Back in 1973 three teenage boys were bored during the half term holiday. On a whim they decided to go in search of old bottles so, armed with spades, they chose a site in Kates Lane and by the end of that day had found quite a selection of glass bottles and jars. They were hooked!

Hands Off Thaxted is a group formed by residents to protect the town and its surrounding greenfields from unsustainable development. Thaxted is currently under threat from a number of predatory housing developers.

Founded in 1963, the Thaxted Society encourages, promotes and monitors public interest in the beauty, history and character of Thaxted and its environs. The Society Journal, The Thaxted Bulletin, is distributed free to every household in Thaxted and to Society members around the world.