landmark
Flatford Mill
The mill and surrounding Dedham Vale that inspired John Constable's most famous paintings including The Hay Wain, largely unchanged since the 1820s.
10 km · about 20 min drive
EuropeUnited KingdomEngland
Great Horkesley
England, United Kingdom · Europe
About Great Horkesley
Great Horkesley is worth a stop: 10 minutes from Colchester, 10km from Flatford Mill.
Great Horkesley is in England, United Kingdom, with about 2,500 people. You drive on the left here. The nearest town is Colchester, about 6 km away.
Great Horkesley is a village and civil parish in the City of Colchester district of Essex, England, approximately 3 miles north of Colchester. At the 2021 census the parish had a population of 2,697.
Horkesley is located in what is known as "Horkesley Heath", which is a combination of two villages: Great HorkesleyRead more
and, to the north, Little Horkesley which is an entirely different Parish. Horkesley is a modern name for the original Saxon name of "Horkaslay" which means "farm land for herds" (mainly sheep) though now it has many fields growing a variety of crops from corn to hemp. A few years ago an archaeological dig was made in woods on Coach Road, where a Bronze Age bronze smelting pit was found. Much Of Great Horkesley was a marsh, with very boggy ground, until it was drained by farmers. This is the reason why the main road is called "The Causeway" as it was a firm, and safe route of passage.
Development in the north of Colchester threatens to encroach on Great Horkesley. Housing targets set by the East of England Regional Assembly have led Colchester Borough Council to plan more than 2,200 new homes on the remaining green space between town and village along the A134 by 2021.
The Church of England has 2 churches in the parish.
There is a thriving Residents Association in the parish.
Great Horkesley Cricket Club was reformed in 1975 and played its home matches at The Chantry at the northern end of the village. Its origins can be traced back to at least 1861 when they were bowled out for 6 in the first innings against Layer Breton CC - home games then were played at Horkesley Park. Due to uncertainty over development plans for the area, the club has temporarily moved its games to Mile End Playing Fields just a short distance from the village. In 2014, Great Horkesley Cricket Club and Lexden Cricket Club merged to form a new club called Great Horkesley & Lexden Cricket Club and will have two teams playing in Division Two and Five of the North Essex Cricket League. They will play first team games at Mile End, and second team games at Spring Lane, Lexden.
The village has good bus links into Colchester, with services every 30 minutes from both Arriva Colchester’s route 2 and First Essex’s route 87.
Where to Stay in Great Horkesley
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Great Horkesley?
Within an hour or so of Great Horkesley: Flatford Mill (10 km), Lavenham (20 km), Johnsons Cafe (47 km), Snetterton Circuit (58 km).
Are there any good drives near Great Horkesley?
The nearest famous roads are Crystal Palace Circuit.
Where is Great Horkesley?
Great Horkesley is in England, United Kingdom, about 6 km from Colchester.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 2,476
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Region
- England
- Timezone
- Europe/London
- Coordinates
- 51.9382, 0.8755
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in United Kingdom
112 also works. NHS non-emergency medical advice: 111. National Highways breakdown assistance on motorways: 0300 123 5000.
Full driving guide for United KingdomTags
Worth the detour from Great Horkesley
5 notable places within an hour's drive.
landmark
Lavenham
Exquisitely preserved medieval wool town with over 300 listed buildings, including crooked timber-framed houses and a magnificent church.
20 km · about 25 min drive
cafe
Johnsons Cafe
A well-known biker cafe on the A127 in Essex, serving as a gathering point for London and Essex riders for generations.
47 km · about 55 min drive
racetrack
Snetterton Circuit
A fast and flowing former RAF airfield circuit in Norfolk, popular for British Superbike and BTCC events.
58 km · about 65 min drive
landmark
King's College Chapel, Cambridge
Pinnacle of late Gothic architecture with the world's largest fan vault ceiling and Rubens' masterpiece altarpiece, an icon of Cambridge University.
60 km · about 70 min drive
Driving roads near Great Horkesley
- 60 kmThe Backs, CambridgeThe famous riverside meadows behind the Cambridge colleges, offering iconic views of King's College Chapel, the Bridge of Sighs and punts on the Cam.
Driving in United Kingdom
- Drives on
- the left
- Petrol
- ~€1.73/litre
- Motorway tolls
- None
When to drive here
April to October
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