The National Trust in Essex
This page will link you to articles about our visits over the years to the different properties owned and cared for by the National Trust in Essex.
You can find lots of information about the National Trust here
We hope you enjoy reading about our visits and are inspired to visit these lovely places as well.
The four buildings owned by the National Trust in Essex are Rainham Hall in Rainham in the south of the county, Bourne Mill in Colchester, and Paycockes and Grange Barn in Coggeshall. We’ve visited them all over the years, and have had a great time on each visit. They are all very individual and different from one another, and offer very different experiences for the visitor. They are all very family friendly, with activities to engage and amuse visiting children.
Rainham Hall opened to visitors in late 2015. It’s a very attractive Georgian House very atmospherically decorated, and telling the story of past residents, and it’s role in local life in a village in a very urban part of Essex. The tearoom is in the old stable block
Bourne Mill is an attractive water mill in the heat of suburban Colchester, with a mill pond and grounds teaming with wildlife. There’s lots of outdoor activities for families, and a little tearoom.
Paycockes is a Tudor merchants house with an an Arts and Crafts garden that has been created by the very hard working volunteers at the house. You can explore the rooms of the house and learn about the life of a Tudor merchant. There is a tearoom in the house.
Grange Barn is described as Paycockes sister property in Coggeshall, and is best visited at the same time as the house. It’s a 13th century barn, and is one of the largest timber framed buildings in Europe.
The National Trust also cares for a number of areas of countryside in Essex.