The early morning rain didn't put off the walkers, as they gathered outside All Saints Church, Cressing for the start of day seven. Starting the walk at just after 9.10am was Ann McClaren, Vice President of the Ramblers Association. Carrying the standard was 10-year-old Abigail, who was joining the walk for the second time with cousin Bethany, 9, and gran Pat. From the church, the party walked alongside fields of broad beans, and on past Shardloe's and Egypts Farms before crossing Boars Tye Road which leads to the village of Silver End. It took just over an hour for the walkers to reach Bradwell Church. The church has 12th century oak 'put-log' hole covers and horizontal lines on the walls outside which show where scaffolding was erected when the church was being built. After a short refreshment break, the group rejoined the Essex Way and headed back along fields and on towards Coggeshall. At Curd Hall Farm, horses Duchess, Countess and Princess had left their donation to the Essex Air Ambulance tied to a hedge at the bottom of their paddock. It wasn't long before the timber-frame of Grange Barn was spotted in the distance. They reached the barns just before 11am and the start of the programme. The barn is 130 feet long, and was probably built for the monks of the nearby Abbey. Some of the walkers took a small detour off the Essex Way to visit Paycocke's House on West Street. Built by clothier Thomas Paycocke at the turn of the 16th century, the house serves as a reminder of the wealth which Coggeshall enjoyed at the time. Paycocke's and Grange Barn are owned by the National Trust and open to the public. BBC Essex's Steve Scruton and Angela Lodge took a small diversion off the route and headed to the kitchens of Baumann's Brasserie. The restaurant is located in a 16th century half-timbered building which was originally converted into a restaurant in 1986. Lunch looked delicious, but sadly there wasn't time to eat as the walkers were soon ready to rejoin the Essex Way for the final part of the walk. At Abbey Lane, there were cheers of joy as we saw the halfway marker. With 41-miles walked and 40 to go the end of the walk is in sight.
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