Chappel: a Colne Valley village defined by its great viaduct

Chappel is a village and civil parish in Essex, in the Colne Valley northwest of Colchester. Its name derives from a medieval chapel of ease noted in the late 13th century, and the village later developed around the river, the railway and surrounding farmland. Chappel is best known for its dramatic Victorian viaduct over the River Colne, completed in 1849 and now one of the most striking railway structures in East Anglia. The village also benefits from its station, which is home to the East Anglia Railway Museum.
Population: 530 inhabitants (2021 census).
Distance: about 6 miles west of Colchester.
Traditions and culture: local identity is closely linked to railway heritage, village events and the wider landscape of the Colne Valley.
Highlights: Chappel Viaduct, the East Anglia Railway Museum, St Barnabas Church and riverside walks in the Colne Valley.