Discover Witham: walking routes and history

Discover Witham through two themes: walking routes along the River Brain and historic sites around town. The Witham River Walk runs from Chipping Hill to Whetmead Nature Reserve; the town’s architectural history and local memorials reveal other sides of the area.

Walking routes along the River Brain

The Witham River Walk follows the River Brain through Witham. The route is just under two miles long and follows level footpaths. It runs from Chipping Hill to Whetmead Nature Reserve. This clearly sets out the route’s starting point, destination, length and terrain. There are also walking routes along the banks of the River Brain through natural areas.

Visitors should allow 90 minutes for Whetmead Nature Reserve. This time estimate applies to the reserve, not automatically to the entire River Walk. The two details answer different questions: just under two miles describes the route’s length, while 90 minutes is the suggested time to plan for the nature reserve. If you include both in your stay, you can consider the route length and the time for Whetmead separately.

Architectural history and local landmarks

In Chipping Hill stands the Church of St Nicolas, a largely intact parish church dating from the 14th century. Additions from the 15th and early 16th centuries are also part of its architectural history. The building’s history therefore spans several periods—an interesting aspect for anyone interested in church architecture and its development.

Another historic landmark is on Newland Street: the statue of Dorothy L Sayers stands opposite the house where she lived. Her cat Blitz is also part of the statue. The relationship between the memorial and the house opposite anchors the memory of Sayers in a specific place; the detail of Blitz makes the depiction more distinctive.

Witham Town Hall adds a connection to the town’s history of travel. The timber-framed building dates from the 15th century and was originally an inn for coach travellers called The George. While the information about the church covers several phases of construction, the history of the Town Hall also tells of its original function as an inn.

Town history on the Witham Town Trail

The Witham Town Trail connects individual buildings with an overview of the town’s history. QR codes on various buildings in Witham open pages with a short history of each building and a brief history of the town. This brings two perspectives together: the story of a specific building and the broader context of the town. It complements the individual historic landmarks with a wider view of Witham.

Discover more destinations: Great Easton, Epping, Earls Colne, Bulmer, Weeley, Braintree, Chelmsford, Steeple Bumpstead.

For the full travel overview: Essex.