The Essex village among the best to live in that used to hold a strange festival

The river Ter in Terling
-Credit: (Image: Google Maps)


Essex has many weird and wonderful traditions linked to different villages, from the Dunmow Flitch Trials to different markets and community events. One village, however, does not just have a strange tradition linked to its name - it was also named one of the best villages to live in the county!

Nestled between Braintree to the north, Chelmsford to the south-west and Witham to the east, Terling is a cosy community of just under 800 residents. Terling boasts a rich history dating back to Roman times, and a Saxon document from 627 AD reveals that around seven hundred acres of land in the Terling and Fairstead area were occupied.

In more recent years, Terling was named the Essex Village of the Year in 2017 by the Rural Community Council of Essex (RCCE). Terling won the award after coming out on top in the class 3 category, which is based on population.

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The adorable village has a perfect blend of modernity and traditional buildings and land. It has a school, a much loved pub named the Rayleigh Arms, a shop and a cricket club, alongside plenty of green spaces to explore.

Residents in this town live a peaceful and happy existence - and many were also involved in a weird trifle festival, that has been going on since 2002. Terling's first-ever International Trifle Festival, held at All Saints' Church in 2002, was a brilliant success.

It was a way to raise money for the church - with 45 trifles entered that year, all with wacky and unique flavours, and continued every two years at least until 2016. This community led village, with its rich history and fun traditions, is definitely a unique place to live!

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