Mistley
Encyclopedia
Mistley is a large village and civil parish
in the Tendring
district of northeast Essex
. It is around 11 miles northeast of Colchester
and is east of, and almost contiguous with, Manningtree
. The parish consists of Mistley and New Mistley, both lying beside the Stour Estuary
, and Mistley Heath a kilometre to the south. It is served by Mistley railway station
on the Mayflower Line
.
In a somewhat contradictory fashion, the map openly marks a Secret Bunker. This was built in 1951 as one of five Cold War
control rooms in Essex. It was open as a museum for a few years but closed in 2002.
Mistley is the village where Mathew Hopkins, the Witchfinder General
, was most active. He stayed in the Thorn Hotel, on Mistley High Street.
The village is home to Mistley Cricket Club, which plays its home games in New Road, next to the church. Both Mistley Football and Rugby clubs play at Furze Hill.
and was known as Alan's Quay.
When the young French aristocrat Francois de La Rochefoucauld
visited Mistley in 1784 he remarked on the trade of the port which he said was ‘created entirely by Mr Rigby’. His tutor and companion, Maximilien de Lazowski, was more precise in his comments, saying that ‘Newcastle ships bring coal which is either distributed by cart into Essex or Suffolk or carried on upriver by barge to Sudbury. The whole neighbourhood brings its corn here to be embarked or stored for the London markets and all the coastal ports. There are six ships at the quay – a fine sight.’,
Now the quay sees around three ships a week arrive and go.
On 17 September 2008, amid chaotic scences of public protest, a 2-metre high, 130-metre long fence was erected across the public quay. It is designed to block access to and from the River Stour and ends 500 years of free access to the water.
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 the Tendring
Tendring
Tendring is a local government district in North East Essex, England. It extends from the River Stour in the north, to the coast and the River Colne in the south, with the coast to the East and the town of Colchester to the west. Its council is based in Clacton-on-Sea. Towns in the district...
district of northeast 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...
. It is around 11 miles northeast 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...
and is east of, and almost contiguous with, Manningtree
Manningtree
Manningtree is a town and civil parish in the Tendring district of Essex, England, which lies on the River Stour. It adjoins built-up areas of Lawford to the west and Mistley to the east and the three parishes together are sometimes referred to as "Manningtree".Manningtree is a claimant for the...
. The parish consists of Mistley and New Mistley, both lying beside the Stour Estuary
River Stour, Suffolk
The River Stour is a river in East Anglia, England. It is 76 km long and forms most of the county boundary between Suffolk to the north, and Essex to the south. It rises in eastern Cambridgeshire, passes to the east of Haverhill, through Cavendish, Sudbury and the Dedham Vale, and joins the...
, and Mistley Heath a kilometre to the south. It is served by Mistley railway station
Mistley railway station
Mistley is a railway station serving the village of Mistley, in Essex, England. The station, and all trains serving it, are operated by National Express East Anglia...
on the Mayflower Line
Mayflower Line
The Mayflower Line is a branch railway line from Manningtree to Harwich in the county of Essex in England. Passenger services are operated by National Express East Anglia...
.
In a somewhat contradictory fashion, the map openly marks a Secret Bunker. This was built in 1951 as one of five Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
control rooms in Essex. It was open as a museum for a few years but closed in 2002.
Mistley is the village where Mathew Hopkins, the Witchfinder General
Witchfinder General
Witch-Finder General is an office claimed by English witchhunter Matthew Hopkins .Witchfinder General may also refer to:* Witchfinder General , a British heavy metal band...
, was most active. He stayed in the Thorn Hotel, on Mistley High Street.
The village is home to Mistley Cricket Club, which plays its home games in New Road, next to the church. Both Mistley Football and Rugby clubs play at Furze Hill.
Mistley Quay
The first quay was built around 1720 and trade went on from that quay up to Sudbury. Around about 1770 the quay was enlarged, presumably by Richard RigbyRichard Rigby
Richard Rigby , was an English civil servant and politician. He served as Secretary of Ireland and Paymaster of the Forces...
and was known as Alan's Quay.
When the young French aristocrat Francois de La Rochefoucauld
François Alexandre Frédéric, duc de la Rochefoucauld-Liancourt
François Alexandre Frédéric, duc de la Rochefoucauld-Liancourt was a French social reformer.-Early life:...
visited Mistley in 1784 he remarked on the trade of the port which he said was ‘created entirely by Mr Rigby’. His tutor and companion, Maximilien de Lazowski, was more precise in his comments, saying that ‘Newcastle ships bring coal which is either distributed by cart into Essex or Suffolk or carried on upriver by barge to Sudbury. The whole neighbourhood brings its corn here to be embarked or stored for the London markets and all the coastal ports. There are six ships at the quay – a fine sight.’,
Now the quay sees around three ships a week arrive and go.
On 17 September 2008, amid chaotic scences of public protest, a 2-metre high, 130-metre long fence was erected across the public quay. It is designed to block access to and from the River Stour and ends 500 years of free access to the water.