Its southern border, which was partially straightened on a few successive occasions to follow the former railway line, divides it from Ashdon parish in Essex.

Excavations in the 19th century found large wooden chests, decorated vessels in bronze, glass and pottery and an iron folding chair, most of which were lost in a later fire at Bartlow Hall.

A small Roman villa, occupied until the late 4th century, was situated north of the mounds and was excavated in 1852.

[2][4] It has long been maintained that the church in Bartlow was built by King Cnut near a possible site of the Battle of Assandun, but no evidence for a building of that age has been found; another likelier possibility is that the church in question is St Andrew's in Ashingdon, Essex.

The present parish church of Bartlow, dedicated to St Mary, consists of a chancel, a nave with north porch, and a circular west tower.

[5] There are three bells in the tower, all cast by William Chamberlain in 1440, and the earliest in the country still hung in their original frame.