Toppesfield is a small village

Village

A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...

, historically associated with arable farming, in north Essex

Essex

Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...

, England

England

England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...

.

Inhabitants

Toppesfield has approximately three-hundred inhabitants. Around one mile south-south east from the village lies the hamlet

Hamlet

The Tragical History of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, or more simply Hamlet, is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1599 and 1601...

 of Gainsford End

Gainsford End

Gainsford End is a hamlet near the village of Toppesfield, in the Braintree district, in the county of Essex, England. Gainsford End has a mill called Gainsford End Mill.- External links :*...

, which has approximately fifty inhabitants and used to boast a countryside museum.

Derivation

The derivation of the name 'Toppesfield' is assumed to be an agglomeration of the phrase 'Top of the Field' meaning it is located on a rise.

Geographic

As stated, Toppesfield sits atop a small and shallow hill. This means that all roads lead downhill from its centre (a covered water pump). This also results in Toppesfield church tower being easily visible from other villages more than 10 miles distant.

Toppesfield is situated in north Essex, which has considerably hillier terrain than most other areas of Essex

Essex

Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...

. It is situated close (8 miles) to the Suffolk

Suffolk

Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...

 borders.

Shop

In recent years Toppesfield has built, stocked and operated its own co-operatively owned general goods store, exclusively manned by volunteers. This is in contrast to many nearby villages, which remain without a shop.

Pub

The single public house

Public house

A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...

 in Toppesfield is the Green Man. This is owned by the Greene King brewery, based in Suffolk.

School

The village operates a single primary school, affiliated with the Church of England

Church of England

The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...

, called St Margarets.

Church

Affiliated with the Church of England

Church of England

The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...

, the church is of traditional design. A small graveyard surrounds the church. The church is administered by the local Reverend who is based in Great Yeldham

Great Yeldham

Great Yeldham is a village in north Essex, England, about from the Suffolk border. Surrounding villages and towns include Little Yeldham, Tilbury Juxta Clare, Toppesfield, Stambourne, Ridgewell, Sible Hedingham, Castle Hedingham, Halstead and Sudbury...

 and currently administers and presides at a number of local churches.

Pump

The pump is the centre part of Toppesfield and is an exciting aspect of the old village. Many events have taken place in and around the pump such as the Golden Jubilee celebrations in June 2002.

Village hall

Attached to the village shop and post office the village hall is a well used section of the village. Playing host to the annual Flower Show and The Millennium Party held in 1999-2000.

Neighbouring villages

Neighbouring Toppesfield are the villages of Great Yeldham

Great Yeldham

Great Yeldham is a village in north Essex, England, about from the Suffolk border. Surrounding villages and towns include Little Yeldham, Tilbury Juxta Clare, Toppesfield, Stambourne, Ridgewell, Sible Hedingham, Castle Hedingham, Halstead and Sudbury...

 and Stambourne

Stambourne

- Etymology :Stambourne derives from an old local dialect term for 'stony brook'.Stambourne's closest neighbouring villages are Ridgewell, Toppesfield, Cornish Hall End and Great Yeldham.- History :...

and the hamlet of Gainsford End.