Our Lady Immaculate Church

The red-brick facade of Our Lady Immaculate Church stops you in your tracks as you wander through Ingatestone's high street. It's a Victorian Catholic church, built when such places were still fairly controversial in England, and it carries that sense of quiet defiance in its sturdy architecture. Inside, you'll find decent stained glass and the sort of peaceful interior that works whether you're after a spiritual moment or just escaping the traffic noise outside for twenty minutes.

This is really one for architecture enthusiasts and anyone with a genuine interest in Victorian religious history rather than casual tourists doing a quick village trot. Catholics visiting the area will likely appreciate the history here - the church opened in 1859, when being openly Catholic in Essex required a bit of nerve. The craftsmanship in the woodwork and fixtures is worth a proper look if you're into that sort of detail.

Caller beware: opening hours aren't advertised online, so you might find yourself peering through locked doors. Ring ahead or pop into the parish office to check. Admission appears to be free, though a donation for the upkeep wouldn't go amiss. Allow fifteen to twenty minutes, longer if you're someone who reads every plaque.

It pairs well with a base at The Courts Campsite or Stuarts Wood Campsite, both within five miles. Ingatestone itself has decent enough cafes and shops for a morning potter before heading out to greener patches in the surrounding Essex countryside.