However, it is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 and claims to be the oldest licensed premises in England, as it served ale to the pilgrims travelling to Thomas Becket's tomb in the 12th Century.

The current state of the exterior is due to a fire over a hundred years ago which destroyed the original thatched roof, which was replaced with tiles.

Local folklore also tells that the inn is haunted by the troubled spirit of a witch burned at the stake and buried beneath a stone at the nearby crossroads.

[3] Gate Farmhouse on Moulsham Hall Lane is a Grade II Listed Georgian property and the home of journalist Simon Heffer.

[4] In 2008, Great Leighs became home to the first new racecourse in 80 years, when the nearby Essex County Showground was converted into a state-of-the-art horse-racing venue.