Plans are in place to commemorate Great Bardfield’s artistic and historical heritage.

The village’s parish council alongside the Great Bardfield Historical Society want to install a blue plaque outside Place House in the High Street to pay tribute to serjeant-at-law William Bendlowes and artist John Aldridge, who both lived there.

Mr Bendlowes, who was born in 1516 and died in 1584, was a celebrated barrister and legal writer.

He became a Member of Parliament between 1553 and 1554 and is buried in the village.

Mr Aldridge, born in 1905, was an accomplished oil painter, wallpaper designer and esteemed art teacher and many of his works featured the Essex countryside and his much-loved garden in Place House.

See this week's Braintree and Witham Times for the full story.