Copford
Encyclopedia
Copford is a village and civil parish
in Essex
, England
3 kilometres (2 mi) west of Colchester
. The hamlet of Copford Green
is found a short distance to the south. The poet Matthew Arnold
noted he was struck by "the deeply rural character of the village and neighbourhood."
held by the Bishop of London's
office. Upon the death of Edmund Bonner
in 1569 (also buried here) the land briefly became property of The Crown
until 1609 when it returned to private ownership once more . The parish church
of St Michael is renowned for its 12th-century Norman
wall paintings that are among the best in England. The church door has been found to have human skin attached, possibly as a gruesome remnant of the ancient punishment
meted out to those who invaded the sanctity of the church. Adjacent to the church is the manorial house of Copford Hall.
.
The closest rail link is the Great Eastern Main Line
, which connects London Liverpool Street to Norwich, and stops at Marks Tey station
.
The village is served by the 70 and 71 bus services at the London Road end, thus giving access to Colchester, Chelmsford & Braintree via public transport.
Copford Green and the neighbouring village of Easthorpe
are served every Wednesday by a community bus for which tickets must be purchased in advance.
The village has a Hall built in the early 1990s, and a School parts of which date back to Victorian times, and the majority of which was rebuilt with the addition of a new School Hall in 2002.
The Parish Council owns two play parks (one behind the Village Hall, the other on Queensbury Avenue), and a superbly well looked-after woods complete with a picnic area and several walks.
If you enjoy rambling, then there is a pleasant circular walk that takes-in two pubs. Park-up at the Swan on London Road (just over the border in Stanway
), then walk back over the river bridge, head up to Hall Lane, and turn left into it. Walk along Hall Lane until you reach the first gate into Pitts Wood (on your right). You can then follow a path that takes you through the woods past the pond and down some steps. At this point, turn left and follow the trail that takes you back to Hall Lane, here, turn right and continue for about 1/2 mile. When you reach the junction with Church Lane, you will notice a gate to your left. This leads to the church which is well worth a visit. After you have visited the church, retrace your steps back to the gate, then cross into Church Lane and follow it to the junction with School Road, turn right and you will find yourself on the village green complete with the Alma public house. After stopping for refreshments, follow School Road back down to London Road, turn right, then walk back down to the Swan.
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
in Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
3 kilometres (2 mi) west of Colchester
Colchester
Colchester is an historic town and the largest settlement within the borough of Colchester in Essex, England.At the time of the census in 2001, it had a population of 104,390. However, the population is rapidly increasing, and has been named as one of Britain's fastest growing towns. As the...
. The hamlet of Copford Green
Copford Green
Copford Green is a hamlet within the parish of Copford in Essex, England. It is near the A12 and A120 roads, and is south west of Colchester....
is found a short distance to the south. The poet Matthew Arnold
Matthew Arnold
Matthew Arnold was a British poet and cultural critic who worked as an inspector of schools. He was the son of Thomas Arnold, the famed headmaster of Rugby School, and brother to both Tom Arnold, literary professor, and William Delafield Arnold, novelist and colonial administrator...
noted he was struck by "the deeply rural character of the village and neighbourhood."
History
Copford was originally a manorManorialism
Manorialism, an essential element of feudal society, was the organizing principle of rural economy that originated in the villa system of the Late Roman Empire, was widely practiced in medieval western and parts of central Europe, and was slowly replaced by the advent of a money-based market...
held by the Bishop of London's
Bishop of London
The Bishop of London is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of London in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers 458 km² of 17 boroughs of Greater London north of the River Thames and a small part of the County of Surrey...
office. Upon the death of Edmund Bonner
Edmund Bonner
Edmund Bonner , Bishop of London, was an English bishop. Initially an instrumental figure in the schism of Henry VIII from Rome, he was antagonized by the Protestant reforms introduced by Somerset and reconciled himself to Roman Catholicism...
in 1569 (also buried here) the land briefly became property of The Crown
The Crown
The Crown is a corporation sole that in the Commonwealth realms and any provincial or state sub-divisions thereof represents the legal embodiment of governance, whether executive, legislative, or judicial...
until 1609 when it returned to private ownership once more . The parish church
Parish church
A parish church , in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches....
of St Michael is renowned for its 12th-century Norman
Norman architecture
About|Romanesque architecture, primarily English|other buildings in Normandy|Architecture of Normandy.File:Durham Cathedral. Nave by James Valentine c.1890.jpg|thumb|200px|The nave of Durham Cathedral demonstrates the characteristic round arched style, though use of shallow pointed arches above the...
wall paintings that are among the best in England. The church door has been found to have human skin attached, possibly as a gruesome remnant of the ancient punishment
Flaying
Flaying is the removal of skin from the body. Generally, an attempt is made to keep the removed portion of skin intact.-Scope:An animal may be flayed in preparation for human consumption, or for its hide or fur; this is more commonly called skinning....
meted out to those who invaded the sanctity of the church. Adjacent to the church is the manorial house of Copford Hall.
Transport
Copford is situated about 1/2 mile off the A12/A120 Junction at Marks TeyMarks Tey
Marks Tey is a large village in Essex, England located six miles west of Colchester.Marks Tey railway station is on the Great Eastern Main Line, and is a junction for the Sudbury Branch Line to Sudbury...
.
The closest rail link is the Great Eastern Main Line
Great Eastern Main Line
The Great Eastern Main Line is a 212 Kilometre major railway line of the British railway system, which connects Liverpool Street in the City of London with destinations in east London and the East of England, including Chelmsford, Colchester, Ipswich, Norwich and several coastal resorts such as...
, which connects London Liverpool Street to Norwich, and stops at Marks Tey station
Marks Tey railway station
Marks Tey is a railway station serving the village of Marks Tey in Essex, England. The station is located on the Great Eastern Main Line and is also a junction for the Sudbury Branch Line.The station is served by National Express East Anglia...
.
The village is served by the 70 and 71 bus services at the London Road end, thus giving access to Colchester, Chelmsford & Braintree via public transport.
Copford Green and the neighbouring village of Easthorpe
Easthorpe, Essex
Easthorpe is a small village in the Colchester District, in the English county of Essex in the East of England. Easthorpe is on an old Roman road. Nearby settlements include the large town of Colchester and the villages of Marks Tey, Copford and Copford Green. Easthorpe also has a place of worship...
are served every Wednesday by a community bus for which tickets must be purchased in advance.
Community
Copford is divided into 3 distinct areas of population, the largest of which is the Queensbury Avenue Estate with some 250 houses. London Road/School Road (down to the Village Hall) has approx. 190 dwellings, and the Copford Green area a further 150.The village has a Hall built in the early 1990s, and a School parts of which date back to Victorian times, and the majority of which was rebuilt with the addition of a new School Hall in 2002.
The Parish Council owns two play parks (one behind the Village Hall, the other on Queensbury Avenue), and a superbly well looked-after woods complete with a picnic area and several walks.
If you enjoy rambling, then there is a pleasant circular walk that takes-in two pubs. Park-up at the Swan on London Road (just over the border in Stanway
Stanway, Essex
Stanway is a village and civil parish in Essex, England located near Colchester. It is now widely referred to as a suburb.Stanway is located approximately three miles west of Colchester town centre on the B1408 , near the junction of the A12 and the A1124 at Eight Ash Green...
), then walk back over the river bridge, head up to Hall Lane, and turn left into it. Walk along Hall Lane until you reach the first gate into Pitts Wood (on your right). You can then follow a path that takes you through the woods past the pond and down some steps. At this point, turn left and follow the trail that takes you back to Hall Lane, here, turn right and continue for about 1/2 mile. When you reach the junction with Church Lane, you will notice a gate to your left. This leads to the church which is well worth a visit. After you have visited the church, retrace your steps back to the gate, then cross into Church Lane and follow it to the junction with School Road, turn right and you will find yourself on the village green complete with the Alma public house. After stopping for refreshments, follow School Road back down to London Road, turn right, then walk back down to the Swan.