The isolated Essex settlement with only 7 roads that gets cut off from civilisation when it snows

Nounsley
-Credit: (Image: Google Maps)


Nestled in the Essex countryside lays an incredibly beautiful little hamlet - but it gets cut off from civilisation when it snows. You may not have ever heard of Nounsley - its a very pretty little hamlet in the area of Hatfield Peverel, in the Braintree district of Essex.

It is connected to the village of Hatfield Peverel by a hill and some footpaths. With a population of just 681 people, it truly is a hidden gem of an area in Essex.

Home to one pub, the Sportman's Arms, the village is also comprised of a small playing field and play area. Surrounded by rolling hills and stunning countryside, there is only seven roads in the area.

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Ulting Road, Sportsman Road, Nounsley Road, Manor Road, Priory Farm Road, Priory Close and Peverel Avenue are the only roads which connects the hamlet to other areas in the county. However, with the small number of roads, poor weather means that they could be cut off entirely when it snows.

In the winter of 1962 and 1963, the snow on Nounsley Hill cut off the village to wheeled traffic for a whole three days. Although there hasn't been reports of a similar thing happening since, it could happen again if we see torrential snow similar to 60 years ago.

The area isn't just home to pretty scenery either, it was also known as a poultry producing area as well as being the site where Iron Age, Belgic and Roman pottery was found at the site of Nounsley's brickfield, which were then displayed at Colchester Museum. The village has been home to a solids diverter station for the movement of sewage since 1966.