WIN a watercolour original of The Half Moon Inn in Belchamp St Paul
PUBLISHED: 16:13 16 October 2019 | UPDATED: 16:37 16 October 2019

THE HALF MOON INN On the green at Belchamp St. Paul, alongside the aptly named and lovely Half Moon Cottages.
Archant
James Merriott continues his watercolour tour of the county with a visit to The Belchamps, a group of three villages in the stunning landscape of the Stour Valley
The Belchamps, three villages in close proximity to one another taking the Belchamp prefix, I decided to complete as a single feature. I selected four scenes from Belchamp St Paul and one each from Belchamp Otten and Belchamp Water.

It's heart-warming to be able to put together three exquisitely picturesque villages all within the sublime landscapes of the Stour Valley that I love so much, as this is indeed where I love to be more than anywhere else in the world.

Elaborating on this fact, I add my adoration of the Stour Valley (everything southwards to the River Lea) for I have lived in this area during my entire 78 years.

I was born off the Lea Bridge Road and relate with great pride that this is where poet laureate, Sir John Betjeman was speaking of when he said, 'I feel I am in Essex long before I'm out of North East London'.

I know from the feedback I receive that Essex Life magazine reaches all corners of the world, so wherever you might call home if you're ever visiting Essex for the first time or like me have lived here all your life, don't forget the Belchamps and the fabulous surrounding countryside of Essex.

For your chance to win James' original painting The Half Moon Inn fill out the form and answer the question below:
Terms & Conditions
The competition closes at 6pm on November 30, 2019. Usual promotion rules apply. For full terms and conditions, visit our homepage
You can contact James at Cottage Corner Art, 9 Byron Road, Hutton, Brentwood CM13 2RU. Call 01277 210728 or visit