Discover Hempstead: Architectural History and Circular Walks

Hempstead brings together a rich architectural history and two circular walks that clearly differ in length and route. There are several themes to explore, from a medieval earthwork enclosure and timber framing to the history of St Andrew’s Church. The two routes also offer practical points of reference if you would like to include walks in your days away.

Earthwork Enclosure and Architectural History

The earthwork enclosure at Wincelow Hall lies on a rise, 500 metres north-west of Hempstead Church. It includes an adjoining pond and a square, 94-metre-wide moat aligned north-east to south-west. The site was associated with the family of John Wynselowe in the late 13th century and preserves archaeological evidence about its use and development. It is protected as a Scheduled Monument.

The site’s history extends beyond the surviving structures: Wincelow Hall Manor House was destroyed by fire in the 19th century. Old Hall Cottage, a building dating from the 16th or 17th century, is the only surviving part of the site. Here, the medieval earthwork enclosure and a much later surviving building stand side by side, while the manor house itself no longer exists.

Hempstead Hall has a different architectural history. The timber-framed building dates from around 1580 and has an H-shaped floor plan. It was extensively altered and extended in the 19th century and later. Its original construction date, distinctive floor plan and later modifications make its different building phases an interesting subject for anyone interested in historic houses and their development.

St Andrew’s Church and Local History

St Andrew’s Church dates from the 14th century. Its tower was rebuilt in 1933 after the previous tower collapsed about 50 years earlier. Another story associated with the church concerns the physician William Harvey: in 1883, his body was transferred by the Royal College of Surgeons from a damp crypt to a marble sarcophagus at St Andrew’s Church. The details of the building’s history and the transfer offer different ways into local history, from architecture to the history of medicine.

A former inn also features in Hempstead’s history. In 1705 it was called The Bell; Dick Turpin was born there, and his father ran the inn. Later names for the same inn were Rose and Crown and Bluebell Inn. The inn closed in 2020. This sequence shows how the use and name of a local business can change while its historical connection to the area remains.

Comparing Two Circular Walks

The Hundred Parishes Quiet Lane Walk 302 is a 3.4-mile (5 km) circular walk that lies entirely within the parish of Hempstead. The route description was last updated on 4 April 2026. The Hundred Parishes Circular Walk 135 is longer, at 4.3 miles (7 km), and passes through the countryside and village of Hempstead. Its route includes rural paths and quiet roads; the description was last updated on 22 May 2025.

Based on the stated distances in kilometres, Walk 302 is the shorter circuit; Walk 135 covers two more kilometres and passes through both countryside and village. The walks can therefore be distinguished by both their length and the surroundings described. If you would like to include walks in your stay, these distances provide a practical guide for planning your day. Hempstead’s architectural and local history offers a different focus: for example, you could explore the earthwork enclosure, the development of Hempstead Hall or the stories surrounding St Andrew’s Church.

When choosing a holiday rental, it may help to first consider which of these interests you would like to shape your stay: the circular walks, the historic buildings or both. The stated distances make the difference between the walks clear, while the local stories offer a variety of topics to discover and discuss together.

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For the wider travel guide: Essex.