On low hills near the picturesque River Crouch, to the north and east of Wickford, lies the charming village of Runwell. Located approximately 12 miles from Chelmsford and a similar distance from Southend-on-Sea, Runwell is steeped in history and natural beauty.
At the village's southwestern end, close to the Wickford boundary, stands the impressive St. Mary's Church. The church's grey stone tower, dating back to the 15th century, dominates the skyline. However, the church's history stretches even further back, with round columns in the arcades harking back to the 12th century, during the time of Thomas Becket. Intricate Tudor roses adorn the timber of the porches, and a mysterious burnt mark on one of the doors is said to be the devil's handprint, left when he was allegedly trapped inside by a corrupt priest named Rainaldus, known for his involvement in the 'black arts.'
According to local legend, Rainaldus met a peculiar fate, disappearing into a hissing pool of noxious black liquid, which then sank beneath the brick floor of the south porch. It left behind a circular stain, reminiscent of a skull, made of flint. This flint, considered to have supernatural ties, was eventually discarded. However, in 1944, a stone matching the legend's description was found in the churchyard. It used to be embedded in the south wall of the church, accompanied by a Latin inscription that translates to 'The wages of sin is death.' Today, this enigmatic flint finds its home in the central museum of Southend.
Within the church, you can find monuments dedicated to the Sulyard family, including brasses commemorating Eustace Sulyard and his wife, with both depicted in ruffs and facing each other across a prayer desk. The Sulyards once resided in what is now Flemings Farm, a building that now stands as the remnants of the north-east wing of a sprawling Tudor mansion.
Located in the northern part of the parish is Poplars Farm, east of which is the source of Runwell's name—the Running Well. This spring has never run dry and can be discovered at the highest point in the parish, where three fields meet.
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Close by are allotments. While visiting the area, I was surprised by its size. It spans longer than I have seen allotments before. Sadly, it is also an area for fly tipping. It is not something that makes it stand out with its beauty. There exists a public footpath leading to South Hanningfield, beginning at Meadow Lane, which offers a pleasant walk through picturesque countryside. Unfortunately, it appears that some landowners have taken measures to obstruct or obscure access to this public footpath, which is a shame.
About Village Sign Caches
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This cache belongs to the Village Sign Series, a series of caches based on ornate signs that depict the heritage, history and culture of the villages that put them up (generally on the village green!).
The signs can be made of different materials from fibreglass to wood, from forged steel to stone. They can depict anything from local industry to historical events. The tradition probably started in Norfolk or Suffolk and has now spread across most of the country so we thought we would base a series on them!
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More information, bookmarks and statistics can be found at the Village Signs Website
If anybody would like to expand the Village Sign Series, please do.
I would ask that you request a number for your cache first at www.villagesignseries.co.uk
so we can keep track of the Village Sign numbers and names to avoid duplication.