City of Chelmsford facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
City of Chelmsford
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Chelmsford Cathedral in Chelmsford, the administrative centre of the district
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Chelmsford shown within Essex
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| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Country | England |
| Region | East of England |
| Non-metropolitan county | Essex |
| Admin HQ | Chelmsford |
| Incorporated | 1 April 1974 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Non-metropolitan district council |
| • Body | Chelmsford City Council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 132.14 sq mi (342.24 km2) |
| Area rank | 126th (of 326) |
| Population
(2005 est.)
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| • Total | 178,388 |
| • Rank | 108th (of 326) |
| • Density | 1,349.996/sq mi (521.237/km2) |
| Ethnicity (2021) | |
| • Ethnic groups |
List
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| Religion (2021) | |
| • Religion |
List
48% Christianity
41.2% no religion 8.8% other 2% Islam |
| Time zone | UTC0 (GMT) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+1 (BST) |
| ONS code | 22UF (ONS) E07000070 (GSS) |
| OS grid reference | TL713070 |
| Click the map for an interactive fullscreen view | |
The City of Chelmsford (pronounced CHELMS-furd) is a special area in Essex, England. It is a local government district that has been given both borough and city status. The district is named after its main town, Chelmsford, which is also the most important town in Essex.
Besides the city of Chelmsford itself, the district includes the countryside around it. It also has the town of South Woodham Ferrers. Nearby areas include Uttlesford, Braintree, Maldon, Rochford, Basildon, Brentwood, and Epping Forest.
Contents
History of Chelmsford's Government
Chelmsford has had different types of local government over the years. These groups helped manage the town and its services.
Early Local Government
In 1850, Chelmsford got its first elected council. This group was called a "local board of health." Before that, a group called "improvement commissioners" managed the town. They worked under a law from 1789.
In 1888, the local board was replaced by the Chelmsford Corporation. At this time, the town became a municipal borough. This meant it had its own local government.
Forming the Modern District
The current City of Chelmsford district was created on April 1, 1974. This happened because of a law called the Local Government Act 1972. Two older districts were combined to form the new one:
- The Municipal Borough of Chelmsford
- Most of the Chelmsford Rural District
The new district was named Chelmsford after its main town. At first, the council was called "Chelmsford District Council." In 1977, the district was given borough status. This changed the council's name to "Chelmsford Borough Council." It also meant the head of the council could be called the Mayor.
Becoming a City
On June 1, 2012, Chelmsford was officially granted city status. This special honor was given to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. Because of this, the council changed its name again to "Chelmsford City Council."
How Chelmsford is Governed
| Chelmsford City Council | |
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| Type | |
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Non-metropolitan district
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| Leadership | |
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Mayor
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Leader
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Nick Eveleigh
Since February 2018 |
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| Structure | |
| Seats | 57 councillors |
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Political groups
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| Elections | |
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Last election
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4 May 2023 |
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Next election
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6 May 2027 |
| Meeting place | |
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| Chelmsford Civic Centre, Duke Street, Chelmsford, CM1 1JE | |
The Chelmsford City Council is in charge of local services for the district. These are things like waste collection, housing, and local planning. Other services, like education and major roads, are handled by Essex County Council. Some smaller areas also have their own local councils called parish councils.
Council Leadership Roles
In Chelmsford, the Mayor's job is mostly ceremonial. This means they attend events and represent the city. The real political decisions are made by the leader of the council.
Here are the leaders since 2003:
| Councillor | Party | From | To | |
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| Roy Whitehead | Conservative | 2003 | 22 May 2019 | |
| Stephen Robinson | Liberal Democrats | 22 May 2019 | ||
Who is on the Council?
After the election in 2023, the council has 57 councillors. These councillors belong to different political parties or are independent.
Here is how the council is made up:
| Party | Councillors | |
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| Liberal Democrats | 33 | |
| Conservative | 19 | |
| Independent | 5 | |
| Total | 57 | |
The next election for the council is planned for 2027.
Where the Council Meets
The Chelmsford City Council is based at the Chelmsford Civic Centre. This building is on Duke Street in Chelmsford. It was built specifically for the council and opened in 1935.
Council Elections
Elections for the Chelmsford City Council happen every four years. There are 57 councillors elected from 24 different areas called wards. Each ward elects one, two, or three councillors.
Geography of Chelmsford
The City of Chelmsford district has two main population centers. The biggest is the city of Chelmsford itself, located in the middle of the district. The other is the town of South Woodham Ferrers, which is in the southeast. Most of the rest of the district is countryside with many small villages.
Rivers and Waterways
Several rivers flow through the district. The River Chelmer enters the district near North End. It flows to Chelmsford, where it meets the River Can in the city center. The River Chelmer then leaves the district between Boreham and Little Baddow.
The River Can starts in the northwest of the district. The River Wid flows from the south of the borough through Widford. It then goes past Writtle to join the River Can. The River Crouch flows along part of the southeastern border, below South Woodham Ferrers. Hanningfield Reservoir, a special natural site, is also in the south of the borough.
Transport Links
The City of Chelmsford has good transport connections, including trains and roads.
Train Services
All train services in the borough are run by Greater Anglia.
- The Great Eastern Main Line runs through the center of the district. Trains stop at Chelmsford railway station. You can travel from Chelmsford to London Liverpool Street, Ipswich, Clacton, Harwich, Braintree, or Norwich.
- The Crouch Valley Line runs through the very southeast of the borough. It stops at South Woodham Ferrers. This line connects Wickford and Southminster.
- The Amsterdam Express is an international train and ferry service. It also stops at Chelmsford on its way between London and the Netherlands.
Road Network
Several important roads run through the borough.
- The A12 is a major road that goes from London and the M25. It runs through the center of the borough, bypassing Chelmsford city. It continues northeast towards Suffolk and Norfolk.
- The A130 runs north-south across Essex.
- The A414 starts as an important road in Chelmsford. It goes west through Essex, meets the M11, and continues into Hertfordshire.
- Many other A- and B-Roads connect Chelmsford to the rest of the county and beyond.
Bus Services
There is also a large bus network in the area. First Essex is the main bus company. It connects Chelmsford city to towns and villages across the county. Other smaller companies also provide bus services.
Local Parishes
The City of Chelmsford district has 29 civil parishes. These are small local areas that have their own parish councils. The main area of Chelmsford city itself does not have a parish council; it is managed directly by Chelmsford City Council. The parish council for South Woodham Ferrers is called a "Town Council." Some very small parishes, like Mashbury, have a "parish meeting" instead of a council.
- Boreham
- Broomfield
- Chelmer
- Chelmsford Garden
- Chignall
- Danbury
- East Hanningfield
- Galleywood
- Good Easter
- Great Baddow
- Great and Little Leighs
- Great Waltham
- Highwood
- Little Baddow
- Little Waltham
- Margaretting
- Mashbury (meeting)
- Pleshey
- Rettendon
- Roxwell
- Runwell
- Sandon
- South Hanningfield
- South Woodham Ferrers (town)
- Springfield
- Stock
- West Hanningfield
- Woodham Ferrers and Bicknacre
- Writtle
Education in Chelmsford
The Chelmsford area has many schools and colleges for students of all ages.
Universities and Colleges
- Anglia Ruskin University
- Writtle College, a college famous for farming and gardening studies.
- Chelmsford College, a college for further education.
Secondary Schools
- King Edward VI Grammar School, often called 'KEGS'.
- St John Payne Catholic School
- Great Baddow High School
- Moulsham High School and humanities college
- Hylands School Specialist Science and Sixth Form College
- The Boswells School
- Chelmer Valley High School
- New Hall School, which opened in 1799.
- Chelmsford County High School for Girls
- The Sandon School
- William de Ferrers School
- The Beaulieu Park School (Essex's first school for all ages).
Special Needs Schools
- Columbus School and College, a school for students with special needs.
- Thriftwood School, another special needs school.
- Thriftwood College, a special needs sixth form.
Places to Visit in Chelmsford
The City of Chelmsford district has many interesting places to visit.
Historic Sites and Gardens
- The former Palace of Beaulieu in Boreham. This was once a palace for King Henry VIII. Today, it is part of the New Hall School.
- The RHS Garden, Hyde Hall in Rettendon. This is a beautiful garden to explore.
- Writtle village has royal connections. Robert the Bruce is said to have married his second wife here in 1302. King John built a hunting lodge in Writtle in 1211. Much of this site is now part of Writtle College.
- The village of Pleshey has the ruins of an important castle. This castle is even mentioned in William Shakespeare's play Richard II. You can still see the outline of the castle walls in the village streets.
Parks and Famous Places
- Chelmsford has many open spaces, including Admirals Park and Central Park.
- The village of Springfield, Essex is famous for American tourists. This is because it is the original "Springfield" that gave its name to many cities in the United States. These include Springfield, Massachusetts, Springfield, Illinois (the state capital), and Springfield, Missouri.
Freedom of the City
The "Freedom of the City" is a special honor given to people or military groups. It recognizes their important contributions to Chelmsford.
Individuals Honored
- Colonel Sir John Ruggles-Brise: Honored in 1967.
- J Grange, a Rapper and Mental Health Advocate.
- Vicky Ford, a Member of Parliament (MP).
City of Chelmsford Coat of Arms
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See also
In Spanish: Ciudad de Chelmsford para niños
