Falcon Square, Castle Hedingham

Falcon Square (actually more triangular in shape) is at the centre of Castle Hedingham. The name of the area comes from the 16th century Falcon Inn although the name of the inn and area is claimed to have come from the use of the area by the Earl's Falconer. A narrow lane leads from Bayley Street towards the rear of the Falcon Inn and this was supposedly the route the falconer took.

Until the mid 20th century there was a water pump in Falcon Square, this spring/well was probably related to the one mentioned in history as the spring attached to the chapel that stood on the site.

Compare today's view with any of the old pictures below and the most noticeable feature is how empty it once felt, despite being almost entirely made up of commercial properties. Today the square suffers as a choking point, with 5 roads leading into the square and parked cards on all sides it can be quite the afternoon entertainment to watch people try to manoeuvre past one another. At some time in the 1970s/80s the idea was floated to resurface the square as cobblestones and to restrict it as pedestrian access only.

Featured Properties

The Falcon Inn

The Eagle Beersellers

Castle Surgery

Richardson's Cycle Shop

Bennet Smiths