Clavering | |
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Clavering shown within Essex | |
Population | 1,238 (2011) |
OS grid reference | TL473318 |
District | |
Shire county | |
Region | |
Country | England |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | SAFFRON WALDEN |
Postcode district | CB11 |
Dialling code | 01799 |
Police | Essex |
Fire | Essex |
Ambulance | East of England |
EU Parliament | East of England |
Clavering is a village and also a parish in north-west Essex in England. The name 'Clavering' means 'place where clover grows'.
Clavering is situated 20 miles (32 km) south of Cambridge on the River Stort, close to the border with Hertfordshire. It is one of over 100 villages in the district of Uttlesford. Local towns are Saffron Walden, which is just over six miles north-east of the village, and Bishop's Stortford, eight miles to the south. The closest railway stations are Newport and Audley End. Clavering is located 10 miles from Stansted Airport.
Today Clavering is a large and scattered village community that encompasses seven 'greens' and three 'ends', which are: Hill Green, Stickling Green, Starlings Green, Roast Green, Sheepcote Green, Birds Green, Deers Green, Mill End, Ford End and Further Ford End. It retains many old timber-framed and thatched buildings. The oldest remaining parts of medieval Clavering's village centre are located at Church End and Middle Street, close to the church and the river.
The village has a large playing field, called Jubilee Field, with bowls and tennis facilities and children's play area. Adjoining Simon's Wood provides access to many countryside walks. The area has several accessible fishing lakes, which attract keen anglers. These include Clavering Lakes – a series of five purpose-built lakes created in 1991. Clavering has a primary school and large village shop with post office on Stortford Road, and there is a long-established garden centre/nursery on Hill Green called FW Whyman.
Village clubs and societies include Clavering Players, an amateur drama company that began life in 1945 as Cheerio's Concert Party. Clavering Cricket Club plays on Hill Green and has done so since the turn of the 20th century. The pavilion was built in 1950 and features seating from Lord's, the home of English cricket.
Chef and TV presenter Jamie Oliver comes from and lives in Clavering. His father Trevor runs one of the two village pubs, The Cricketers. The Fox and Hounds is located at the other end of the village opposite the River Stort. Both the Fox and The Cricketers attract people from nearby villages such as Arkesden, Wicken Bonhunt and Langley Upper Green as well as Clavering residents.