By Ken McDonald, Secretary
At the beginning of September, The Hundred Parishes Society held its twelfth Annual General Meeting.
Each year we have chosen a different venue so that we can introduce members to another location they may not have visited before. Last year, for example, we went to the museum in Saffron Walden where we were given an informative guided tour.
In 2026, it was the turn of Great Waltham, one of our largest parishes and in the far south-east corner of The Hundred Parishes. Before the meeting, I took some of our members on a short walk around the centre of Great Waltham village, pointing out a few of its many ancient buildings.
We passed the fascinating 16th-century private house called Badynghams, with four spectacular original chimney stacks, and then the war memorial where the 36 men from the parish who died in the first world war and nine in WWII are remembered.
We moved on for a brief excursion into the Langleys estate, enjoying a view from the footpath of its magnificent Grade I listed Georgian mansion, built in 1719 by the Tufnell family who still own it today.
We then made our way to the parish’s Norman church, dedicated to St. Mary and St. Lawrence. Church warden David Williams introduced the group to some fascinating features, especially the splendid Everard memorial which is 400 years old. Church historian Peter Wells was unable to join us but several members purchased copies of his excellent book about Great Waltham and its church, published within the last year.
Just a short walk took us back to the village hall for refreshments and the formal part of the AGM where I and our chairman Douglas Kent were re-appointed.
Where do you think we should go next year?
