The gorgeous Essex commuter village that once made 'the most expensive jam in the world'

15th Century Farm buildings at Elsenham Place near Bishop Stortford
-Credit: (Image: Mirrorpix)


Essex is full of villages and towns with a weird and wacky history. This little village does not only have a long and varied story to tell, but is also a place where commuters flock to, complete with plenty of modern amenities.

Elsenham is a village in the northwestern part of the county, just north of Stansted Airport. Its neighbouring settlements include Bishop's Stortford, Saffron Walden and Stansted Mountfitchet.

It is known for many different features, such as being the burial place of a famous Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning horse and and the beautiful Elsenham Hall that stands there. It was also the home of a very famous jam - but this fact has been overshadowed by the famous Tiptree Essex jam.

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Elsenham Jam had a slogan, “the most expensive jam in the world”, and it was produced on the Elsenham Estate owned by Sir Walter Gilbey. Elsenham Jam is no longer produced in Elsenham as the company moved to Wales.

Today, the town is a commuter's paradise, and is known for much more than its jam. Elsenham is fully equipped with a farm, shops, a doctor's surgery and even a train station.

Trains from Elsenham get you to London Liverpool Street in less than an hour, despite being quite north in the county of Essex. Homes here are also reasonably priced, with an overall average price of £455,795 over the last year, according to Rightmove - slightly above the Essex house price average.

The village is also very in tune with its community. A variety of village events are held in Elsenham each year; a village fete; the Flower Show Society's Annual Show, arts and craft fairs, and a firework display in the autumn.

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