Thaxted, Essex

After our visit to Audley End, we popped into Thaxted, this is a pretty Essex village that has a Windmill and a Guildhall.  It isn't somewhere to make a special visit from Ampthill, but worth stopping by if you are in the area.

Once you have parked in the public car park, walk a little way back up Margaret Street and turn left into Bell Lane which will bring you to the main street (Watling Street). The parish church is almost opposite you and John Webb's Windmill is beyond the church (walk through the churchyard and past the Almshouses). Alternatively, the Guildhall can be found by turning left onto Watling Street after a short walk down the hill.

So her is a littel bit about the place:

History
Thaxted is an ancient town that was mentioned in the Domesday Book. It developed from then and became a busy town in Saxon times and continued to develop until a market was granted to the town in 1205. The town continued to develop for a number of centuries and was involved in the cutlery trade.

The earliest record of a church was in 981, this being replaced with money from cutlery in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. Town Street (Watling Street today) runs down hill from the church in a south-easterly direction but has changed significantly from its original design. However, the Guildhall still survives, but certainly not the original building.In the sixteenth century it is known that weaving made an appearance, and an attempt was made to establish a Guild of Clothiers in 1583. Other street names such as Fishmarket Street and Mill Row may give indications of the town's history. Surprisingly, given the size of the town, there are still six places of worship in Thaxted, which is a legacy of its past Nonconformist history. Quakers were also known to have met in the town.

Almshouses

Explore Thaxted
Town Street (at the bottom of the Watling Street hill) is a good starting point for any exploration of Thaxted. The Guildhall is the first place of interest that you will see. Once the administrative centre of the town, it is thought it was built sometime between 1462 and 1475. It is believed it was not really a Guildhall as the design is more of a moote or mote hall, i.e. a civic meeting place.

There was a thriving cutlery industry in Thaxted at the time the Guildhall was built, so it is likely this contributed financially to its construction. At one time it is known that over a third of the working population were involved in the cutlery trade in some way. However, it was when the cutlery trade began to decline that Thaxted was granted a Charter and became a Borough. In 1686, the Charter was revoked and during the years that followed the Guildhall fell into disrepair. A number of attempts at restoration of the Guildhall have taken place over the centuries, including being used as the town's Grammar School at one point and samples of childrens' work can be seen in the Guildhall. The most recent restoration was carried out by Essex County Council in the 1970's and the Guildhall continues to represent the civic life of the town, and is in active daily use. Regular meetings are held there, and it is also used for exhibitions of local crafts and interests at frequently throughout the year. Thaxted Guildhall has limited opening times so check before visiting.

Seen from Town Street, the Parish Church towers behind the Guildhall and is probably the next stop on your exploration.Thaxted Church is one of the most impressive churches in Essex and is often called the “Cathedral of Essex”. The Church stands on a hill and dominates the town, so from whichever direction you approach, it can be seen many miles away. It has been described as the finest parish church in the county. The building began in 1340  and was completed in 1510. The large church is definitely worth a visit. As well as many things of architectural interest, it also has two organs, eight bells hanging in the 15th Century West Tower and lots of stained glass windows. The large bells are housed in the upper part of the tower which is 80 feet high. It is claimed if the wind is in a certain direction, the bells have been heard as far as Great Dunmow, which is 7 miles away. Particularly impressive is the stone spire, claimed to be the only mediaeval stone spire in Essex – it rises to a height of more than 55 metres. It has twice been destroyed by lightning and each time has been built up again to the original design – who said lightning doesn't strike twice?




The other main place of interest in Thaxted is the John Webb Windmill. A short walk through the churchyard, between the Almshouses and along picturesque Mill Row brings you to the Windmill which stands out above the local landscape. It has been fully restored to working order over recent decades after falling into disrepair and it is a well worth a climb up the winding steps to see the workings inside and the view outside.Unfortunately, it only has limited opening hours so check before you visit. Built in 1804, John Webb's Windmill is a tower mill and is the only remaining windmill in Thaxted. This windmill was the largest and most advanced of all the Thaxted mills and it worked for a hundred years. It was built to satisfy a growing demand for flour at a time of agricultural expansion and was constructed from local materials.  John Webb owned the farmland on which the mill was built. The gallery, which can be seen at first floor level surrounded the mill and was used for loading and unloading from carts and wagons. There is a picnic area surrounding the Windmill, along with benches to sit and look at the surrounding countryside.

Once you have visited these main sites, make sure you still wander wander around the centre of the town and see other buildings that have something of interest. For example, Clarance House, opposite the Church is an excellent example of an early eighteenth century Queen Anne building. Then there is Stoney Lane,  part of an ancient highway leading to Saffron Walden and containing a number of timber-framed houses. The houses near the Guildhall have the timber exposed, while on others it is hidden beneath the render which in many cases has “pargetting”, the traditional local decoration. If you are a fan of Gustav Holst then make sure you see the building called “The Manse”, but originally called “The Steps”, where the Holst family lived.

How to get there:  Leave Ampthill on A507 heading east towards the A1. Drive through Baldock and follow the A505 in the direction of Royston. Stay on the A505 and by-pass Royston and after about 5 miles you will need to turn right onto B1383 in the direction of Saffron Walden. Stay on the B1383 until you reach the B184 and then you head south and will shortly arrive in Thaxted. There is free public car park (with toilets) at the bottom of Margaret Street (postcode CM6 2QN). Margaret Street is a small turning on your left with a pub car park on the corner, when you drive into Thaxted from the north on the B184.  The journey from Ampthill takes about an hour and a quarter (46 miles) depending on traffic conditions.

Have you thought of joining us

I know I have posted about this before, but thought I would remind you that we would love to welcome new members to join us.  The stall is run as a co-operative and we take 10% (this may change slightly), the rest is yours to keep.

Check out this blog and facebook page to see what we do, and you can also see that what other markets are producing by see our likes on facebook, it might give you some ideas.





Maybe you have recently retired, you have an excess of produce from your allotment or garden, or a craft worker looking for a new outlet.  Or just enjoy baking, making and growing and want to get involved.


Anyone over the age of 16 can join. We can attend other events, not just the Thursday market, and join with other Country Markets for events.



You can advertise and tell all of your friends, relatives and customers that your produce will be on the market every Thursday, and you might get a loyal customer base.  We try to post on facebook, Twitter and on here to let people know what we are up to as well.















So if you are someone that can:

• Cook - such as cakes, pies, preserves, chutneys, savouries
• Raise plants - from bedding plants to shrubs
• Grow fuit or vegetables - seasonal from your garden or allotment
• Crafts - hand make items like knitting, embroidery, watercolours, as long as they are hand crafted and quality finished, they will be considered
• Or if you just want to come along and help for a couple of hours, to see what we do that would be great too

Here is a little bit about the organisation
The Country Markets is a national organisation originally set up by the WI as a trading 'arm' and is now independent, it is basically a co-operative.  The country markets have their on website here:

Country Markets and they have loads of information on there about becoming a member.  We do have to abide by the national rules, and they interpret the national rules and regulations around food hygiene and labelling, as an example there has recently been a big change over allergens in food and labelling required which we have had to include, so all the information has been passed onto us.

The market is run as a co-operative, here are a few of the main points on how it is run:

• there are no minimum quantities
• you do not have to contribute every week
• a commission is taken on sales, presently 10%, which covers the cost of the stall and insurance etc
• you will be paid once a month for your sales
• packaging is available to buy - bags, card and jar lids
• we give advice on Food Hygiene certification is available for cooks, as well as financial contribution (this can be done on line now)
• and advice on how to package and produce labels
• there is a rota to 'man' the stall and you would normally have one 2 hour shift a month, but the members are flexible and if you cannot help then arrangements can be made
• bear in mind the stall is outdoors and whatever products you wish to sell will need to be displayed on a potentially windy and wet market stall!
• Anyone over 16 can be a member and it costs 5p to join.

Quirky Audley End

There were so many photos of Audley End, I wasn't sure which to share, so I thought an additional post of the few things that just caught my eye, and sum up the progress that they are making each year in Audley End. 

These were all taken in and near the walled kitchen garden, with their magnificent greenhouses:

Banana Tomatoes

Audley End House & Gardens

I have been to Audley End quite a few times and it has gradually changed and improved over the years, if the weather is good, you can spend quite a few relaxing hours there...we took deckchairs and a picnic.

Once you have past the entrance gate you follow the signs to the car park.  Try and park near the duck pond because if you are planning to have a picnic, this is the best area and you can set up close to your car but still enjoy the peaceful setting of the pond. It is also only a short walk from the rear of the house and the parterre, so a good place to start your visit.

It's probably best  to begin your tour by taking the path from the car park to the parterre, where you can wander around for awhile and admire the symmetry of the rear of the house and the colourful gardens. If you walk round the left side of the House, as you look at it, you will pass under the impressive cedar of Lebanon tree, which was planted in the 18th. century. When you reach the front of the house, pause and admire the view across the River Cam and  up to the folly on the hill opposite.

History

Audley End was one of the greatest houses of early 17th-century England. In about 1605–14 Thomas Howard, 1st Earl of Suffolk, took an earlier house created by his grandfather Lord Audley on the site of Walden Abbey, and rebuilt it on the scale of a royal palace. It was alledgedly built to impress King James I, who visited on two separate occasions. It is claimed that the cost of building the house was more than ten times that of the renowned Hatfield House, which was also built around the same time. Over the years, the house was altered substantially and unfortunately made smaller, with its interior being remodelled a few times. Robert Adam transformed this house for Sir John Griffin Griffin in the 1760s, while Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown remodelled the grounds, to create one of England's finest landscape gardens.

Along with many other technological advancements, the House was one of the first country houses in England to have flushing toilets. The first of Joseph Bramah’s new hinged-valve water closets was purchased in 1775, and a further 4 were bought in 1785 at a cost equivalent to the wages of two servants for a whole year! Although none of the Bramah toilets survive, there are two other early loos from the 1870s, one next to the chapel and another in the Coal Gallery.
In more recent times, Audley End was used during the Second World War as a training base for the Polish Special Operations Executive. It was known as Station 43. There’s a memorial urn near the parterre, which serves as a memorial to the many agents, trained at Audley End, who lost their lives trying to free their homeland.

Inside the House
Although it is a relatively short self-guided tour, there are a number of  staff and volunteers to help you admire the interiors of what was once one of the largest and most opulent houses in Jacobean England. You begin in the impressive great hall,  and then visit state apartments, intimate dressing rooms, libraries and 18th century gothic-style chapel. Highlights include the state bed, one of the most important surviving late 18th-century beds in the country, commissioned in anticipation of a royal visit in 1794.  There is a unique natural history collection of stuffed animals and birds. Also a fascinating glimpse into the lives of the family's children who lived in this nursery suite with their governess, nursemaids and tutors. The suite has been restored to how it would have been in the 1830s, and you can see the toys the children would have played with and the nursery furniture they used, as well as a short film.  Another interesting room is the Coal gallery, where you learn about the harsh life of  Victorian servants in the coal gallery.  Bunkers are filled with coal, cupboards stocked with soap and candles, and soundscapes are used to create the hustle and bustle of the servants' daily routine.

The house tour ends with an insight into life in the service quarters, which have been carefully restored to its former heyday you can wander through an interesting world 'below stairs' including a kitchen, scullery, laundry, dairy and larders.

The Gardens
When you wander around the gardens, you are looking at  the work of two of the most famous and influential designers of the 18th century. Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown swept away the remnants of a declining formal garden to create extensive views, a serpentine lake and more natural planting. Towards the end of the 18th century, Sir John Griffin, commissioned Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown to remodel the gardens.  In addition, the kitchen  garden was extended and greenhouses were built to supply the household with fruit, veg, and flowers. The elegant garden buildings, such as the bridge over the River Cam, are the work of Robert Adam. The neoclassical designer who also designed a suite of rooms in the mansion.

The kitchen gardens and greenhouses are lovely and they produce fruit and veg for the restaurant and local businesses, and have some for sale.  They have planted fruit trees that using the methods introduced by Thomas Rivers (a local nurseryman in Sawbridgeworth sadly now closed).

For some visitors, the most striking part of the gardens is when you first drive in and when you look at the house from the front. There’s the block of cloud hedging, which is very impressive and consists of mature yew and box. Don't miss the ha-ha at the back of the house. The reason for doing this rather than using a fence is to preserve the uninterrupted view of the landscape and to stop animals getting into the planted garden areas.

The gardens are really worth the visit, so if it’s a pleasant day, definitely take the time to wander around, so you can enjoy the beautiful flowers, and all the other areas that make up the gardens. Don't miss the bit down by the River Cam, which runs through the grounds. Here you will find ducks, geese and fish and some wonderful neo-classical architectural examples including bridges and a waterfall.
In some ways Audley End is unique in terms of English country houses, because in the 19th. Century the focus moved from beautiful landscaped gardens to agriculture. The gardens became a lot more practical and useful rather than just being something nice to look at. A visit to the walled garden and the greenhouses will really give you an understanding of this development.

The Stable Block
A short walk from the House you'll find the stable block and the walled gardens. The stables don’t look like stables at all – they are very grand buildings. There are currently a couple of horses stabled in the very impressive stable block, originally built  to accommodate a royal entourage, but soon converted to stables.  Be sure to pay a visit to the resident horses in the stables and check the timetable of daily events to see what the horses get up to.  There were also a couple of the estate's old fire engines on display on the other side of the stable yard from the stables.

we sat by this 'pond' and had our picnic lunch

How to get there:  Leave Ampthill on A507 heading east towards the A1. Drive through Baldock and follow the A505 in the direction of Royston. Stay on the A505 by-pass Royston and after about 5 miles you will need to turn right onto B1383 in the direction of Saffron Walden. This is very much a country road (Sat Nav postcode is CB11 4JF) but you will soon see the brown signs to Audley End if you don't have a sat nav. It takes about an hour (39 miles) depending on traffic conditions.

Busy tending the garden, a particularly dry summer.

Recipe - Date Crumblies

My friend Clare gave me this recipe many years ago, and I used to bake them regularly for the stall and I have no idea what to call them. They are a bit like a flapjack - but not as oaty!

I make them in a 11 X 7 tray

Date Crumblies
200g of dates chopped and simmer with water – just keep adding a little water until it is a thick paste if that makes sense
225g Plain flour (wholemeal is good)
100g Rolled Oats
75g Soft Brown Sugar
150g Margarine or butter

Melt margarine (or butter) and sugar add flour and oats.

Put half into the tin and squash it down - I just do it with my fist, I did try it with a wooden mallet thing but it stuck! Spread dates evenly, and then sprinkle remainder of the mixture over the top as a crumble. Squash it a little bit so it sticks when cooked

I think you could use between 150 and 250 g of dates - really depending on taste.  Clare also said you can use apricots.

Bake 200c – 20 mins cut into 16 or thereabaouts I do 5 X 3 portions so 15. It tastes fab - but I must admit doesn't look as attractive as somethings.  If I have time to start baking again, this will be back on :)  In the meantime you can have a go at making it yourself.

Re-use and Re-purpose - pots

We have plants for sale throughout spring to autumn, the pots are sometimes purchased, but more often than not they are re-used.  All the pots are washed and then refilled with new compost and then cuttings, seeds and plug plants.

I will be honest and at the moment we don't need any, but will post on facebook when we have run out.

It got me thinking what else can you do with a plant pot, so here are a few of my favourite ideas from around the internet

perfect for the winter

10 things here....

and on the flip side you don't always need a plant pot to pot a plant!  Loads of ideas out there, I have used colanders, and love to see old boots and kettles...here is a good link:

Make other things into pots.....

Re-use and re-purpose - jars

The Country Markets are 'known' for their preserves, we make jam, pickles and marmalades.  Most of the jars that we use are re-used.  We soak the labels off, and put them in the dishwasher, and then ensure they are fully sterilised before we add our homemade produce.  We top off with brand new lids and they are sealed so they will last a long time until opened.

So you can always pop your jars back to the stall, unfortunately we can't take those jars that have brand names in the glass, any we can't use we drop off at the glass recycling.  And we love it if you have taken the time to remove the labels and given them a wash.

There are lots of ideas on the internet to re-purpose a jar, have you thought about giving it a go?

Here are a few of my favourites:

food in a jar

Tealights

There are loads of ideas out there like this on the internet:

Vases