The Corporation of the Cathedral Church of St Paul owns three arable farms, domestic properties and a significant amount of surrounding land.
Tillingham village is clustered around the main street with a historic centre that has been designated as a conservation area.
Less well known is the story of “The Ranter’s Monster”,[10] a tale of a young pregnant Tillingham girl called Mary Adams accused of giving birth to the devil.
Claiming to be the Virgin Mary, she was locked up by order of the vicar, later giving birth to a severely deformed stillborn child, the monster named in the title of the story.
There are two schools; Tillingham Pre-School and St Nicholas C of E primary school, a fire station, medical centre, Post Office, Londis convenience shop, hairdressers, care home, village hall, Tillingham West Field recreation ground, car park, sports clubs, 18 allotment plots, mobile library, an Airbnb facility and an annual flower show.
As a place of hostelry its history can be traced back to the Twelfth Century when if was a pilgrim's lodging house.
Stows Farmhouse (grade II* listed) thought to be a vicarage is outside the conservation area boundary.
This building’s exceptional quality and rare detailing shows its link with the major local land owners, St Paul’s Cathedral, and the work of a church carpenter rather than a craftsman from Essex or East Anglia.
The Corporation of the Cathedral Church of St Paul in London owns three arable farms and domestic properties in Tillingham,[13] known as the Prebends of Ealdland,[14] Reculverland[15] and Weldland.
St Paul’s had a significant land holding across the Dengie Peninsula and the south coast of Essex through the Middle Ages.
The marshes came under threat from plans by power firm nPower to develop a large wind farm on the peninsula.
The plan was eventually dropped in 2005 when St. Paul's decided not to allow it to proceed, having been opposed by local residents and those concerned with the wildlife in the area.
This trail starts in Tillingham and leads one across the farmland to Bradwell on Sea before continuing to the Chapel of St-Peter-on-the-Wall on the edge of the Dengie National Nature Reserve.
After exploring the site, continue along the edge of the Dengie National Nature Reserve, which covers 3,105 hectares of saltmarsh and tidal mudflat.
It is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a haven for birdlife, so make sure to keep an eye out for wildfowl and waders.
The West Field on Vicarage Lane, is a large, well equipped site with easy access near the centre of the village.
Highlights include a Dog Show, dog scurry, dance performances, Tillingham Tigers penalty shoot out, the Tillingham Stocks, donkey rides, tug of war, arts, crafts, and two tents bursting with horticultural and handicraft entries.
Visitors can indulge in a Pimms and Prosecco tent, enjoy drinks from a horsebox bar, and savour tasty treats from an ice cream van, barbecue and Hog Roast.
The nearest railway stations are at Southminster and Burnham-on-Crouch which offer frequent services to South Woodham Ferrers, Billericay and London Liverpool Street, the quickest trains are 1hr 15m.
The Obelisk in Rayleigh High Street says Near this spot suffered for the truth Thomas Causton 26 March 1555.