Coggeshall listening bench

Site of the bench in Coggeshall

Welcome to the information page for the listening bench installed in Coggeshall, Essex.

The bench features clips about some of the main aspects of the village’s rich history, including tambour lace-making and former pubs. You can also hear about the history of the phrase ‘Coggeshall Job’.

Location of the bench in Coggeshall

The bench is sited on Doubleday Corner outside Day Lewis pharmacy, at the crossroads of East Street and Market Hill.

The bench has been put together by a group of volunteers who have an interest in the village’s history, with support from the Coggeshall Parish Council, Coggeshall Museum. Steve Howlett installed the bench, and the East of England Co-operative Society kindly permitted the bench to be installed on their land.

Audio clips on this bench

Introduction to Coggeshall's history (Button A Clip 1)

Michael Horne describes the history of the buildings surrounding the listening bench.

Pilot's memories of time off in Coggeshall (Button A Clip 2)

David Vickery describes how the pilots based at Marks Hall airfield during the Second World War spent their time off in Coggeshall. From a BBC Essex recording made in 1990 (SA 1/631/1).