The parish of Ovington is one of the smallest villages in the north of the Braintree district. The small church, dedicated to St Mary has a wooden bell turret (similar to that at Little Yeldham).  Over the years, Ovington has achieved some success in the very small villages’ category of the Best Kept Village Competition in Essex. 

The parish of Tilbury Juxta Clare is a small village situated in the north of the Braintree district.  The church is dedicated to St Margaret and has a splendid red brick tower built in the sixteenth century by the Countess of Oxford of Hedingham Castle.   Tilbury Hall was once the home of another member of the De Vere family who became first and only Lord Tilbury.