RESIDENTS and businesses have hailed a riverside town in north Essex as a "beautiful place to live and work" after it ranked in a top ten list of the best places to live in the county.
The luxury lifestyle website Muddy Stilettos has revealed the results of its most recent best places to live in Essex poll, which was voted on by its readers.
The top spot was nabbed by Saffron Walden, second place was Chelmsford, and third was Leigh.
Wivenhoe achieved eighth on the list, only a few places behind Colchester at fifth and Frinton which was sixth.
The magazine said: “Its cluster of quayside cottages, resident artist lofts and cosmo mindset has earmarked this former fishing port as a country bolthole.
“Throw in the fact that Constable country (Dedham Vale) and Colchester Zoo, castle and Fenwick department store are practically on your doorstep and you start to see the appeal. It’s such a loved area residents refer to it as their Wivenhome.”
Wivenhoe residents and businesses have reacted to the ranking, which has left them feeling proud of the place they call home.
Sue Fin, 66, is the owner of the Wivenhoe Bookshop, in the High Street.
The business was opened in 1976 by Jean Harding and passed to Sue in 2014 after a 30-year career at the shop.
She said: “I am not at all surprised at Wivenhoe’s popularity, having lived here for so many years.
“It is a characterful, waterside town with a rich cultural life, and it is home to many artists, writers, and of course supporters of independent bookshops.
“Wivenhoe is a very extraordinary place to live as it is a very welcoming, diverse, and sociable community.”
David Henley is the owner of Henley’s of Wivenhoe fish and chip shop, in Vine Drive.
He said: “One of the things I love about Wivenhoe is the community spirit.
“There is a cross-section of people. We have the University of Essex close to us, we have a mix of professors, art students and more.
“There is always a lot of things going on all the time.
“The waterfront is very picturesque, and it has a fantastic fish and chip shop, a multi-award-winning one as well.
“Sometimes my walk to work should only take two minutes mins but sometimes it takes 30, as you bump into people.
“It is a town, but we refer to it as a village.
“Everyone knows one another. It has traditional values - we all look after our neighbours, and everyone is welcoming.”
Carla Mills is the branch manager of Michaels Property Consultants in Wivenhoe. She grew up the town and went to Broomgrove Primary School, before moving on to the Colne School in Brightlingsea.
It’s a place she is very fond of.
Carla said: “I now work in Wivenhoe and have done for the last ten years and love it here at Michaels.
“My parent still live in Wivenhoe and probably always will.
“Wivenhoe is a beautiful place to live and work. You have everything you need on your doorstep and the people are lovely. I am surprised it is only eighth on the list.”
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