THE HISTORY BEHIND THE RED COW

Chrishall’s history reaches back to the Domesday Survey and beyond. Anglo-Saxon and Roman finds around the village prove that this hilltop has been home to families for many centuries. Indeed, there has been a community here for at least 900 years as confirmed in the Domesday Book of 1086.

Chrishall’s location is key to its character with the parish being the highest point in Essex at 500 feet above sea level. Modern roads have avoided this high ground and therefore Chrishall is considered to be off the beaten track.

The Red Cow dates from Plantagenet times and the barn that now adjoins the kitchen, and which today provides wonderful beamed accommodation, is thought to be the oldest building still standing in Chrishall. The Red Cow has evolved from being one of at least three, simple watering holes for thirsty villagers, to having fantastic dining and luxury accommodation. It has hosted celebrations and events for villagers and others throughout the decades and continues to do so today.

Since taking ownership of this wonderful village pub the vision of the owners: Toby & Alexis, have never wavered from their dream of creating a comfortable working restaurant, pub and luxurious accommodation for paying guests. The first phase of development at The Red Cow was a kitchen extension. The project was started in January 2012, and building works were completed on June 2nd 2012. This development has given The Red Cow excellent kitchen facilities that make delivering their delicious, fresh and locally sourced food a breeze. The works were completed with the support of a grant from the European Rural Development Fund administered by Eastern Plateau on behalf of the Local Action Group.

The second phase of development was the creation of 5 beautiful en-suite rooms within the previously dilapidated Grade 2 listed barn and the single-storey old shop building. Toby and Alexis opened the doors to guests on the 28th of January 2019 and welcomed their first guests that night.

The rooms are all named after Chrishall farmers and landowners (Brand, Cranwell, Drage, Drury, Kent). Four of the five still have family members living in the village and use the pub regularly, as their families have for hundreds of years.

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