The unique Essex village that sits on top of a hill where the community owns basically everything

Essex isn't short of amazing places. From the quintessentially British villages that looks like they belong on a postcard to the serene and quiet villages where the best bit about it is their people.

We're so lucky to have so many amazing areas. But one Essex village which sits on top of a hill is incredibly unique where the villagers own basically everything in it.

Toppesfield is a small village in the Braintree district of Essex. The parish contains the hamlets of Gainsford End and Grass Green.

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The name of the village is believed to be 'open land on the hill top' - which is where the village sits. Close to the border with Suffolk, the village sits on a small and shallow hill, about 75 metres above sea level.

Historically used as arable farmland, the village is home to around 500 people. The village is so small that its last privately owned shop shut down in 2002, leading to a community owner and volunteer run shop being built.

The shop is attached to the village hall, which was built and opened in 1961, following several years of fundraising by parishioners and financial support from Lord Sainsbury and Sir Leslie and Lady Plummer, who all lived in the village. Toppesford also boasts just one pub named the Green Man.

The pub is owned by Toppesfield Community Pub Limited (TCP), a Community Benefit Society which was established in 2012. TCP gained control of the Green Man in December 2012 from Admiral Taverns, a national pub chain which had financial problems. TCP is owned by more than 150 shareholders who raised share capital exceeding £150,000 to help finance the purchase. The villagers even own the post office and its own microbrewery.

Despite its small size, the village is home to wonderful people who want to keep their local amenities open. They own practically everything in the village, meaning they do not have to trek outside their village just to grab a pint of milk.