High Ongar, United Kingdom

The territory ceded to the new Chipping Ongar parish was modest, only covering 511 acres (207 hectares) immediately around the castle and town, whereas High Ongar parish retained 4,520 acres (1,829 hectares) covering an extensive rural area. High Ongar parish included two significant detached parcels, north of Norton Mandeville and west of Bobbingworth, representing areas that had not been ceded to the newer parishes created from parts of the older Ongar territory. These detached areas of the parish were ceded to Norton Mandeville and Bobbingworth respectively in 1946. In 1965, the parish ceded the Marden Ash area to a new parish called Ongar covering Chipping Ongar. In 1968, Norton Mandeville was absorbed back into the parish of High Ongar from which it had been separated nearly eight centuries earlier.

The current building of St Mary's Church dates back to the mid-12th century, although it was extended and restored in the 19th century. Thomas Chase, former Lord Chancellor of Ireland, Master of Balliol College and Chancellor of Oxford (died 1449) spent his last years as vicar here.

The oldest part of High Ongar village along The Street is designated as a conservation area. The oldest surviving house in the village is the timber-framed and weather-boarded building immediately east of the church, known as Post Office Cottages, which was originally a hall house and dates back to the 15th century. In the 18th century the east wing of the building housed the village lock-up.

Other listed buildings in the conservation area include: High Ongar Primary School (1871); the Forrester's Arms (late 18th century); the Cucina Italiana (opened in September 2014) formerly The Red Lion (mid-17th century); Sanuk Thai restaurant (mid-17th century) formerly the Rectory built in 1767 by Edward Earle; and Nos.1, 2 and 3 Blacksmiths' cottages (late 17th century).