Dating back to the Saxon age, West Hanningfield is predominantly rural, with two main areas of housing, a few smaller ribbons of development and a scattering of individual houses and cottages dotted along the quiet rural lanes.

A few years back in a fleeting moment of fitness I cycled many of these lovely lanes on a regular basis, inevitably ending up at one of West Hanningfields' two local pubs, the Three Compasses Pub, a delightful, typical country pub dating back to 1425,

The local Primary School - St Peters Church of England Primary School - has a Good OFSTED rating with further Primary education available in Stock.

Senior education is available at Mayflower School in Billericay, approx. 5 miles away, Anglo European at Ingatestone also about 5 miles, and private schooling at St John's Billericay or the further numerous choices of both private and grammar/high school education in Chelmsford (6 miles) and Brentwood (10 miles).

Many people move here to enjoy the country life and the nature that abounds here. The area is surrounded by a mixture of arable farming, pastures and woodland, with the lanes bordered by ancient hedgerows and linked by bridleways and footpaths.

Many of our Vendors report sightings of Muntjac Deer and brown Hares in addition to the usual plethora of wildlife.

So, if you're looking for the country life yet want to be within easy reach of all the amenities, then West Hanningfield is worth a closer look.

Tim Kirkman