‘Most beautiful’ village’s fairytale castle seen in a Hollywood film

Tucked away in the picturesque Essex countryside lies a charming village that seems straight out of a fairytale.

Nestled between Colchester and Cambridge, Castle Hedingham, named after its 900 year old castle, is a small village that boasts an array of medieval buildings.

The northern Essex location is home to the remarkable Hedingham Castle, which has previously earned the village the title of one of the UK’s most beautiful by The Telegraph.

Situated just four miles west of Halstead and three miles southeast of Great Yeldham in the Colne Valley, it lies on the ancient road from Colchester, Essex, to Cambridge.

The castle, from which the village derives its name, has been a magnet for filmmakers over the years.

Arguably the best preserved Norman keep in England, the castle was constructed in the year 1100 by the de Veres in the late 11th and early 12th centuries. The Keep, a type of tower within castles, was built later in the 1130s and 1140s.

While Hedingham Castle remains a family residence, the Norman keep and grounds are open to the public from Easter to October.

Educational school visits are conducted throughout the year, and the venue hosts a variety of events, including re-enactment battles and vintage and classic car shows, among others, reports Essex Live.

The castle has also served as the backdrop for numerous films and TV shows, including the 2003 horror film The Reckoning starring Tom Hardy, Brian Cox and Willem Dafoe.

Featuring some of the castle’s magnificent interiors, filming took place in the autumn of 2000.

Its unique blend of Norman Keep and 18th-century Queen Anne Georgian House, coupled with its ancient defensive landscape, stunning gardens and hillside woods, also make it an ideal location for period dramas.

But the castle isn’t the only attraction in the village. Visitors can also explore the surrounding area, including the Colne Valley Railway, which boasts an impressive collection of steam and diesel engines.

The village is also home to St Nicholas Church built in the late 12th century by the de Vere family. Featuring a grand Norman doorway and later Gothic additions, including a 15th-century tower, it remains a key religious and historical landmark in Essex.