Great Warley is a village and former parish located less than 2.5 miles south of Brentwood, and less than 6 miles north west of Romford.
According to Google Maps, the drive from Romford town centre to Great Warley should take only 21 minutes.
Until 1539 the two village manors, Warley Magna and Warley Franks, were owned by the Abbess of Barking.
De Rougemont Cricket Ground (Image: Google) The original village was centred round these two manors, which were situated south of the present A127.
It gradually moved to higher ground and was established where it is today, and is the third highest point in Essex, at 368 feet above sea level, according to the website of the village church, St Mary the Virgin.
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Area researchers Area Hive describe Great Warley as “a charming locale that offers a blend of suburban tranquility and proximity to bustling city life”.
Transport and connectivity was deemed a “strong suit” of the village by Area Hive.
If you head in the opposite direction for a similar duration, you’ll end up in inner east London.
Brentwood and Shenfield stations are also just a short drive away, offering regular services to London Liverpool Street.
Area Hive deemed Great Warley as the “ideal location for commuters who prefer a quieter home life but need easy access to the city”.
This reserve spans 25 acres and sits on the site of a house and once famous Edwardian gardens belonging to Ellen Willmott, a horticulturist and recipient of the first Victoria Medal of Honour, according to Essex Wildlife Trust.
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There are some “spectacular flowers” to be enjoyed throughout the year here, especially in the spring.
The path from the car park to the reserve was actually the drive to Ellen Willmott’s house and before that, the main road from Great Warley to Brentwood.
Felix Warley in Headley Common averages a 4.6 Google rating and is one of two restaurants opened by Stephen Li, Catherine Fox and Clifford Fox.
Felix Warley opened in 2018 and replaced the former Headley Spice – the restaurant was gutted, redesigned and modernised and now “offers a perfect setting to enjoy any occasion in sumptuous luxury” according to its website.
Asian restaurant Zenxi in Warley Gap averages a fractionally lower Google rating with 4.5 but still proves popular with one customer recently describing her time here on Google as “one of the best experiences I’ve had in a while”.
The village also features the Grade I listed St Mary the Virgin church in Great Warley Street
According to its website, it is one of only three Art Nouveau style churches in the country and has been said to be the best preserved of those.
Great Warley is also home to De Rougemont Cricket Ground which the church website says has “spectacular views over the Thames to Kent”.
According to Rightmove, house prices in Great Warley have an overall average of £556,211 over the last year.
The majority of properties sold in Great Warley during the last year were flats, selling for an average price of £310,227.
Detached properties sold for an average of £1,258,125 and semi-detached properties fetching £581,500.
