Nounsley is a hamlet

Hamlet (place)

A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...

 in the parish

Parish

A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...

 of the larger 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...

 village

Village

A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...

 of Hatfield Peverel to which it is connected by a hill

Hill

A hill is a landform that extends above the surrounding terrain. Hills often have a distinct summit, although in areas with scarp/dip topography a hill may refer to a particular section of flat terrain without a massive summit A hill is a landform that extends above the surrounding terrain. Hills...

 and footpath

Trail

A trail is a path with a rough beaten or dirt/stone surface used for travel. Trails may be for use only by walkers and in some places are the main access route to remote settlements...

s. In the very hard winter of 1961/62, snow on Nounsley Hill cut the village off to wheeled traffic for 3 days.

There is one public house, The Sportsman's Arms and a ford

Ford (crossing)

A ford is a shallow place with good footing where a river or stream may be crossed by wading or in a vehicle. A ford is mostly a natural phenomenon, in contrast to a low water crossing, which is an artificial bridge that allows crossing a river or stream when water is low.The names of many towns...

 across the River Ter

River Ter

The River Ter is a river in Essex, England that houses various aquatic creatures, such as the marsh heron famous for its large red bill. The river rises in Stebbing Green and flowing via Terling it joins the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation at near Rushes Lock. A small part of it, near Great...

.

Other businesses based in Nounsley include Boon's Calibre Travel, Franklins Fire and Safety.

The hamlet has only 7 roads: Ulting Road, Sportsman Road, Nounsley Road, Manor Road, Priory Farm Road, Priory Close and Peverel Avenue.

Hatfield Peverel Parish Council manage the small playing field and play area in the hamlet. There is a village notice board for events from all of the Parish. There is a telephone and post box in the village.

The number 73 bus (provided by First) passes through the village travelling from Chelmsford to Maldon stopping at the corner of Ulting Road and Nounsley Road.