Toppesfield facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Toppesfield |
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 Toppesfield from Stambourne Road |
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 Toppesfield
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| Population | 507 (2011) |
| OS grid reference | TL739372 |
| District |
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| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Halstead |
| Postcode district | CO9 |
| Dialling code | 01787 |
| Police | Essex |
| Fire | Essex |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| EU Parliament | East of England |
| UK Parliament |
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Toppesfield is a small village in Essex, England. It is part of the Braintree district. The village is about 19 miles (31 km) north of Chelmsford, which is the main town in Essex. The village of Great Yeldham is just 1.5 miles (2.4 km) to the west. Toppesfield also includes two smaller areas called Gainsford End and Grass Green.
Village History
The name 'Toppesfield' means 'open land on the hill top'. It might come from the words 'Top of the Field'.
Village Geography
Toppesfield is located in North Essex. This area has higher ground than most of Essex. The village is about 8 miles (13 km) from the Suffolk border. It sits on a small, gentle hill, about 75 metres (246 feet) above sea level.
Community Life in Toppesfield
Toppesfield is a rural community. It has always been known for its farming. The village has about 500 people living there. The small area of Gainsford End is about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) southwest of the village. It has about fifty residents. Gainsford End is home to the historic Gainsford End Mill.
Community Shop and Village Hall
In 2002, the last private shop in Toppesfield closed. After this, the community built a new shop. It is run by volunteers and owned by the community. This shop is connected to the village hall. The village hall itself was built in 1961. People in the village raised money for many years to build it. They also received help from Lord Sainsbury and Sir Leslie and Lady Plummer. These people all lived in Toppesfield.
The Green Man Pub
The Green Man is the only pub in Toppesfield. It is owned by Toppesfield Community Pub Limited (TCP). This group is a Community Benefit Society. It was started in 2012. TCP took over the Green Man in December 2012. Before that, it was owned by Admiral Taverns, a large pub company. Admiral Taverns was having money problems. TCP is owned by more than 150 people. These shareholders raised over £150,000 to help buy the pub.
St Margaret's Church and School
St Margaret’s Church, Toppesfield is a Church of England parish church. It is part of the Upper Colne Valley Parishes. The church has a set of 8 bells that can be rung.
The village also has a primary school. It is called St Margarets CofE Voluntary Controlled School. The school has been open since 1854. In late 2022, OFSTED inspected the school. They rated it as 'Good'.
