Hounslow Green

Settlement in Essex Uttlesford

England

Hounslow Green

Blackchapel, North End (1) This little building - with its priest&#039;s house attached at the west end - stands by itself, well apart from any other habitation. The view here is from the east - my eye being attracted to the jumble of roof heights.

Pevsner (in the Essex volume of &#039;The Buildings of England&#039;) has this to say: &#039;The rare case of a surviving entirely timber-framed ecclesiastical building, and also the rare case of a medieval chapel with attached priest&#039;s house&#039;. - To which I would add that from outside it isn&#039;t obvious that this is a timber building, though the timber frame is clearly visible once you peep through the windows.

Inside there are traces of medieval wall paintings, but outside it is the &#039;Gothick&#039; windows, neat plaster-work and cottagey barge-boards (under the eaves) that catch the eye. The Gothick features date from the Gothic Revival of the late 18th and early 19th centuries - and it seems to me that features of that period set the tone. It takes some effort to imagine the building as it may have looked 500 years ago. I suspect the timber structure was then less well concealed. You have to imagine away the present-day primness and think, say, of Thaxted: <a title="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3546183" href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3546183">Link</a> — Blackchapel, North End (1) Credit: Stefan Czapski

Hounslow Green is a small village located in the county of Essex, England. Situated approximately 20 miles northeast of London, it is nestled within the picturesque Essex countryside. The village is part of the district of Uttlesford and falls under the jurisdiction of the Uttlesford District Council.

With a population of around 500 residents, Hounslow Green has a close-knit and community-oriented atmosphere. The village is known for its charming and idyllic setting, characterized by quaint cottages, rolling green fields, and tree-lined lanes.

The heart of Hounslow Green is its village green, a central gathering place for locals and visitors alike. The green is meticulously maintained and provides a tranquil spot for picnics, leisurely walks, or simply enjoying the peaceful ambiance of the village. Surrounded by a few local shops and amenities, the green serves as a social hub for villagers.

The village also boasts a historic church, St. Mary's, which dates back to the 12th century. This beautiful medieval church is known for its stunning architecture, featuring intricate stained glass windows and a striking tower.

Despite its small size, Hounslow Green benefits from its proximity to larger towns and cities. The village is conveniently located near major transportation routes, allowing for easy access to nearby amenities and services. Additionally, the surrounding countryside offers ample opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking, cycling, and horseback riding.

In summary, Hounslow Green is a charming and peaceful village that offers a serene escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. With its picturesque setting, strong sense of community, and access to nearby amenities, it is an attractive place to live or visit in the Essex countryside.

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Hounslow Green Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 51.838705/0.402313 or Grid Reference TL6518. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Blackchapel, North End (1)

This little building - with its priest's house attached at the west end - stands by itself, well apart from any other habitation. The view here is from the east - my eye being attracted to the jumble of roof heights. Pevsner (in the Essex volume of 'The Buildings of England') has this to say: 'The rare case of a surviving entirely timber-framed ecclesiastical building, and also the rare case of a medieval chapel with attached priest's house'. - To which I would add that from outside it isn't obvious that this is a timber building, though the timber frame is clearly visible once you peep through the windows. Inside there are traces of medieval wall paintings, but outside it is the 'Gothick' windows, neat plaster-work and cottagey barge-boards (under the eaves) that catch the eye. The Gothick features date from the Gothic Revival of the late 18th and early 19th centuries - and it seems to me that features of that period set the tone. It takes some effort to imagine the building as it may have looked 500 years ago. I suspect the timber structure was then less well concealed. You have to imagine away the present-day primness and think, say, of Thaxted: Link

Stefan Czapski

Blackchapel, North End (2)

View from the south-east. The scale is cottagey, the structure timber-framed, and the building stands at a distance from any village or hamlet. The nave and chancel are medieval in origin, whereas the north aisle (to the right in this picture) is said to be a 19th-century addition.

Stefan Czapski

Blackchapel: Gothick window

One of three such windows in the south wall of the nave, extending dormer-fashion above the eaves.

Stefan Czapski

Blackchapel: chapel and priest's house

Of the three 'boxes', the nearest is the chapel's chancel, the longest is the nave, and the furthest is the priest's house. In the Essex volume of 'The Buildings of England', Pevsner has this to say: 'The rare case of a surviving entirely timber-framed ecclesiastical building, and also the rare case of a medieval chapel with attached priest's house'. A structural detail that can be seen in this shot is that while the walls of the priest's house are upright, the chapel is narrower at the eaves than at ground level - the walls lean inwards (in technical terms they are 'battered'). The east wall, too, shows a batter.

Stefan Czapski

Path, Barnston Lays

Garnetts Wood, which includes the eastern woodland called Barnston Lays, is owned by Essex CC and has public access with marked paths.

Robin Webster

Eastern edge of Barnston Lays

Garnetts Wood, which includes the eastern woodland called Barnston Lays, is owned by Essex CC and has public access with marked paths. This field margin is not one of them.

Robin Webster

Ditch east of Barnston Lays

This drains into Barnston Brook, a tributary of the River Chelmer.

Robin Webster

Shooting platform, Barnston Lays

There were certainly a lot of Fallow Deer crashing around in the wood.

Robin Webster

Path, Barnston Lays

In the southern part of the wood, which has a more acidic flora than the rest, although the geological map shows no distinction, with chalky boulder clay supposedly overlying older deposits.

Robin Webster

Path, Barnston Lays

In the southern part of the wood, which has a more acidic flora than the rest, although the geological map shows no distinction, with chalky boulder clay supposedly overlying older deposits.

Robin Webster

St Andrew's, Parish Church Barnston

Trevor Harris

Private track

This is gated off from the public lane and heads towards a pond which might be used for fishing.

Robin Webster

Power lines towards Lawn Hall

The wooden poles of this type of low voltage line often assume quite skew angles, which is very inconvenient when trying to level a photograph!

Robin Webster

Onslow Green

The green is managed as a nature reserve. Onslow Green was known as Hounslow Green not so long ago.

Robin Webster

Barnston Lodge

Clearly not the gatehouse sort of lodge, this Georgian country house is now used as a wedding venue.

Robin Webster

North End

The notice board is headed 'Great Waltham Parish Council'. Great Waltham village is a fair distance away, but it has a large parish, and North End is the north end of the parish.

Robin Webster