Messing-cum-Inworth

All Saints Church, Inworth

Messing-cum-Inworth is a civil parish in north-east Essex, 8.5 miles west of Colchester, and 15 miles east of Chelmsford. The parish consists of two small villages; Messing (population 250), and Inworth (population 100).

Geography

The parish of Messing-cum-Inworth is bounded by the parishes of Kelvedon to the west, Feering to the north, Birch to the east and Tiptree to the south. The highest point in the parish is no more than 69 metres (226 ft) above sea level dropping to 32 metres (105 ft) in the vicinity of Domsey Brook. It is situated in the Birch & Winstree ward of Colchester Borough Council. Amenities in Messing include a church, a pub/restaurant, and a large garden centre, while Inworth hosts most of the small businesses in the parish.^[1]

History

The history of Messing has been published twice, in Roger Carter’s Simply Messing and William Goldsborough Whittam’s The Story of Messing. Known historically as Maesa's settlement, and Mething, the village is close to a site called ‘The Rampart’, which according to legend is where Boudica, Queen of the Iceni was defeated by the Romans.^[2]

Inworth village dates back to medieval times, and has been known in the past as Ineworth, Inneworth, Inneworde and Inford. The famous grave of local celebrity 'Spotty', a faithful golden retriever, can be found by the village post office, attracting many visitors. His ghost is said to haunt the meat shop on the corner^[3]

Notable residents

• John Haynes- Colonial Governor
• Reynald Bush - Ancestor of George H. W. Bush and George W.Bush.^[4]

References

1. ^ Messing cum Inworth Parish Council: Parish Plan
2. ^ Messing-cum-Inworth Community Website: Messing Village
3. ^ Messing-cum-Inworth Community Website: Inworth
4. ^ BBC News Website: [1]

External links

• Media related to Messing-cum-Inworth at Wikimedia Commons

Coordinates: 51°49′55″N 0°44′24″E / 51.832°N 0.740°E / 51.832; 0.740