Manningtree

Manningtree. . Have a big day out in the smallest town in the country. Manningtree offers a mix of fascinating history with opportunities for wildlife encounters along the River Stour. A walk can be found at esscrp.org.uk, Manningtree grew up as a market town with the traditional market location still to be seen today at Market Cross. The town's real wealth came from the 15th century link to the local wool and cloth trade and traces of this industry can be found in the weavers' cottages on South Street and Brook Street. Later, many of these older houses were covered over with fine Georgian facades which were added onto 16th century houses as a show of wealth and gentility. One of the town's churches (now demolished) featured The Ascension, a painting commissioned from the famous local artist John Constable in 1821 and it now hangs in Dedham Church., Manningtree and Mistley are close neighbours and on a walk along the Stour eastwards towards Mistley you'll have to dodge the swans that make the riverbanks their home. The swans have been here since the 17th century, at one time feeding off the barley used in the brewing and malting industries of the town. 18th century local Landowner Richard Rigby had grand plans to create a spa resort in Mistley commissioning famous architect Robert Adams to build a saltwater pool. The plans were never completed and all that remains today of Adams' designs are the Mistley Towers-two impressive classical towers that once stood as part of a church and Swan Fountain restored in 2011., Keep walking along this riverside footpath for 2 miles and you will reach the small village of Flatford. Artist John Constable's father owned the watermill here and the hamlet was the inspiration for some of his most famous paintings including The Hay Wain painted in 1821. You can still spot the houses and locations in his paintings such as Willy Lott's House, Flatford Mill and Bridge Cottage. Several of these are now National Trust properties., At the western edge of Manningtree are the Cattawade Marshes. designated as a site of special biological interest. It is a sensitive site with no public access, but there are good views from the public footpath opposite the station which goes along the Stour to the south. From the path you can look over the marsh and spot wetland birds such as oystercatchers, redshanks and many hundreds of wintering birds. The RSPB took over the site in 2005 and have successfully managed the marsh to improve the habitat which has seen an increase of nesting lapwings from only 5 pairs in 2005 to 54 pairs in 2016.