Tucked away in the heart of the Essex countryside, Blake House Craft Centre is steeped in history, its roots tracing all the way back to 150 AD. Once part of a grand estate owned by the Earls of Essex, this charming site has evolved from a working farm to a thriving craft hub, home to independent businesses, artisan shops, and our beloved new Cafe, The Grain Shed. With beautifully restored barns, courtyards, and the occasional peacock wandering by, this café promises to be a dreamy escape where rustic elegance meets homemade delights.
At the Grain Shed, history lingers in the very beams of it’s buildings, and this beautifully restored barn is set to take on a new life, this time, as a shabby chic café brimming with charm, character, and the comforting aroma of freshly brewed coffee.
Once a working barn built in the late 1700s to early 1800s, this space was originally used to store wheat, barley, and oats, its thatched roof was made from homegrown wheat straw. Here, local farmers would thresh the corn by hand with flails, winnow the grain, and bag it for the local miller, while the leftover straw provided bedding for cattle and horses. With the cafe name of The Grain Shed taking inspiration from its rich history, another chapter is now set to be written as it is lovingly transformed into a cozy, inviting café, where rustic heritage meets countryside elegance.
