LANGHAM 

Langham Essex Village Sign

2012 ARCHIVE

Winter & Spring

Red House
Down the Essex Way footpath to a waymarker in the morning light
To the border post on the River Stour at Stratford ... only after climbing the steps and walking over the first stream do you leave Essex!
Not publicised, but potentially incredibly inconvenient, is the closure of the footbridge over the River Stour, left, at Low Lift Cottages. This is an important routeway, connecting the ST Edmund Way in Suffolk and the Stour River Path in Essex
View across the flooded wildlife cut next to the Stour
View up the lane from Low Lift Cottages
Two new exercise machines for adults have been installed on the Community Field ... with some of the profits from the annual Bonfire Night run by the Parish council
Laura Smerdon takes an early look at the new additions
A new timber bridge has been installed over the ditch on Footpath 49, connecting Wick Road and Birchfield Road, a sign that County Highways are looking at necessary renovations to the footpath infrastructure in the village. This they do as a rolling programme, so our turn will not come around again for a time!
Footballers enjoying winter sun
The curious road signs on Grove Hill ... large roundels as you leave the 30 mph limit, but only small ones as you enter! You could not make it up!
New Travellers' Site under construction...taken from the footpath running past Langham Lodge
Frozen lake
A little late in the year, compared with the last two years, but an awakening to four or five inches on snow!
A look westwards along Park Lane, past Cherry Tree Cottage and South View
The stile from Park Lane onto Footpath 33
The Airfield Memorial in the snow
Footpath 33 looking back towards the Park Lane Business Park
Wick Road in the snow
Keeper's Cottage on Footpath 30
Footpath 26 running along the border of Hobday's Wood
The lakes below Grove Farm
Hornestreet Trust Reserve
Footpath from the Reserve to Hobday's Woods
Nightingale Farm seen across Black Brook
Moor Road almost snow free
An electricity cut was caused by branches falling onto the overhead lines in Chapel Road; it was sorted in the morning!
A crop of pine logs has been taken from the woods next to Hill Farm. They have been piled up in the farmyard and taken away on lorries. Left behind is a much more attractive landscape, with the thinnings come more light and, hopefully, a more diverse wildlife.
County have been busy on Langham's section of the Essex Way, replacing, with the agreement of the landowner of course, the stiles for modern gates.
The other side of the field has had similar treatment, making life easier for all walkers, but especially we who are arthritic and ageing!
Old Mill Lane
The old pig sheds on Springfield Farm
By Black Brook
Glebe House
View along Hundred Lane
Peaceful view of Moor Road...
...but at my feet was a pothole over 1 metre long; now filled, thankfully!
I have been unable to find out the people behind this ambitious clean-up of the river area at Stratford. If any reader has this information, I would be most grateful.
Laura Smerdon receiving a 'Good Neighbour Award' from Colchester Borough Homes'.
The route map for the next 7 photos
'The Open Road' bookshop, run by old friend Dave Charleston. I hear the shop has since been visited by Langham W.I. walkers , some of whom are also members of the Book Club. http://theopenroadbookshop.wordpress.com/
Vallet floor of the River Box
Valley Farm
The bridge over the River Box
Piglets running free and enjoying themselves at Rams Farm
After climbing the valley sides the walk turns downhill at Londs Lane, meeting the hounds coming up for their morning exercise, right
The mill at Thorington Street, and with the river bank having recently been cleared back
Langham Parish Chairman Mrs Elizabeth Schofield, MBE, planted the Jubilee Tree, an oak, in the Community Playing Field, with members of the Jubilee Committee and Parish Council in attendance
The groundworks team of Bill Durlacher and Bob Schofield prepared the hole for the tree, kindly donated by Colchester Borough Council, and then dug out the holes for the rather smart metal shield to be cemented in place
Observing the operation were, from left to right, Cllr Christopher Garnett, Mrs Laura Smerdon, and Mr Ian Holland
The tree guard is now complete with a metal plate, recording the event as part of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Celebrations. Taken 24th May 2012
and finally, and indication the seasons are, at last, progressing, with a view of blossom at Blacksmith's Corner

Summer

Derryl Thatch
The stile towards the woods south of Black Brook. Sadly, this stile has had its rabbit-proofing destroyed
Woodland bluebells
Cricket-bat willow (the best in the world) growing alongside Black Brook
Hill Farm
The tree-felling has left a new landscape, and a new habitat for wildlife. Over time the tree debris on the ground will be consumed, and the extra light will allow an invasion of vegetation and new species. Close-packed pinewoods are noted for their limited wildlife, so the change will be worth following
The new gate being installed at the playing fields. Construction is of oak, pegged for the most part, and attached to the old steel girders either side. This means the oak is not in the ground, which should extend its life somewhat
Together with a new noticeboard, and the hardcore entrance to the field, as well as the Jubilee Tree, these fine gates pretty much completes the TLC for this part of the Community Field!
The dynamic duo, their work coming to a close, are persuaded to pose for posterity!
A quiet Sunday morning walk from Stratford Bridge (parking by the concrete underpass) along the north bank of the river. The high water indicates the tide is in, so there is no perceptible flow, making it ideal for boating, or canoeing, of which we saw a party
Crossing the sluice where water was leaving the river before dropping a good foot to a drain heading north. The rape was in fine form all the way along the riverbank
The sluice at Dedham
Dedham lock and Lock Cottage
On the way back along the south bank of the river there was a charming avenue of trees, with an abandoned stile marking the line of the path!
The Stour looking serene in front of the mown grass of Frances Lodge
Milsoms Hotel
Le Talbooth Hotel
Le Talbooth from Stratford Bridge
The newly concreted sign, following its snapping off at its rotten foot in high winds
Liz and Tony Ellis replacing the planting at the village sign
A display of wildflowers at the junction of Greyhound Hill and Dedham Road
Lovely light on Old Mill Road, climbing out of the Black Brook valley on its northern side
The outlook over Dedhan Vale
The green at the junction of Old Mill Road and Dedham Road
A shot of the works at Holly Tree Cottage
Langham Chuch in high summer
Church Farm's glorious views
A hare at extreme range!
David Isted cutting the hedge in Grove Hill/Wick Road
Ian Sutherland catching the morning bus
A reflective view of the green and features at the junction of School Road and Wick Road
Potatoes in bloom alongside the A12, just south of the Shell garage on the Dedham side
Tree trimming to clear power cables, at the junction of Park Lane and Wick Road. One willow got a particularly harsh haircut!
The fields alongside the Dedham Road with, left, onions being watered ... the pipe is moving under my feet as it is being unwound by a tractor!
The building project at Holly Tree cottage, the core of which is a listed building
The telephone box in Dedham Road, cared for and decorated with a flower border by Mr Gamble. the Parish council are looking into acquiring the landmark for £1 and keeping it on site
Over the fields towards Martin's Farm on Dedham Road
The nicely reinstated and marked footpath from Park Lane towards School Road, no 46
The airfield memorial in Park Lane
A short tour on a flawless afternoon, starting in chapel Road at 'Fox House' and passing the green at the junction of high Street, Chapel Road and Old Mill Road
'The Forge', at the junction of Rectory Road with Dedham Road, left, with Phil the postman both delivering and collecting from the post-box
The avenue of tree leading from the church to Dedham Road
The sad remains of a listed building
The usual spectacular show of flower planters in Wick Road!

Autumn

The onion harvest is complete off Hundred Lane
Blackberries start to ripen in Langham Lane
Maltings Farmhouse
The sloes were close by!
Dry conditions prevail following the monsoon summer. The green at Park Lane/Moor Road
The bank going up Nightingale Hill
Off Hundred Lane
The village sign on a clear day
Grove Cottage on Grove Hill
The church and Church Farm basking in autumn sunshine
The churchyard illustrates well the heave of its clay soils in the gravestones
Some magnificent foliage along the boundary wall...although seriously infiltrated by ivy
The avenue leading from Dedham Road to Langham Church was resplendent, even in late autumn
The road sign for Perry Lane has gone missing! A replacement has been requested
The top of Old Mill Lane
A footpath cut through the hedge off the Dedham Road
The road towards Docura's Farm
The footbridge at Low Lift has been closed since December 2011, but some enterprising soul has peeled back the steel mesh and the crossing is again being used by walkers
The road towards Low Lift Cottages
Bonfire night is coming, and so are the fungi; all taken at the junction of Park Lane and Moor Road...
Some views of the green at the end of Chapel Road
The village sign
The small plaque commemorating the Coronation in 1953
The green at the junction of high Street and Chapel Road
Flooded roads were the order of the day at the junction of Old Mill Road and Dedham Road...
Find the road sign and all you have left is the steel frame. High Street and Old Mill Road need their sign back!
The road towards Low Lift Cottages, after a crane, brought in to replace the footbridge at the river crossing, slid off into the ditch. Thirty yards of roadway had to be re-surfaced and the ditch re-cut!
The woodland adjoining Old Mill Road, in late autumn hues
The avenue tree from Langham Hall towards Cosgrove Lodge .. and part of the Essex Way
Langham Church from the Essex Way
East Lodge, on Gun Hill, and Langham's most easterly outpost, catching some low sunshine
A view up high Street might still be tranquil...
...but in School Road the sewerage excavations are causing road closures and traffic lights
The community field looking good in the autumnal sunshine with the Jubilee Oak doing well...
Armistice Day Services...
In School Road at 11.45am
... and at the USAAF Monument in Park Lane at 12.15 pm. The Rev Dr Tim Bull took at both services, and these, of course, followed a service at the church at 10.00 am. I was sorry to learn Tim is off to St Albans in a new role, so this will be his last involvement with our Remembrance Services in Langham
Villagers were joined by members of the Boxted Airfield Historical Association for this second service
Christopher Garnett lays a wreath, centre, and, right, other wreath-layers during the service
The telephone box in Dedham Road, being viewed with purchase in mind by the Parish Council
Low Lift, the site of Langham Mill. The very large crane has been moved on site, being brought over the last pair of fields rather than risk an accident again on the narrow lane. Boards protect the land where the crane needed to manoeuvre
The crane is really quite a monster, with an extremely long reach ... more than enough, one would think, to lift the new structure in place. The contractor was on site, and said he was going to bring the bridge components in tomorrow, 14 November. I'll try and be there!
In the early afternoon the bridge had been delivered and was being assembled, as the old bridge, seen to be rotting at both ends and a few other places, had already been lifted out. In the centre the old bridge had already been cut up and was, for the most part, sound. the steel structure can be seen on the right; this will be covered in wooden decking ... easily replaceable items in the future
Once the bridge's two sections had been bolted together, and the side railings of wood attached, it was quick work to attach the strop and start lifting the structure. Trees had been cut back to allow it to swing into position, but it still had to brush past willows on both sides of the river, centre. Almost there, right, as the bridge is in the right place, on the right line, and is seconds away from grounding
The lifting strop is removed, left, and the crane goes around to lift the decking onto the bridge
The first man across the bridge, although a man was put on the Suffolk side to guide the bridge in and secure it on its seating. The old bridge had lasted almost exactly 32 years!
25 November 2012 .. and the new bridge in dappled sunshine on a winter morning
Link to Langham Community Shop website, North EssexLink to Langham Community Centre website, North EssexLangham's monthly Community Coffee Morning in the Community Centre, North EssexLangham Film Nights - Community Cinema in North EssexLangham's annual 10k Race and 2k Fun Run, North Essex
Langham is a village and civil parish in the north east of Essex, England approximately 5 miles north of Colchester - close to junction 28 on the A12.