Set in open countryside and yet only 7 miles away from the city of London, Chigwell Village lies at the centre of a network of narrow lanes offering the perfect rural retreat from the busy capital. The village has at its heart the three architectural jewels of Chigwell School, St Mary’s Church and the King’s Head, making it the archetypal quaint English Village.

Its origins are linked to the Roman settlement of Durolitum, however the name comes from the Anglo Saxon Cingwell, meaning the King’s Well. The Doomsday Book of 1087 records Chigwell as consisting of two estates, one held by Ralph of Livesy and the other, Woolston Hall, held by the King, with the combined estates of Chigwell and Loughton hosting 28 cattle, 48 sheep, 48 pigs and 15 goats.

St Mary’s Church is a delightfully pretty church with Norman origins dating back to the 12th century. Inside the Church stands a life-size brass to the memory of the founder of Chigwell School and Vicar of Chigwell, Archbishop Samuel Harsnett who is buried here alongside his wife. Harsnett lived of course in Harnett’s House, now the School Chaplain’s residence.

The King’s Head was made famous as the Maypole in Dicken’s Barnaby Rudge. The original inn dates from the 1620s and was used for meetings of the Court of Attachments of Waltham Forest. Visitors have included Charles Dickens and Sir Winston Churchill

Epping Forest runs close to Chigwell School and Village and covers 6,000 acres of natural woodland hills, valleys and commons. It abounds with wildlife and flowers. Queen Elizabeth owned two houses within the Forest and the Queen Elizabeth Lodge still stands today.