Saturday 30 July 2011

Pleshey, Essex. It was a pleasure to be at Pleshey yesterday afternoon

Pleshey is a peaceful place.  It has a retreat centre, a lovely church, an ancient motte and bailey castle, two pubs and many charming cottages. Sadly there is no longer a cricket team; the pitch is currently in quite poor condition, particularly the wicket square, and the last match was played about two years ago.

I spoke to a retired gentleman, born and bred in Pleshey, who was working on his five allotments; it is good to hear an authentic Essex accent.  The ugly estuary English accent seems to be spreading throughout Essex. 


The castle moat is now a pleasant water feature







The Diocesan House of Retreat, Pleshey


 Holy Trinity Church, Pleshey


The Parish Church is, to my way of thinking, rather Dibleyesque.  I can see many parallels with the Vicar of Dibley. Visit the church and look into the way things are run.  Reverend Geraldine would be happy here.

                                   Pleshey Cricket Club pavilion and outfield


The ramshackle pavilion has seen better days.  The square is in need of tender loving care and some matches played on it.  There are not enough committed cricketers and locals to tend and look after the ground.








Cottages are lovingly looked after. The thatch on this cottage is a work of art.  Long may this skilful enterprise of quality thatching continue.


The publican is evidently trying to make a go of the Leather Bottle in lean times.  Many pubs are closing and are struggling to survive under harsh economic conditions.


The White Horse has been a popular restaurant and destination for the discerning  diner for many years. 

The old Pleshey village pump has been charmingly preserved for posterity.


The former Pleshey village school buildings are now a private residence.


The old Pleshey blacksmith's barn will soon disappear.  The plot is destined for a new development.



The village allotments are wonderfully well tended, but will future generations find the time and the energy to maintain them to their present glory?


The Old Mission Hall, Pleshey

In the middle of the last century children's voices could be heard singing Christian choruses at this mission hall; it is now a private residence.  A certain way of life has disappeared from the village in these increasingly secular times.






Revision and additional information posted on 8 August 2011.

2 comments:

naturismuk said...

It's now 2014 and I can report that now the cricket pitch has totally gone the pavilion is hidden in the bushes and the pitch itself has been fenced off and is home to three horses

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