Manningtree Life Jan '24 Layout v6 - Flipbook - Page 10
MANNINGTREE LIFE
An idyllic
countryside location
While Manningtree is certainly the hub of its local area – with the best shops, pubs,
restaurants and attractions – the villages and the wider countryside surrounding it are
certainly worth a visit.
Lawford is to the west of Manningtree and bordered by
the river Stour, is steeped in history with King Harold
owning Lawford Hall, before the Conquest. The village
has two primary schools and is where Manningtree
High School is based, with a well equipped Sports Hall.
A 14-acre recreation ground in School Lane is the base
for football clubs, and there is a park with children's play
equipment and two hard tennis courts. There are also
play areas at Waldegrave Way and Riverview.
Mistley is so linked with Manningtree you’d be forgiven
for thinking they were the same place. Situated to the
East of Manningtree it is most famous for the Mistley
8
Towers. The twin towers were originally designed to be a
part of a grand church by wealthy local politician Richard
Rigby, who hoped to turn Mistley into a spa town and
wished to see a church from the windows of his mansion.
The nave of the church was demolished around 1870 but
the towers remain and are an impressive sight on the
road from Mistley into Manningtree.
Set amongst some of the most wildlife rich landscapes
in the UK, with a sprawling coastline and mudflats,
those who live here can enjoy walks and cycle routes
along the Stour Estuary or in the Stour Estuary Nature
Reserve, with its miles of ancient woodland trails.
LOCAL WALK ALONG THE STOUR
