page_title: Great Bentley
section_title: Village green
hierarchical_section_title: Great Bentley / Village green
caption_attribution_description: English: Great Bentley Village Sign other side
context_page_description: Great Bentley is a village, civil parish and electoral ward in the Tendring district of north Essex, England, located seven miles east of Colchester. It is home to the second largest village green in the country, at a size of 43 acres, behind Duncan Down and has won 'Essex Village of the Year' and 'Daily Telegraph/Calor Gas Village of the Year' awards. Great Bentley railway station provides the village with frequent rail services along the Sunshine Coast Line to London Liverpool Street, Clacton-on-Sea, Colchester and Walton-on-the-Naze.
  Great Bentley is scattered round an extensive level or common, of 43 acres, on the eastern side of the vale of a rivulet, seven miles east-south-east of Colchester. The parish contains 2500 inhabitants, and 3,188 acres of fertile land, including hills and valleys, and extending southward to the Flag Creek, a tidal creek which connects with the Colne, near Brightlingsea. The population of the civil parish reduced to 2,253 at the census 2011.
  Great Bentley is the second largest village in the Tendring district, with a population of 2,381. The village has road, rail and bus links.
context_section_description: The village green covers some 43 acres (170,000 m²) and is reputed to be one of the largest in England. The village green was the site of a steam mill which was built in 1886. The mill chimney was demolished in 1925, and what remains of the structure today has been converted into apartments. Adjacent to the mill was a large pond which no longer exists, and a handful of willow trees mark the spot. To the north of the mill is a children's play area and a small nature reserve containing various species of grasses that can only be found in the local area. To the east of this is the old mill house where a windmill once stood within the walled gardens of the house, but this was also demolished in the late 19th century.
  The green has long been used for various recreational and sporting events. In Edwardian times, it was used as a golf course, and today the local cricket and football teams can often be seen playing matches. During the last weekend of August, the green has provided the venue for Great Bentley Village Carnival and Fete every year since 1974. In recent years, the Green has also become popular with motorcyclists from around the country. During the summer months, the Green becomes the site of a mini motorcycle rally on Wednesday evenings.
caption: The other side of the village sign
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