Great Canfield civil parish contains Grade listed buildings and historic landscapes, and records dating to the Domesday Book.
One entry found in the Domesday Book describes Great Canfield as having a "Value to the Lord in 1066 [of] £6" and agricultural resources from years 1066 to 1086: "Meadow 51 acres.
Woodland 160 pigs.
1 mill."
Great Canfield has historically a grounding in agricultural practices until recent years of industrialization and the re-distribution of work labour.
Among other parishes found in England, Great Canfield is considered by many to be an important part of England's historic heritage.

Great Canfield is one of 104 parishes within the scope of The Hundred Parishes Society, which covers "450 square miles of northwest Essex, northeast Hertfordshire and southern Cambridgeshire".
The society aims to raise awareness of the area's character and history and conserve and protect its historic buildings, natural landscape and culture.
St Mary's Church at Great Canfield is of particular interest.
The church is typically Norman and thought to have been constructed between 1100-1150.
It is described as being "in the shadow of an old Motte and Bailey and it was perhaps built on the site of an earlier church".
The church contains a 13th–century painting of The Virgin Mary and baby Jesus, which is described as of "exceedingly good quality".
St Mary's is part of a six-church Group ministry in west Essex—the other churches are St Mary the Virgin in Aythorpe Roding, St Andrews's in Halstead, St Mary the Virgin in High Easter, All Saints in High Roding, and The Church of St Margaret of St Antioch.
The group shares a part-time priest who conducts services in each of the member churches.

At the centre of Great Canfield village, 125 yards (114 m) south-east from the church, are the earthwork remains of Great Canfield Castle.
The 280 feet (85 m) diameter and 48 feet (15 m) high remains are of a motte and bailey castle.
The remains are set within a wooded area bounded south-east to north-east by a bend of the River Roding, a feed from which was used to supply water to the castle moat.
Great Canfield Castle is documented from 1154 to 1216, and might be associated with the de Vere Earls of Oxford.

Isaac Lodge, recipient of the Victoria Cross for action during the Second Boer War, was born in the village.
Great Canfield civil parish contains Grade listed buildings and historic landscapes, and records dating to the Domesday Book. One entry found in the Domesday Book describes Great Canfield as having a "Value to the Lord in 1066 [of] £6" and agricultural resources from years 1066 to 1086: "Meadow 51 acres. Woodland 160 pigs. 1 mill." Great Canfield has historically a grounding in agricultural practices until recent years of industrialization and the re-distribution of work labour. Among other parishes found in England, Great Canfield is considered by many to be an important part of England's historic heritage.
Great Canfield is one of 104 parishes within the scope of The Hundred Parishes Society, which covers "450 square miles of northwest Essex, northeast Hertfordshire and southern Cambridgeshire". The society aims to raise awareness of the area's character and history and conserve and protect its historic buildings, natural landscape and culture. St Mary's Church at Great Canfield is of particular interest. The church is typically Norman and thought to have been constructed between 1100-1150. It is described as being "in the shadow of an old Motte and Bailey and it was perhaps built on the site of an earlier church". The church contains a 13th–century painting of The Virgin Mary and baby Jesus, which is described as of "exceedingly good quality". St Mary's is part of a six-church Group ministry in west Essex—the other churches are St Mary the Virgin in Aythorpe Roding, St Andrews's in Halstead, St Mary the Virgin in High Easter, All Saints in High Roding, and The Church of St Margaret of St Antioch. The group shares a part-time priest who conducts services in each of the member churches.
At the centre of Great Canfield village, 125 yards (114 m) south-east from the church, are the earthwork remains of Great Canfield Castle. The 280 feet (85 m) diameter and 48 feet (15 m) high remains are of a motte and bailey castle. The remains are set within a wooded area bounded south-east to north-east by a bend of the River Roding, a feed from which was used to supply water to the castle moat. Great Canfield Castle is documented from 1154 to 1216, and might be associated with the de Vere Earls of Oxford.
Isaac Lodge, recipient of the Victoria Cross for action during the Second Boer War, was born in the village.
Great Canfield