Rickling, Essex

Rickling, which includes Rickling Green, is a village in the civil parish of Quendon and Rickling, in the Uttlesford district of Essex, England. The village is situated approximately 6mi north from the town of Bishop's Stortford. Saffron Walden, at 5mi, and the larger village of Newport, at 2mi, lie to the north-east.Rickling, which has been part of the parish of Quendon and Rickling since the 1940s, is 1mi north-west from the smaller village of Quendon. It is the site of the village's church, All Saints, and a few houses. Rickling Green, 2mi from Rickling, is conjoined to Quendon.HistoryThe name Rickling is found in the Domesday Book as Richelinga, and means 'Ricola's people' – Ricola (also Ricula) was the wife of Sledd of Essex in the 6th century. It is recorded as having quite a large population of 34 households, and it paid substantial taxes of eight geld units. It is not known definitively why the main population today at Rickling Green is so far from its church at Rickling, but it has been suggested this may have been due to the plague. Another theory is that, over time, the villagers settled closer to the once busy drovers' road (the former A11) that runs through Quendon.AmenitiesThere is a small primary school in Rickling Green, serving the village and surrounding communities and joined in federation with Farnham primary school, with the schools sharing one head teacher and governing body.