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City & Village Tours: 0845 812 5000 info@cityandvillagetours.com
Do you think your group members could face the
prospect of a two course carvery lunch with coffee
in the most photographed village in England if we
softened the challenge with an informative and
entertaining exploration of the green heart of Essex
looking at some astonishing human achievements?
That’s the question posed by Blue Badge Guide Jan’s
newest addition to the City & Village Tours portfolio
of days out and it’s a day that’s not just close to her
heart but also close to her home. For Jan and her
family live beneath Essex thatch here in the heart
of Essex. If you have met Jan before you’ll know two
things about her. The first is that at less than five feet
tall she’s the smallest Blue Badge Guide in England
and the second is that with over 30 years experience
she is one of the most knowledgeable and it’s this
knowledge that has gone into creating a day that
flows beautifully from one interesting thing to the
next without ever being overwhelming or over-tiring.
Against a backdrop of beautiful rural Essex scenes,
and tranquil villages this tour highlights the
remarkable achievements of men in days gone by.
The Man Made Wonders of The Heart of Essex
A day of discoveries begins with time to buy
morning coffee and biscuits in a 14
th
century country
pub full of character. The River Colne runs though
the pub garden and our first man made wonder is
immediately apparent in the shape of the strikingly
tall and handsome Chappel railway viaduct that
marches across the fields spanning this steep sided
valley. Built in the 1840s the viaduct has 32 arches,
each with a 30 foot span, and rises to a majestic 75
feet. It is said to be the 2
nd
biggest brick structure in
the country, after Battersea Power Station, using more
than the six million bricks When the foundation stone
was laid in 1847 a time capsule bottle containing a
newly minted sovereign, a half sovereign, shilling,
sixpenny piece and a four-penny piece was placed
underneath the stone. Within hours a very naughty
navvie was caught red-handed trying to buy a pint of
beer with a brand new sovereign in a local pub!
We’re going to make the most of being raised up high
in the coach as we explore the Colne Valley during
the morning passing through quaint villages with
pastel colour thatched cottages and large churches,