked by colour-washed cottages, a windmill and a medieval church, give it an unbeatable series of views, which are often found on calendars, chocolate boxes, tea towels, postcards and jigsaws.

There are many interesting buildings to be seen such as the Guildhall, which was built around 1500, and was used for the benefit of the village as a schoolhouse/almshouse. The Round House, a cottage of 18th century Dutch design and referred to locally as the Pepper Pot was once owned by the writer Dodie Smith, author of "101 Dalmatians". There's a blue plaque on the house. The windmill is also of interest but the most important house is Spains Hall, an Elizabethan building in the heart of 150 acres of woodland, 11 miles of public footpaths and 9 miles of bridle paths. Amongst the many painters who have been inspired by the village was Lucien Pissarro. He moved permanently to England in 1890 and visited Finchingfield twice. He made several oil paintings inspired by these visits.

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