So, Where Shall We Go On Our Journey Today?... Thaxted, Essex

As I write this post in my study, the warm creamy light from the desk lamp fills the corner of my work area while outside the heavy clouds have blocked the sun and the rain heavily makes an appearance.  I love this cosy weather, it reminds me of autumn days and evenings where a warm home is a very happy place to be.  After last week's warm bank holiday weekend, I was really pleased to see the weather forecast to say that it was time to take out your umbrellas and boots once again.  Quite happily I was more settled to stay in and carry out a big tidy up of the house and then play around with my blog a little (only to revert it back!).  While looking through my camera card, I had forgotten about the little stop off we had made to a little town called Thaxted while we were returning home from our darling Sweetbriar Cottage trip (in case you missed it the post is here).

Thaxted was a town that myself and hubby used to drive through on the way home to Essex from work in London.  Full of history and beautiful buildings, however this little break before we set off home back to Lincolnshire was very brief and only a few photos were taken while we frequented our favourite fish and chip shop (my, how much I miss Essex chips!!).

So let's just have a little break before the week starts.  Have you got your cup of tea and a Bourbon biscuit? (yes, a treat for me who is dieting and putting on 1lb last week... grrrrr!!).

Isn't this a fantastic building?  This is the Guildhall and built c1400's.  I love the way this beautiful structure has stood proud in the Town Street for about 600 years.  Amazing!  I have put a link here for some facts about this interesting place.  Believe me, if I would have had more time on this day I would have captured more closer shots, but as I said earlier, this was a fleeting visit to replenish some hungry teenage stomachs!  

Looking down the Town Street you can see all the colourful painted buildings.  It is quite idyllic.

Along this street, next to a striking cerise gift shop, there stands a grand house with a comforting lavender blue door.  The colour of the house is plain to those that surround it, but notice the blue plaque by the door?...

The composer Gustav Holst lived in Thaxted from 1917 to 1925 in what was known as as 'The Steps' in his day but now the house is known as 'The Manse' (I have put a link here for more information on this fabulous composer).  However, I was mesmerized by this wonderful door with its brass door knocker and intrigued about what the house would look like inside.

Connected to this house was the colourful Gift shop.  Again, I would have loved to browse around the products inside but a more detailed visit would have to be in order at at later date.  So, to wet your appetite until the next time I visit there, here is a link to their website... Gifted

Across the road from here was this gorgeous shop.  It reminded me very much of my 'Old Curiosity Shop' (I really must get on with this!).  I imagined that this shop would be full to the brim with all sorts of essentials.  I was going to put a link to the shop but, as predicted, it is a 'jack of all trades', with basic links to it being a book shop, newsagents etc etc.  An essential role to this town.

 And so, after our delicious fish and chips and suitably refuelled bellies, we walked back towards the car in this tiny corner of the town.  The typical English countryside town with old beams on show, boot scrapers, door knockers, a church steeple, a coat of arms and yes, the wonderful red telephone box (working!).

No doubt I will be back at some stage and will have more time to have a proper look around, but I hope you have enjoyed this quick stop off from what was a very busy day!  The sun was shining that day... no, still raining outside and I am still cosy!

Wishing all of you a very Happy Mother's Day.  We had ours last month, so I hope you have all been spoiled, or are spoiling those special ladies in your lives.

Take care.

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