The Village of Henham, Essex

From the Church to School

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2nd Part

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Return Route

The Church

Retrace your steps back through the gate that you first entered.  Turn right and walk down Church Street towards the War Memorial. At the end of Church Street turn right.  The Manse House on the corner of Crow Street is the site of the Independent Church which was severely damaged when a doodle bomb dropped on the village in 1944.  The nearby airport of Stansted was being used by the US Airforce at the time. Children remember US servicemen marching down the street and handing out sweets, very exciting for them as sweets were rationed.
 

The old school is on the opposite side of Crow Street, and is now called OSCA. It's used by the villagers for events including book sales and art exhibitions. The telephone box is a listed building.  

The school was built in 1876 for 138 children and closed in 1975.  Education was not free and there were complaints by the staff that during harvest times children didn't attend school, the register shows absences  "working in the field" or "minding the babies". In 1891 the fees were abolished and the state took over responsibility.  

Passing the village sign on the green as you walk down the side of the old school. On the right hand side there is a house dating to the mid 1600s. Walk  into The Row.