Attractions and Places To See around Great Tey - Top 20

Info taken from http://www.layerchurches.org.uk/churches.htm The first record of the church's existence is found in a charter of 1128, although the oldest parts of the present walls were built some time before. At this time the church belonged to the Abbey of St John in Colchester, but within sixty years it had passed to the Priors of St Botolph. It was from these two great religious houses that the priests who ministered to the needs of the parish were drawn for over four hundred years. The written records of the church are few. We know that after the Black Death the monks of St Botolph set to work to rebuild the nave and tower, both of which date from about 1350. A hundred years later they raised the chancel arch and gave the church its oldest bell (1459). Layer de la Haye interiorDuring the 17th and 18th centuries the church suffered from neglect while it was held in plurality with Berechurch and other places. It was not until the middle of the 19th century that steps were taken to repair the fabric of the church and make it fully fit for worship. This was during the incumbency of the first resident vicar. The church was also enlarged by the building of the south aisle because the population had more than doubled since the turn of the century. The registers of the church date only from 1752, fire having destroyed the earlier ones which probably dated from the sixteenth century. The bells are of particular interest and below is a link to a page giving fuller details. Early in 2001 we completed a major restoration project involving the installation of a new bell frame and ringing chamber in the tower, a new bell, and refurbishment of the other bells, the oldest of which dates back to circa 1459.

Home of the well known Tiptree branded jams the company also runs a couple of tearooms across the country. Check https://www.tiptree.com/tea-rooms/locations for opening times and impressions. The nice part is that Tiptree is widely available across Europe, so you can easily refresh your holiday feelings at home later thinking back the tea & scones enjoyed here.

Lovely place for a cuppa, good service & fair price.

Nice little NT house with a small beautiful garden. The café is also recommended.

Coggeshall is a pretty town that boasts almost 200 listed buildings, including many beautiful timber-framed Tudor buildings. There are lots of attractions in and around the town including the magnificent St Peter ad Vincula (known as the 'wool church'), Paycockes House, the Grange Barn, and the remains of the former abbey. There are a couple of decent pubs, plenty of places for food, shops, and more, making it a good choice for a pit-stop.

Paycockes House is a Tudor merchant house that boasts stunning woodcarving, elaborate panelling, and beautiful gardens. The house was built around 1500 for Thomas Paycocke and serves as an example of the wealth generated in East Anglia by the 16th-century cloth trade. Entry costs £8.30 for adults and £4.15 for children. For more information, visit: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/paycockes-house-and-garden.

Built towards the end of the 11th century, Colchester Castle is a Norman castle with a unique keep. The castle witnessed various battles including a three-month siege in 1216. By the 17th century, the castle fell into disrepair and some parts were demolished. The remaining building was used as a prison for some time before being converted in the Colchester Museum in 1860. Today you can visit the museum and its Roman artefacts.

3 jam/chutney sample pots for £1! I went for Gooseberry Chutney amongst others :-)