| Tiptree | |
|---|---|
 Messing Maypole mill | |
  Tiptree Location withinEssex | |
| Population | 9,628 (Parish, 2021)[1] 9,300 (Built up area, 2021)[2] |
| OS grid reference | TL895165 |
| Civil parish |
|
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | COLCHESTER |
| Postcode district | CO5 |
| Dialling code | 01621 |
| Police | Essex |
| Fire | Essex |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| UK Parliament | |
| 51°49′N0°45′E / 51.81°N 0.75°E /51.81; 0.75 | |
Tiptree is a large village andcivil parish in theCity of Colchester district ofEssex, England. It is situated 10 miles (16 km) south-west ofColchester and around 50 miles (80 km) north-east of London. Surrounding villages includeMessing,Tolleshunt Knights,Tolleshunt Major,Layer Marney,Inworth,Birch,Great Braxted,Great Totham andLittle Totham. At the2021 census the parish had a population of 9,628 and the built up area had a population of 9,300.
The area was recorded in theDomesday Book of 1086 as "woodland for swine" as part of the Great Forest of Essex, until the 1200s whenKing John ordered deforestation. An area of over 1,000 acres of wasteland became known as the land of heath and thief frequented by smugglers, vagabonds and thieves. From records and maps the following were names for the area: Tipentrie, Typpetre, Tippetre, Typeltre, Typetre, Tiptre Heth, Tiptree Comon and heath. The name could mean "Tippa's tree".[3] or the town of the Prior of Tipper, the celtic term for town being try and a Prior of Tiptree Priory or house having been given licence to impark sixty acres of his own soil within the Forest of Essex.
Messing Maypole Mill is a Grade II* listedtower mill located in the village.
Tiptree did not become a parish until 1934. The area which became known as Tiptree Heath was previously part of seven different parishes: Tolleshunt Knights, Inworth, Messing, Great Braxted, Great Wigborough, Tollesbury, and Tolleshunt D'arcy, with sections of the heath known as Whittakers Heath, Sadlers Heath, Messing Heath and Paternoster Heath.
The village has been expanding rapidly for several years with large numbers of new houses and estates being built, though it stills retains the title of being a village. The 'village' status was the subject of a localreferendum in 1999 but residents and secondary school pupils rejected town status. Tiptree is amongst the contenders for the title of 'largest village in England'.
At the 2021 census the population of the parish was 9,628.[1] It had been 9,152 at the2011 census.[4]
Tiptree was the site of the Tiptree sneeze, an event that occurred on 22 February 2014 at a concert by the London Central Fellowship Band at St. Luke's Parish Church where a trombonistsneezed into histrombone while playing. A video of the event was posted to YouTube and wentviral in 2014.[5][6]
Tiptree Heath lies to the south of Tiptree. The 25-hectareheath is the largest surviving fragment of heathland in Essex and is aSite of Special Scientific Interest.[7] Historically the area was a focal point for smugglers, who used the secluded water inlets ofTollesbury,Salcott cum Virley andMersea, and often hid their contraband within the overgrown heathland. Species found on the heath include Cross-leaved Heather (Erica tetralix), Bell Heather (Erica cinerea) and Ling or Common Heather (Calluna). To help maintain the heath,Dexter cattle are grazed there during the summer[8] and a herd of hardyExmoor ponies throughout the year.[9]Tiptree Parish Field is aLocal Nature Reserve.[10][11]
There are three tiers of local government covering Tiptree, atparish,district, andcounty level: Tiptree Parish Council,Colchester City Council andEssex County Council. The parish council is based at 56 Church Road.[12]
For national elections, Tiptree forms part of theWitham constituency.[13]
Tiptree has four primary schools: St Luke's Church of England Primary school, Milldene Primary School, Tiptree Heath Primary School and Baynard's Primary School.Thurstable School provides secondary and sixth form education.
Tiptree is a brand offruit preserves manufactured in the village byWilkin & Sons. The business was founded by the Wilkins family, a local farmers, in 1885.[14]
Within the Church of England, the village is part of the United Benefice ofTolleshunt Knights with Tiptree and Great Braxted.[15]
There are three other churches in the village, Kingsland Church,[16] Tiptree United Reformed Church,[17] and St John Houghton, a Roman Catholic church.[18]
From about 1904 until 1951 the village was served by theKelvedon and Tollesbury Light Railway (locally known as the Crab and Winkle Line). It was an early victim of the mid-20th century cutbacks to theBritish Rail network andTiptree railway station closed in 1951. The nearest operational railway station isKelvedon on the mainNorwich toLondon Liverpool Street line.
Today, the village is bisected by the B1022Colchester toMaldon road, and the B1023 Kelvedon toTollesbury road. Tiptree is also close to the mainA12 trunk road which passes through Essex. Bus services link the village to surrounding towns.
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