Essex Historic and Architectural Properties and Gardens
Castles, Abbeys, Churches, Houses, Estates and Gardens, Industrial Heritage attractions and museums (English Heritage / National Trust / others), many with brief details of disabled access.
Along with the attractions listed on this page you may also find places of interest on the Essex Attractions and Nature pages. We suggest that you also visit the pages for the neighbouring counties to see what else there is in the area.
We support ‘Accessible Countryside for Everyone’ in providing a brief guide as to the access / facilities for the sites listed, where we have them.
Audley End - one of England’s grandest stately homes. Audley End House itself is a magnificent house, built to entertain royalty, and includes a Victorian Service Wing complete with kitchen, laundries and a dairy. restored historic stables recently opened, complete with resident horses and a Victorian groom - English Heritage - Wheelchair loan Mobility Scooter loan Accessible Toilets
www.english-heritage.org.uk/audleyend
Beeleigh Steam Mill - includes a rare Wentworth beam engine, elephant boiler and circular all-iron steam mill dating from 1845 - we have no disabled access info for this site
www.visitparks.co.uk/places/beeleigh-steam-mill
Beth Chatto Garden - landscaped gardens and Nursery, 7 acres, with a variety of plants and conditions - Elmstead Market, Colchester - Disabled access and facilities please see website
www.bethchatto.co.uk
Bourne Mill - Picturesque watermill with working waterwheel A delightful piece of late Elizabethan playfulness. Built for banquets and converted into a mill in the 19th century - National Trust - Colchester - we have no disabled access info for this site
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/bournemill
Braintree Museum - Victorian classroom, local cultural and industrial history. The main galleries examine the development of the area from prehistory to the twenty-first century, focusing upon the textile and manufacturing industries - we have no disabled access info (other than 'Visitors acting as carers for people with disabilities may enter the Museum free of charge')
www.braintreemuseum.co.uk
Bridge Cottage Flatford - restored thatched 16th century cottage, houses John Constable exhibition, near to Flatford Mill - National Trust - Disabled friendly, pushchairs admitted - see website
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/flatford
Bridge End Garden - Restored Victorian garden, a series of seven interlinked gardens, with walled garden and hedge maze - Saffron Walden - we have no disabled access info for this site
www.visitsaffronwalden.gov.uk
Castle House - The Munnings Collection, home, sudios and grounds where Sir Alfred Munnings lived and painted for 40 years - Dedham - Disabled access and facilities but see website
www.siralfredmunnings.co.uk
Chelmsford Cathedral - 15th century building, with perpendicular architecture. Of special interest are “The Tree of Life” painting and other contemporary works of art, tours available - Disabled friendly, see website
www.chelmsfordcathedral.org.uk
Chelmsford Museum - Local social and natural history, Essex Regiment Museum and industrial heritage, park with play area - Disabled access and facilities see website
www.chelmsford.gov.uk/museums
Coggeshall Grange Barn - 13th-century monastic barn, One of Europe's oldest timber-framed buildings, it has a cathedral-like interior and is linked to a local Cistercian abbey - National Trust - Coggeshall, Colchester - Disabled & Pushchair friendly see website
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/coggeshall-grange-barn/
Colchester Castle Museum - 11th century castle, largest Norman fortifications in the UK, under redevelopment, to reopen in 2014 - we have no disabled access info for this site
www.cimuseums.org.uk/castle
Colchester Natural History Museum - A fascinating chance to get closer to nature. Find out about wildlife habitats, biodiversity and climate change - Disabled friendly, baby changing - see website
www.cimuseums.org.uk/...natural-history-museum
Combined Military Services Museum - military artifacts including world-famous spy collection - Maldon - Disabled friendly see access statement on website
www.cmsm.co.uk
Copped Hall - A restored Georgian mansion on a ridge overlooking its own landscaped parkland, take a guided tour to find out about famous visitor such as Henry VIII, Queen Mary and Cornwallis - Epping - we have no disabled access info for this site
www.coppedhalltrust.org.uk
Cressing Temple - Two wooden monastic barns built by monks of the Knights Templar also Tudor walled grden - Disabled friendly, some restrictions, see access statement on website
www.cressingtemple.co.uk
Gardens of Easton Lodge - 23 acre historic restoration garden, includes an Italian Garden and 'Peto@ Pavillion, nature and craft activities - Great Dunmow - we have no disabled access info for this site
www.eastonlodge.co.uk
Gibberd Garden - 20th century garden designed by Sir Frederick Gibberd, terraces, pools, streems, sculptures - Harlow - Disabled friendly, some restrictions, see website
www.thegibberdgarden.co.uk
Great Dunmow Maltings - c1565 restored timber framed displaying the workings of the early malting trade - Great Dunmow - we have no disabled access info for this site
www.greatdunmowmaltings.co.uk
Green Island Gardens - Professionally designed gardens within 19 acres of woodland - Ardleigh - we have no disabled access info for this site
www.greenislandgardens.co.uk
Greensted Church - The oldest wooden church in the world, The 51 timber planks you see here today date from about 1060, although excavations undertaken in the chancel in 1960 revealed the existence of two earlier timber structures dating from the 6th, and 7th centuries - we have no disabled access info for this site
www.greenstedchurch.org.uk
Hadleigh Castle - ruins of a Royal Castle, begun in1215, fortified by Edward III, overlooking the Essex marshes - Englisg Heritage - Hadleigh - we have no disabled access info for this site
www.english-heritage.org.uk/hadleigh
Harwich Redoubt Fort - Circular fort built in1808-10 to defend Harwich, 11 guns, small museum - Harwich also has a Lifeboat Museum, Maritime Museum and Radar Tower - we have no disabled access info for this site
http://www.harwich.net/society.htm
Hedingham Castle - c.1140, Norman Keep, four floors inc Banqueting Hall and Minstrels' Gallery also gardens, lakes and woodland walks - we have no disabled access info for this site -
www.hedinghamcastle.co.uk
Hollytrees Museum - Three centuries of toys, costume and decorative arts, Georgian town house (1718) Parkland, sensory garden - Colchester - Disabled friendly, some restrictions, if using electric scooters or larger motorised wheelchairs you may have difficulty using the lift please see website
www.cimuseums.org.uk
Hyde Hall - RHS Garden - An eclectic range of horticultural styles from traditional to modern - Disabled friendly / facilities please see website
www.rhs.org.uk/hydehall
Hylands House - neo-classical villa set in 500 acres, House, Stables Visitor Centre, landscaped parkland, including formal gardens, woodlands, open spaces and adventure play - Disabled friendly / facilities please see website -
www.chelmsford.gov.uk/hylands
Ingatestone Hall - 16th century mansion built by Sir William Petre whose family continue to reside here, 10 acres of gardens, 8 principal rooms containing paintings, furniture etc. - Ingatestone - Restricted disabled access please see website
www.ingatestonehall.com
Layer Marney Tower - An architectural gem. Italianate terracotta Tudor gatehouse, church, farm animals, outbuildings, play area and gardens - we have no disabled access info for this site
www.layermarneytower.co.uk
Mangapps Railway Museum - working railway museum , loco's, historic buildings, major collection of signalling equipment - we have no disabled access info for this site
www.mangapps.co.uk
Marks Hall Gardens and Arboretum - walled garden and arboretum, visitor centre, a tree collection from all the temperate areas of the world set in more than 200 acres of historic landscape - Coggeshall - Disabled & Pushchair friendly see website -
www.markshall.org.uk
Moot Hall - 15th century, unique brickwork, Council chamber, 19th century Court, Police Station and cells, rooftop panarama - Maldon - Restricted disabled access please see website
www.themoothall.co.uk
Mountfitchet Castle and Toy Museum - open-air museum experience, witness life in a medieval Motte and Bailey castle, Norman village, Fallow deer and other rescued animals that roam freely throughout the 10 acre site, also House on the Hill Toy Museum - we have no disabled access info for this site
www.mountfitchetcastle.com
Museum of Power - Ex-waterworks pumping station housing large steam puping engine, other engines and power related items, picnic area, miniature railway’s through the 7 acres of mature woods and meadows - Maldon - we have no disabled access info for this site
www.museumofpower.org.uk
Myddelton House Gardens - 8 acres, tells the story of E. A. Bowles, gardener, artist, botanist - Waltham Abbey - we have no disabled access info for this site
www.visitleevalley.org.uk
Naze Tower - 86ft navigation tower - eight floors - art gallery, museum, tea room, viewing platform - Walton-on-the-Naze - we have no disabled access info for this site
www.nazetower.co.uk
Paycocke's - Fine late Gothic half-timbered Tudor merchant's house and cottage garden. Built around 1500 for Thomas Paycocke, the house is a grand example of the wealth generated by the cloth trade in the 16th century - National Trust - Coggeshall - Disabled & Pushchair friendly but with restrictions see website
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/paycockes/
Prior's Hall Barn - One of the fines surviving medievil barns in eastern England - English Heritage - Saffron Walden - we have no disabled access info for this site
www.english-heritage.org.uk
Prittwell Priory - tells the story of inhabitance from 13th century monks to a Victorian family - Southend-on-Sea - we have no disabled access info for this site
www.southendmuseums.co.uk
Rayleigh Mount - Norman motte and bailey remains. This area is now an urban wildlife haven for Rayleigh town centre and offers sweeping views across the Crouch Valley - National Trust – Rayleigh - Disabled parking but access restrictions see website
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/rayleigh-mount/
Royal Gunpowder Mills - 170 acre site, walks, land train, history, explosions, experiments, Mad Lab and Rocket Vault - Waltham Abbey - Disabled friendly / facilities, baby changing, please see website -
www.royalgunpowdermills.co.uk
Sir Alfred Munnings Art Museum - Castle House, home and studios, Munnings Collection - Restricted disabled access please see website
www.siralfredmunnings.co.uk
Southchurch Hall - timber-framed medievil moated manor house, room settings - Southend-on-Sea - Disabled access with some restrictions - please see the website
www.southendmuseums.co.uk
Southend Central Museum, Planetarium & Discovery Centre - Displays of archaeology, wildlife and local history. The only planetarium in Essex, providing striking illusion of the night sky. Exciting hands-on Discovery Centre.
www.southendmuseums.co.uk
St Botolph's Priory - remains of Augustinian priorry from about 1100, Norman architecture of flint and reused Roman brick - English Heritge - Colchester - we have no disabled access info for this site
www.english-heritage.org.uk
Tilbury Fort - protected London's seaward approach from the 16th century - English Heritage - Tilbury - Disabled access / facilities - restrictions - please see the website
www.english-heritage.org.uk
Upminster Windmill - Preserved Smock Mills with original wooden machinery - Upminster - we have no disabled access info for this site
www.upminsterwindmill.co.uk
Valentines Mansions and Gardens - 300 year old country house and gardens, Victorian kitchen, Georgian rooms, parkland - Ilford - The mansion has level access throughout, with a lift to all floors, restrictions apply to larger electric wheelchairs
www.valentinesmansion.com
Waltham Abbey Church - founded in the 11th century by King Harold, the majority of the buildiing dates from c1120 - There is a visitor centre in the Crypt and guides are available by prior booking - we have no disabled access info for this site
www.walthamabbeychurch.co.uk
Walton Maritme Museum - former lifeboat station, local history and exhibitions - Walton-on-the-Naze - Disabled access / facilities - see the website
www.fwheritage.co.uk
Warner Textile Archive - Celebration of the fabrics and designs produced by Warner and Sons from the mid-19th centrury - Braintree - we have no disabled access info for this site
www.warnertextilearchive.co.uk
