Marks Tey
This Essex village is a melange of old and new houses that has buildings dating back to the 16th and 17th century. The village was given its name by the Norman inhabitants when they came over from Marck, near Calais. The church is distinctive with its oak-boarded tower but its main treasure is its 15th century font. This is also made of oak and has eight intricately carved panelled sides.
Over the past 2000 years Marks Teys has seen a steady flow of people both entering and leaving the village although very few tended to stay. The Marks family did stay in the village and held the land here by service to the great Mandeville. "Tey" refers to enclosure in the Saxon language. Marks was added to the name to discriminate this area of land from the neighbouring villages of Great Tey and Little Tey.
Around the 13th century the town also acquired the name Tey at Elms due to the huge Elm trees that grew here. The good climate and soil have made gardening popular in Marks Tey. A garden pea called "Kelvedon Wonder" is still requested by amateur gardeners. The Primrose festival is held annually at the Bypass Nurseries. The flowers are in full colour under glass. A great show of the old village life in Marks Tey is exhibited in Chelmsford and Essex museum.Situated here is the village pump, once a social centre as people waited to collect their water for the day. The developments of the A12 threatened its survival thus it now sits safely in the museum.
In November 2010, under the National Stations Improvement Scheme, a £1.2 million project has begun which includes the building of new waiting rooms, a new ticket office, cycle storage, improved disability access including a ramp. It is hoped the project will be finished at the end of Summer 2011.
