Hempstead in Essex
Resting place of William Harvey and Sir Eliab Harvey and birthplace of Dick Turpin

Enjoying Hempstead

Enjoyable things to do around Hempstead include viewing ancient and historic buildings, walking, riding, fishing, eating out and much more.

Most villages in Uttlesford (north-west Essex) have a number of pretty thatched cottages and many ancient churches with chequered histories. Literature about them is usually available in booklets and leaflets within and St Andrew’s church is no exception. The booklet “A Walk through the Centuries” by Hazel Weedon is a guide to Hempstead’s church.

Nearby the small town of Thaxted is one of the best known places for old buildings with its famous Guildhall standing proudly at the upper end of the main street.

Other notable villages are Elmdon and Chrishall, west of Saffron Walden; Littlebury to the north, Finchingfield to the south-east and Debden to the south. East of Hempstead are the beautiful Suffolk villages of Clare, Cavendish and Long Melford.

The whole area has many small airfields, created and used during WW11. Debden has one of the best known with Carver Barracks now sited on its eastern margin. The Duxford Imperial War museum is a favourite attraction for those interested in planes and history and there are regular air Shows in the summer and on bank Holiday weekends.

For horse riders, there are several local livery yards. A good network of bridleways exist around the area (refer to Explorer maps).