Chelmsford facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chelmsford |
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Clockwise from top, left to right: Chelmsford Cathedral; Shopping Centre; Hylands House; Admiral's Park; City Centre and Shire Hall |
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 Chelmsford
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| Population | 110,625 (2021 Census) |
| OS grid reference | TL7107 |
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | CHELMSFORD |
| Postcode district | CM1, CM2, CM3 |
| Dialling code | 01245 |
| Police | Essex |
| Fire | Essex |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| EU Parliament | East of England |
| UK Parliament |
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Chelmsford (/ˈtʃɛlmzfərd/) is a city in the City of Chelmsford district in Essex, England. It's the main town of Essex and one of three cities in the county, along with Colchester and Southend-on-Sea. Chelmsford is about 30 miles (48 km) north-east of London and 22 miles (35 km) south-west of Colchester. In 2021, the city area had a population of 110,625 people.
The name "Chelmsford" comes from "Ceolmaer's ford", which was a shallow place to cross a river. The city's location on an old Roman road (now the A12) helped it grow and become important early on. Several places in other countries, like Chelmsford, Massachusetts, are named after this city. People who live in Chelmsford are called "Chelmsfordians".
Contents
History of Chelmsford
Early Beginnings
Chelmsford became a proper town in 1199 when it was given permission to hold a market. This happened after a bridge was built over the River Can. Even today, an indoor market is a big part of the city centre.
Before 1199, people lived in this area for a very long time. Stone Age settlements have been found, and the Romans also lived here. They built a fort in AD 60, and a town called Caesaromagus (meaning "Caesar's market place") grew around it. This Roman town had a special building called a mansio, which was like a post office, town hall, and hotel all in one. There were also ruins of an octagonal temple. After the Romans left Britain, the town disappeared for a while.
In the early 1200s, Chelmsford became the main town for legal cases in Essex. By 1218, it was officially the county town of Essex, and it still is today. Chelmsford played a big part in the Peasants' Revolt of 1381. For a few days, King Richard II even made Chelmsford the temporary capital of England while he dealt with the rebellion. Many of the revolt's leaders were punished here.
In the 1600s, many people accused of witchcraft by Matthew Hopkins (the "Witchfinder General") were held and tried in Chelmsford. Henry VIII bought land here in 1516 and built Beaulieu Palace, which later became home to his wife Anne Boleyn and then his daughter, Mary I.
World War II Impact
During World War II, Chelmsford was an important place for making things for the war, like parts for planes and weapons. Because of this, it was attacked by German planes and rockets many times. The worst attack happened in December 1944 when a V2 rocket hit a street, killing 39 people and injuring many more. Another bombing raid in May 1943 killed over 50 people and left many homeless.
Hylands Park, a large park in Chelmsford, was used as a prisoner of war camp during the war. From 1944, it also became the headquarters for the Special Air Service (SAS), a special forces unit.
Modern Changes
Since the 1980s, Chelmsford's industries, especially those related to defence like The Marconi Company, have changed a lot. Many factories closed or were sold. However, because Chelmsford is close to London and in the middle of Essex, it has grown as a place for offices and distribution. New housing areas like Beaulieu Park and Chelmer Village have also been built. In 2007, a TV show called "Location, Location, Location" even named Chelmsford the 8th best place to live in the UK!
Economy and Business
Chelmsford started as a farming and market town, but it became important for industry in the 1800s. After the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation canal opened in 1797, it was easier to transport goods, making milling and malting (for making beer) big industries. Later, companies making farming machines and engineering works opened here.
Today, Chelmsford is a busy commercial city with about 80,000 jobs. It's home to the headquarters of Essex Police and the local councils. Many national and international companies, like M&G Group and Teledyne e2v, also have offices here.
The city has three main shopping centres: Bond Street, High Chelmer, and The Meadows. There are also several retail parks. In 2016, a large John Lewis department store opened, which was a big addition to the city's shopping scene. Chelmsford was also named a Fairtrade Town in 2005, meaning it supports fair prices for goods from developing countries.
Chelmsford has a lively nightlife with many pubs, bars, and restaurants. Its good transport links make it a popular place for people to visit.
Marconi: Birthplace of Radio?
In 1899, Guglielmo Marconi opened the world's first "wireless" factory in Chelmsford. This company, later called the Marconi Company, made early radio equipment. Because of this, Chelmsford is often called the "birthplace of radio," a phrase you can see on signs when you enter the city.
The Marconi factory grew and moved to a bigger building in 1912. On June 15, 1920, this factory hosted the first official public sound broadcast in the UK, featuring a famous singer named Dame Nellie Melba. In 1922, the world's first regular radio broadcasts for entertainment began from a small wooden hut at Marconi's laboratories near Chelmsford.
Over the years, parts of Marconi's business were sold or merged with other companies. In 1999, its defence part was bought by British Aerospace to form BAE Systems. The Marconi name finally left Chelmsford in 2008 when the last operations moved away. The old factory site has since been redeveloped into homes and other buildings, though some historic parts remain.
Other Important Industries
Chelmsford was also home to the UK's first electrical engineering works, started by Rookes Evelyn Bell Crompton in 1878. He was a leader in electrical engineering and helped bring electric street lighting to the town in 1888. His factory, called the 'Arc Works', made electrical equipment for power stations around the world. The factory was often targeted during World War II. It closed in 1992, and the site is now a housing development with street names honouring Crompton.
Another big employer was Hoffmann Ball Bearings, which made ball bearings used in many machines, including early transatlantic flights. This company later merged and was eventually bought by a Japanese company. The old factory site is now part of Anglia Ruskin University.
The English Electric Valve Company (EEV), which started in the 1940s as part of Marconi, made special electronic parts like magnetrons for radar systems. EEV grew into a large high-tech company, winning many awards for its inventions. In 2017, it was bought by a US company called Teledyne Technologies and is now known as Teledyne e2v.
The Britvic soft drink company also started in Chelmsford in 1948. Its origins go back to a chemist's shop in the city in the mid-1800s. Over the years, Britvic grew, acquiring popular brands like Tango and Robinson's. It also owned the UK rights for Pepsi and 7 Up. However, in 2012, Britvic closed its headquarters in Chelmsford, and in 2014, its factory also closed, ending the company's long connection with the city.
Getting Around Chelmsford
Trains
The railway arrived in Chelmsford in 1842. The city has three large railway viaducts, including an 18-arch one that goes through Central Park. Greater Anglia runs all the train services from Chelmsford railway station. You can travel south to London Liverpool Street or north to places like Colchester, Ipswich, and Norwich. About 14,000 people travel to London by train from Chelmsford every day, making it one of the busiest stations outside London that isn't a final stop.
Buses
The main bus station in Duke Street was built in 2007. First Essex is the biggest bus company, with routes around the city and to nearby towns like Basildon and Colchester. Other companies also run services. Chelmsford also has two park & ride services, where you can park your car outside the city and take a bus into the centre, which helps reduce traffic.
Roads
The A12 is a major road that connects London to the east coast. It used to go through Chelmsford, but a bypass was built in 1986 to take traffic around the city. Other important roads include the A414, which links Chelmsford to the M11 motorway, and the A130.
The Army and Navy roundabout in the city centre is famous for its traffic jams. It used to have a special flyover that changed direction depending on the time of day, but this was closed in 2019 because it was unsafe and later taken down. New plans are being made to improve this busy junction. To save energy, many streetlights in Chelmsford are switched off between 1:00 am and 5:00 am.
Air Travel
Chelmsford is about 25 to 30 minutes by road from Stansted Airport. Other major airports like London Heathrow, London Gatwick, and Luton are also easy to reach by train.
Future Transport Plans
There are plans for a new bypass north-east of Chelmsford to help with traffic. Also, a second railway station called Beaulieu Park is being built to serve new housing developments. It is expected to open in late 2025.
Places to See and Do
Hylands House and Park, located just west of the city, is a beautiful country house and parkland. It was bought by the local council in 1966 and has been fully restored. You can visit the house and enjoy the 574-acre (232 ha) park, which has woodlands, grasslands, and lakes. The park has hosted many events, including the famous V Festival music festival and the 21st World Scout Jamboree 2007.
Chelmsford Museum in Oaklands Park tells the story of local history and industry. It also includes the Essex Regiment Museum. The museum was expanded in 2010 and again in 2019, with exhibits on Marconi and Hoffmann, and displays showing how the town developed from ancient times to today. Another museum site at Sandford Mill, the former waterworks, shows more about Chelmsford's history in telecommunications and engineering.
The Shire Hall is a grand building at the top of the High Street. Built in 1791, it used to be a courthouse for many years. It's one of the oldest and most important buildings in Chelmsford.
Right behind the Shire Hall is Chelmsford Cathedral. It's one of the oldest buildings in the city and became a cathedral in 1914. It's actually the second smallest cathedral in England!
Chelmsford Prison is a male prison built in 1830. The 1979 film special of the TV series Porridge was filmed there.
The 18-arch Victorian railway viaduct in Central Park, built in 1842, is a striking landmark. It carries the Great Eastern Main Line railway over the River Can.
Chelmsford's two tallest buildings are Parkside Court and the Kings Tower, both reaching 141 feet (43 metres). The tallest structure in the area is the old Chain Home radar tower in Great Baddow, which is 360 feet (110 metres) tall. It was built in 1937 and is a very visible landmark.
Geography and Weather
Rivers and Flooding
Chelmsford has two rivers, the River Can and the River Chelmer. They join together east of the city to form the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation, which flows towards Maldon and then into the sea. Before the 1960s, these rivers often flooded the city centre, causing a lot of damage. Flood prevention projects in the 1960s have largely stopped this, though natural floodplains outside the city still flood after heavy rain.
Climate
Chelmsford has a mild climate, typical for the UK. Being in the southeast of England, it enjoys warmer summers than most of Britain and is one of the drier areas. Temperatures often reach 30°C (86°F) in summer. The hottest day ever recorded in Writtle, near Chelmsford, was 35.7°C (96.3°F) in August 2003. The coldest temperature recorded was -20.6°C (-5.1°F) in January 1947. On average, Chelmsford gets about 591.8 mm of rain a year.
| Climate data for Writtle, elevation 32 m, 1981–2010, extremes 1960– | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 15.1 (59.2) |
18.3 (64.9) |
22.8 (73.0) |
26.4 (79.5) |
30.0 (86.0) |
33.6 (92.5) |
33.2 (91.8) |
35.7 (96.3) |
32.1 (89.8) |
28.6 (83.5) |
18.5 (65.3) |
16.6 (61.9) |
35.7 (96.3) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 7.4 (45.3) |
7.7 (45.9) |
10.7 (51.3) |
13.6 (56.5) |
17.0 (62.6) |
20.2 (68.4) |
22.9 (73.2) |
22.7 (72.9) |
19.3 (66.7) |
15.0 (59.0) |
10.5 (50.9) |
7.7 (45.9) |
14.6 (58.3) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 1.5 (34.7) |
1.0 (33.8) |
2.7 (36.9) |
3.8 (38.8) |
6.8 (44.2) |
9.8 (49.6) |
12.0 (53.6) |
11.8 (53.2) |
9.7 (49.5) |
7.1 (44.8) |
3.9 (39.0) |
1.8 (35.2) |
6.0 (42.8) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −20.6 (−5.1) |
−13.3 (8.1) |
−11.1 (12.0) |
−6.1 (21.0) |
−2.8 (27.0) |
−1.7 (28.9) |
2.2 (36.0) |
0.6 (33.1) |
−1.1 (30.0) |
−6.7 (19.9) |
−8.1 (17.4) |
−18 (0) |
−20.6 (−5.1) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 53.2 (2.09) |
39.2 (1.54) |
40.2 (1.58) |
41.6 (1.64) |
48.7 (1.92) |
49.9 (1.96) |
44.3 (1.74) |
51.7 (2.04) |
48.6 (1.91) |
64.1 (2.52) |
58.0 (2.28) |
52.3 (2.06) |
591.8 (23.30) |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 58.0 | 76.1 | 112.4 | 165.7 | 196.6 | 198.2 | 209.9 | 204.0 | 147.4 | 113.9 | 68.7 | 47.4 | 1,598.2 |
| Source 1: Met Office | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: KNMI | |||||||||||||
Education in Chelmsford
Chelmsford has many schools and colleges. For older students, there's a campus of Anglia Ruskin University and Writtle University College. Chelmsford College offers further education. There are also many secondary schools, including:
- The Boswells School
- The Beaulieu Park School
- Chelmer Valley High School
- Chelmsford County High School for Girls
- Great Baddow High School
- King Edward VI Grammar School
- Moulsham High School
- New Hall School
- The Sandon School
- St John Payne Catholic School
Chelmsford also has many primary schools, including The Bishop's C of E & R C Primary School, which is one of the few joint Anglican and Roman Catholic primary schools in the country.
Culture and Fun
Media and Radio
Chelmsford is known as "the Birthplace of Radio."
- City Sound Radio is a community radio station that started online in 2023, playing music and sharing local news.
- Chelmsford Community Radio (CCR) broadcasts on 104.4FM. It started online in 2013 and got its FM licence in 2015. It plays a variety of shows and supports local bands and groups.
- Hospital Radio Chelmsford has been broadcasting from Broomfield Hospital since 1964, providing entertainment for patients.
- The city has its own Film Festival, which started in 2017 and takes place at the Everyman Cinema.
Local newspapers include the Essex Chronicle, which started in 1764 and is one of the longest-running newspapers in the country.
Art and Creativity
In May 2022, Chelmsford held its first street art festival called Concrete Canvas. About 30 murals were created around the city by local and international artists. The festival continued in 2023, adding even more amazing artworks to the city's walls.
Religion
Chelmsford Cathedral is the main church in the city and is the second smallest cathedral in England. It was built in the 1400s and became a cathedral in 1914. Chelmsford also has Catholic churches, a Norbertine canonry, and a large Catholic private school, New Hall School. Other religions like Baptists, Jehovah's Witnesses, and Muslims also have places of worship in the city.
Sports and Activities
Essex County Cricket Club, one of England's top cricket clubs, is based at the County Ground in Chelmsford.
Chelmsford City Football Club plays in the National League South. Their home ground is at the Chelmsford Sport and Athletics Centre. Chelmsford is one of the biggest towns in England without a team in the top professional football leagues.
The Chelmsford Rugby Football Club was started in 1920 and has many teams for both adults and young players. The Chelmsford Hockey Club also has many men's and ladies' teams.
If you like swimming or ice skating, the Riverside Ice and Leisure building is the place to go. It's also home to the Chelmsford Chieftains, an ice hockey team.
Horse racing used to take place at Galleywood, near Chelmsford, until 1935. A new racecourse, now called Chelmsford City Racecourse, opened in 2008 at Great Leighs.
Since 2014, Chelmsford has held its own marathon, which starts and finishes in the city centre and goes through the city and surrounding areas.
Famous People from Chelmsford
Many talented people were born in Chelmsford:
Musicians
- Harry Judd (born 1985), drummer for the band McFly.
- Hazell Dean (born 1952), a popular singer.
- Sarah Cracknell (born 1965), singer for the band Saint Etienne.
Sportspeople
- Oliver Bearman (born 2005), a racing driver.
- Sam Cook (born 1997), a cricketer for Essex.
- James Gibson (born 1980), an Olympic swimmer.
- Greg Halford (born 1984), a professional footballer.
- Gus Kenworthy (born 1991), a freestyle skier.
- Nigel Spink (born 1958), a professional footballer.
Actors
- Tom Payne (born 1982), actor.
- Joe Thomas (born 1983), actor, known for The Inbetweeners.
Other Notable People
- Florence Attridge (1901–1975), who helped make secret radios during the war.
- Sarah Perry (born 1979), a well-known writer.
- Sir Nicholas Conyngham Tindal (1776–1846), a famous lawyer and judge.
- Jon Morter (born 1974), a campaigner known for his successful online music campaigns.
- Ed Woodward (born 1971), former chief executive of Manchester United football club.
Twin Towns
Chelmsford has official twin towns in other countries:
It also has a sister city:
- Wuxi, China
Images for kids
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A busy shopping street in Chelmsford.
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Cricket being played in Admiral's Park.
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The beautiful Hylands House.
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The historic Shire Hall building.
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Chelmsford High Street.
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The exterior of Chelmsford Cathedral.
See also
In Spanish: Chelmsford para niños
