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The vegetable garden in June at Paycocke's House and Garden, Essex
The vegetable garden in June at Paycocke's House | © National Trust Images/John Miller
Essex, Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire

Paycocke's Tudor Coggeshall walk

Discover what Thomas Paycocke would have smelled, seen and heard in 1512 on this circular walk through Tudor Coggeshall. This walk is ideal for families and along the way you'll visit medieval Grange Barn, The Chapel of St Nicholas and St Mary's Abbey.

Total steps: 10

Total steps: 10

Start point

Paycocke's House, grid ref: TL848225

Step 1

Start in Thomas Paycocke's house. Step out into West Street and you'll get an understanding of the Paycocke family's place in society. The house frontage extends beyond other buildings in the street, emphasising their importance and status within the local community.

Step 2

Walk to the left of Paycocke's House to a private house that was previously The Fleece Inn. In Tudor times this house was known as Drapers, and its residents shared the Paycocke family name. On the other side of the road, open fields would have stretched as far as the eye can see.

Step 3

With Paycocke's behind you, turn right and walk towards the end of West Street. Turn right at the end of West Street, and walk down The Gravel. Turn right along Bridge Street and to approach the River Blackwater.

Step 4

Walk up the steady slope of Grange Hill towards Grange Barn.

Step 5

Cross Grange Hill road and walk along Abbey Lane for approximately 450yd (410m), to the small gatehouse chapel on the left, just as villagers would have done in Tudor times on their way to attend mass.

Step 6

Continue along the road until you reach the abbey complex, which was founded by King Stephen in 1140.

Step 7

Cross the River Blackwater and take the path on your left, passing through the corn fields. Further along, ignore the track on the right and continue along the path ahead, which bears left slightly, until you reach East Street, which was known as Gallows Street in Paycocke's day. Turn right and then left along St Peters Road, called Dead Lane in 1512.

Step 8

Follow the road around for approximately 440yd (400m), then turn left into Church Green.

Step 9

After you leave the church, turn right and head to the Woolpack, formerly the home of a fellow merchant.

Step 10

From the Woolpack, continue along the road until you reach Market Hill, before following the road around and back to Paycocke's House.

End point

Paycocke's House, grid ref: TL848225

Trail map

Map for the Paycocke's Tudor Coggeshall walk
Map for the Paycocke's Tudor Coggeshall walk | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey

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Grange Barn, Essex
Trail
Trail

Grange Barn and Paycocke's House circular walk 

Enjoy a 3-mile circular walk into the Essex countryside from Grange Barn along the River Blackwater and by Paycocke's House.

Activities
Walking
DistanceMiles: 3 (km: 4.8)

Get in touch

25 West Street, Coggeshall, Colchester, Essex, CO6 1NS

Our partners

Cotswold Outdoor

We’ve partnered with Cotswold Outdoor to help everyone make the most of their time outdoors in the places we care for.

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