Felsted
| Felsted | |
| Essex | |
|---|---|
 Felsted | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | TL677203 |
| Location: | 51°51’22"N, -0°26’10"E |
| Data | |
| Population: | 3,051 (2011) |
| Post town: | Dunmow |
| Postcode: | CM6 |
| Dialling code: | 01371 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Uttlesford |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Saffron Walden |
Felsted (sometimes spelt "Felstead") is a village that lies in the north-west of Essex, in the rural heartland though near to the growing acres of Braintree, to Great Dunmow and to Chelmsford.
The village stands on the north bank of the River Chelmer as it leaves Great Dunmow and turns south towards Chelmsford and the A120 road passes to the north. South of the village is a separate hamlet named Causeway End.
Felsted is linked to Little Dunmow by the Flitch Way Country Park, a former railway line.
The village has a village store, a deli, an antiques shop, a ladies' clothes shop, an estate agent, two pubs (the Chequers and the Swan), two restaurants (Razza and the Boote House) as well as bed and breakfast accommodation.
The valley between Little Dunmow and Felsted was the location for the only sugar beet factory in Essex, which has been redeveloped for housing in a community called Flitch Green, named after the famous Dunmow Flitch Trials.
History
Felsted is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Felesteda, Felstede and Phensteda in the Hundred of Hinckford. Before the Conquest it was held by Earl Ælfgar as five hides, but by 1086, Felstead was part of the land of La Trinité of Caen, who held four hides. The fifth hide was no longer in this manor as King William gave three virgates to 'Rogerus Deus Salvæt Dominas' ("Roger God-save-the-ladies"!) and the fourth to Geoffrey fitzSalomon.
The village has links to Lord Riche who founded the public school, the Felsted School, in 1564, and is buried in Holy Cross Church. Lord Riche was an important benefactor of the Felsted Church. The school also has links to Oliver Cromwell, who sent his sons there.
Outside links
 |
("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Felsted) |
References
- John Drury, History of Felsted (privately published, 1999) ISBN 0-9536154-0-5
- Smith, Robert (January 2009). "Interaction and innovation". Essex Life (Archant): 71. http://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/Launch.aspx?referral=other&pnum=&refresh=x19B0Lp8w05Q&EID=0953f982-a234-440a-b9f2-0592f06b450c&skip=. Retrieved 17 January 2009. (Registration required.)
- Dr Ann Williams, Professor G H Martin, ed (2003). Domesday Book, A Complete Translation. London: Penguin Classics. pp. 984, 1043. ISBN 0-14-143994-7.