Area Guide - Maldon & Heybridge.
Living in the Maldon district has so much to offer. This article highlights some of it's best bits.
Maldon & Heybridge offer a coastal location as well as plenty of countryside and historic sites and homes. Find out more with our guide.
The historic town of Maldon nestles by the Blackwater Estuary in Essex. Surrounded by countryside but still well connected to Chelmsford, Braintree and Colchester – and London with mainline stations from Witham and Hatfield Peverel.
The town’s coastal location means it has developed a rich history of trade traces of which can still be seen today. Its centre is still packed with charming historic buildings, some still with their original medieval timber frames intact.
Maldon’s average house price is a little below the Essex average at £372,000 (check the latest data here) although one of Maldon’s prized period homes will set you back considerably more.
Discover what it’s like to live in Essex by reading our guide.
Living in Maldon: what to expect
Maldon’s port may no longer be a hub of trade but it’s still crammed with barges and sailing boats that take visitors on sight-seeing tours.
At the centre of the town are clusters of historical properties and buildings. A walk up the High Street will take you past several buildings with medieval timber frames covered by brick facades. Also along the High Street are the town’s principle shops, which include several popular stores. The town offers a pleasant balance of independent traders and chain stores with Blackwater retail park having been recently opened.
Beyond the town is the Essex countryside and coastline, offering many opportunities for walking, cycling. sailing and exploring.
Maldon offers a real comminity feel from body building gyms to Rugby, sailing, cricket and footbal clubs this town has so much to offer.
The local area boasts a range of primary schools. Maldon Primary School, The Plume School and Wentworth Primary School are just some of the institutions rated as ‘good’ at their last Ofsted inspections.
Where to start your property search?
In town: Character homes are most easily found in the conservation area around the High Street. They include listed townhouses and Victorian cottages. Many of the homes within the town offer excellent proximity to the amenities and to the waterside.
Take a look at Silver Street for early-19th-century properties with exposed timber frames inside, or search Victoria Road for handsome character homes with bay windows, high ceilings and original fireplaces.
Wellington Road is lined with a selection of enviable period properties too. Take a look here for attractive Georgian semis and the occasional large Art Deco home.
The Hythe area is great for homes (many of these are 19th and 20th-century cottages) with coastal views across the Blackwater Estuary.
For more modern homes built in the 1960s and 1970s, try the Poets Estate or parts of Maldon's western development – which are sought-after areas around Maldon’s town centre.
Masefield Road, for instance, has tidy four-bedroom semis with spacious rooms and smart front porches. Similar properties can be found on Coleridge Road, Shakespeare Drive and Milton Road.
Sturdy family homes built between the 1960s and 1980s are available in the Vikings Estate, which sits to the west of Maldon’s centre. Streets such as Viking Road have large five-bedroom detached homes with massive front drives and attached garages.
The South Side is one of the newest areas of the town. The homes here lie to the south of Maldon and range from one-bedroom starter homes to more luxurious executive properties. Search roads such as Crayford Close for a roomy home tucked down a quiet cul-de-sac.
Alongside these older estates are some new developments. The Moorings is a contemporary waterside development featuring four-bedroom terraces. Lucky residents will benefit from enviable views across Fullbridge Quay.
The Lakes Development was constructed by Redrow in Heybridge and is nestled on the banks of the Blackwater and offers a stunning outlook with many of the Modern properties affording waterside views in the form of Lakes, Rivers and Canals.
On the southern outskirts of the town is Lightermans Place, another new estate. It has apartments and two- and three-bedroom cottages as well as four-bedroom family homes.
The newest homes in Maldon & Heybridge are still under construction with homes available as part of the South Maldon and North Heybridge Garden Suburbs.
Out of town: If you want to live a little beyond the bustle of the town, take a look at the village of Heybridge Basin. This 18th-century hamlet has its own pubs and tearooms as well as a comprehensive network of footpaths and bridleways.
Other villages that are popular with residents are Great Totham, Wickham Bishops, Cold Norton, Mundon and Steeple.
Getting around Maldon
By rail: Maldon doesn’t have its own train station, but Hatfield Peverel, Witham and North Fambridge, which all do, are within easy reach.
Both Hatfield Peverel and Witham operate regular services to Ipswich and London Liverpool Street, the latter taking 40 minutes to reach. Trains also run from Witham to Clacton-on-Sea, Colchester and Braintree, whereas North Fambridge has services to Southminster and Wickford.
By car: The A414 is one of the main roads of the area which can be used to get to Danbury and Sandon, where it then connects to the A12. Once on the A12, drivers can head north to Colchester or follow it south west to Brentwood, Romford and Stratford.
By air: Stansted airport is approximately 40-minutes away. Flight operators include budget airlines such as easyJet, Flybe and Ryanair.
Things to do in Maldon
History: Maldon’s long history as a harbour and town can be traced at the Maldon Museum. Its exhibits include displays on its railway station, local businesses and the Promenade Park Swimming Lake (which is now closed for swimmers).
British military history can be uncovered at the Combined Military Services Museum. It has several original artefacts on display, including the only surviving MK2 ‘Cockle’ canoe, which was used in the Cockleshell Heroes raid in 1942.
The Maldon Embroidery was made to celebrate the 1,000th anniversary of the Battle of Maldon. It’s housed at the Maeldune Heritage Centre and is 42 feet long. Scenes illustrate Maldon’s history from the battle in 991AD to its anniversary in 1991.
Standing at the highest point of the High Street is All Saints with St Peter Maldon Church. Its unusual triangular tower is from the mid-13th century but the rest of the church was heavily altered in the 14th, 15th and 17th centuries.
One of the key features is the Washington Window, which was unveiled in 1928 in memory of Lawrence Washington, an ancestor of George Washington, the first President of the United States of America.
Cultural: Thomas Plume’s Library was founded in 1704. It includes Dr Thomas Plume’s collection of 8,100 books and pamphlets, which are still housed on their original shelves. The books, which include titles such as Sir Francis Drake’s The World Encompassed from 1628, can no longer be borrowed but they can be consulted and you won’t need to make an appointment.
The Maldon Festival celebrates the arts every year at various venues across the town with music, theatre, art and literature.
Outdoors: The Hythe port has served Maldon for hundreds of years. It’s no longer a commercial entrance point for barges travelling up the Thames but you can hire a boat for the day to see the sights or do a spot of bird-watching.
Promenade Park with its tree-lined shady avenues and ornamental lake, is a great spot for walking. There’s also a summer splash park, Pirate’s Bay adventure golf course and galleon-shaped activity site for kids.
Cross the causeway at low tide to visit the quiet solitude of Northey Island. It’s the site of the oldest battlefield in Britain, where an army of Danish raiders subdued the Essex army in August 991AD. Today the island is home to thousands of birds.
Shopping: Most of Maldon’s shops are found along the High Street. Stores include M&S Simply Food. You’ll also find pubs, gift shops, hairdressers and newsagents.
More shops can be found at the Bentalls Shopping Centre in nearby Heybridge. The centre has a choice of 14 shops and services, including ASDA and WHSmith.
Locals can also take advantage of a packed calendar of markets. A general market and country market are held every Thursday and there’s an antiques and collectors market once a month.
Food and drink: El Guaca is a small chain of Mexican grill restaurants. It’s popular among locals for its spicy street food and authentic Mexican tacos and burritos. The Sark restuarant has become a real popular venue for the locals. If you are looking for a Cooked Breakfast or a Cream Tea check out Mrs Salisbury's Tea Room
The small café of The Maldon Smokehouse has more of a local vibe. It uses traditional and modern methods of preserving and cooking game, fish and poultry. Choose from hand-carved smoked salmon and prawns, smoked meat or a seafood board.
Hidden Maldon
Maldon is the home of the Maldon Mud Race, a mad, mucky dash across the riverbed to Northey Island. It began in 1973 and now attracts entrants and spectators from all over Europe.
6 reasons to live in Maldon
Rural and coastal town
Lively High Street
Mix of old and new housing
Easy commute to Chelmsford, Colchester and London
Good schools (Primary and Secondary)
Rich history
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