Blackmore: The Essex village with most expensive postcode

Blackmore is a small village in the district of Ingatestone, located approximately 12 miles north-east of Romford and according to Google maps, only a 30-minute drive away.

In last year’s House Price Report published by Cardinal Steels and Online Marketing Surgery, the CM4 postcode, which covers Blackmore, had the most expensive average house prices in all of Essex – £834,530.

According to RightMove, this has risen to £842,860 over the last year.

Fingrith Hall Lane (Image: Google) The majority of properties sold in the CM4 area during the last year were detached, selling for an average price of £1,133,987.

Semi-detached properties sold for an average of £611,852, while terraced properties fetched £523,737.

It is thought that the name Blackmore was introduced in the Middle Ages as a reference to ‘Black Marsh’ or ‘Black Swamp’.

It is believed that King Henry VIII had a hideaway house called Little Jericho in Blackmore, where he allegedly chose to hush up the birth of a baby born to his longest-lasting mistress.

Signs in the village green (Image: Google) Legend has it his son Henry Fitzroy was conceived at the house and was the only illegitimate child ever to be acknowledged by the King.

He gave him the title Duke of Richmond and Somerset – but Henry died at the age of 17 from consumption.

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Adjacent to Little Jericho in Blackmore was an Augustine priory that was once a busy place of worship.

It thrived until King Henry forced the dissolution of all monasteries from 1520 onwards.

The village green (Image: Google) Area guide website Area Hive describes Blackmore as a “charming village” offering an “intriguing blend of rural tranquility and reasonable proximity to urban conveniences”.

It says the village is a “paradise” for outdoor enthusiasts and highlights Blackmore Millennium Park as a popular setting for walks and family outings.

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There is also a range of amenities such as a duo of pubs – The Leather Bottle and The Prince Albert, which is currently closed for a refurbishment.

The Leather Bottle (Image: Google) The Leather Bottle averages a 4.6 out of five Google rating and has a walled beer garden, a garden room and family-friendly restaurant and bar.

Its website states: “The pub itself offers a comfortable bar area with an award-winning selection of real ales, ciders and lagers, fine wines from around the world and we are always improving the selection, focussing on our customers desires.”

Blackmore Tea Rooms in the village green, complete with a duck pond, offers hot and cold food as well as tarts and cakes and averages a 4.5 Google rating.

The village is also close to Chelmsford Road, part of the A414, to the A12 and the M11 and M25 motorways, and has rail links from Brentwood, which is four miles away, direct to London.