Gosfield Neighbourhood Plan

Gosfield Church

The original was built in 1190 and replaced in 1435 with a new church built by Sir Thomas and Lady Rolfe. Elements of this are incorporated in the current church, St Catherine's. The organ was built in 1877 and is still in regular use. It was recorded in 1400 that Gosfield was 'a great town with 240 people' (communicants).

Gosfield in 1890 was a quiet rural village whose inhabitants worked mainly in agriculture and was dominated by the two great estates of Gosfield Hall and Gosfield Place.

Samuel Courtaud who had purchased Gosfield Hall used his great wealth, derived from silk weaving, to provide housing for his workers.These new houses are now known as Park Cottages. He also built the primary school and the coffee and reading rooms. The Sparrow family owners of Gosfield Place also built a new school (now the front part of the Rowson Hall).

WW1 led to a decline in agriculture and many people were forced to look for alternative employment. Many working at Courtaulds or Crittall. The arrival of bus services was another factor.

Electricity arrived in the 1930s but water supply and sewerage were still primitive.

WW2 brought great changes. House building and repairs stopped. Gosfield Hall fell into disrepair. In 1941 the Americans arrived to build Gosfield Aerodrome. Soldiers were sometimes billeted on the village playing field and the young men of the village volunteered to serve their country.

In 1950 the Parish Council bought part of the Gosfield Estate as a playing field for the village. Gosfield Hall was rescued from its poor state and became a nursing home, retirement home and eventually a wedding venue.

In the 1960s the Parish Council was desperate for new housing and as a result council houses were built at the Limes and the Cedars. Derelict cottages were knocked down. Mains drainage and water supply were installed, and most people had electricity.

The 1960s saw major changes with the building of new housing estates, Nuns Meadow, Greenfields, and the School Park Estate (Meadway). These brought people from other parts of the UK and doubled the population of the village.

Today we have a demographic imbalance which the 1960s influx created. Gosfield has the highest percentage of over 60s in the entire Braintree District.

Today Gosfield is a thriving community with 3 schools (2 private), a public house, a social club (the old Courtauld reading rooms), a Community Benefit shop, Family restaurant, Golf Course, Petersfield Shopping village, Business park and Water Ski/Resort venue. There are currently 34 Gosfield based clubs and organisations.

Gosfield is situated 2.8 miles from Halstead and 6 miles from Braintree,

It has a half hourly bus service to and from Braintree and Halstead. The village straddles the A1017 road which connects Braintree and Haverhill. Gosfield is approximately 1 hour 15 mins from London by train from Braintree..