The area

The Hundred Parishes covers an area of northwest Essex, northeast Hertfordshire and south Cambridgeshire totalling some 1,100 square kilometres (450 square miles).  It includes parts of the districts of Uttlesford, Braintree, Chelmsford, Epping Forest, East Herts, North Herts and South Cambridgeshire.  It includes all or part of some 100 parishes with a total population of around 135,000.

In 2009, David Heathcote, an architectural historian and author who lives in Saffron Walden, first mooted the idea that the combination of natural beauty and exceptional depth of heritage of this area merited recognition and protection.  His idea was taken up by a small group of local historians, conservationists and CPREssex, who worked with David to identify what was so special and to define a boundary.

A kind of 'brand identity' evolved when seeking to establish a boundary.  The area is distinguished by its attractive settlements within a pleasant and historic landscape; a strong heritage pedigree (a significant number and proportion of listed buildings and ideally mention in the Domesday Book); significant evidence of early farming through ancient field patterns, hedgerows, woodlands and sunken lanes; close proximity of similar settlements, ideally within walking distance; extensive network of good footpaths and bridleways, quiet lanes and roads; network of attractive inns, pubs and accommodation in keeping with the area’s character; capable of absorbing an increase in visitors (public transport and parking, accommodation and food, open churches and museums); minimal detractors (for example overwhelming modern residential or commercial development, major roads, power lines, aircraft noise or road noise).

The boundary has been drawn where these attributes of The Hundred Parishes differ from the surrounding areas – where the ‘brand definition’ no longer fits.  To the north the landscape becomes more open with less settlement, to the west there is less settlement and then larger Hertfordshire towns, to the south greater influence from London’s overspill, and to the east fewer settlements or larger towns.  Within the Maps section on this website, two diagrams illustrate the location of The Hundred Parishes and the approximate boundary.

As presently drafted, there are 99 parishes entirely within the proposed boundary and 5 that are partly within the boundary.  A full analysis can be viewed at Parish-data.

The boundary is not finalised.  It may need to be more precisely drawn if and when The Hundred Parishes is formally recognised within local planning policies.  In the meantime, we are open to suggestions for inclusion or exclusion of areas to ensure that the defined area is consistent with the overall brand identity.