Chigwell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chigwell |
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 The former Olde King's Head |
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 Chigwell
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| Area | 15.68 km2 (6.05 sq mi) |
| Population | 12,449 (2001) 12,987 (2011) |
| • Density | 794/km2 (2,060/sq mi) |
| OS grid reference | TQ435935 |
| • London | 12 mi (19 km) SW |
| Civil parish |
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| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | CHIGWELL |
| Postcode district | IG7 |
| Dialling code | 020 |
| Police | Essex |
| Fire | Essex |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| EU Parliament | East of England |
| UK Parliament |
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Chigwell is a town in Essex, England. It is part of the Epping Forest District. Chigwell is very close to the northern edge of Greater London. It is also connected to London by the Central line of the London Underground train system. In 2011, about 12,987 people lived in Chigwell.
Contents
History
What's in a Name?
The name Chigwell probably comes from an old English name, "Cicca's well." A "well" here means a spring or a source of water. So, it might mean "Cicca's spring." In old books, the name was spelled in different ways, like "Cinghe uuella."
Some people thought the name came from a "king's well." This well was believed to be near the border of what is now the London Borough of Redbridge. There were also several special springs in Chigwell Row. People thought these springs had healing powers.
How Chigwell Grew
Chigwell used to be a small farming village. But now, it's mostly a suburban area with many homes. Chigwell was even mentioned in the Domesday Book, which was a big survey of England made in 1086.
The famous writer Charles Dickens wrote about Chigwell in his book Barnaby Rudge: A Tale of the Riots 'Eighty. The "Maypole Inn" in his book is based on a real inn in Chigwell called the King's Head. Dickens loved visiting Chigwell. He once wrote that it was "the greatest place in the world" with a "delicious old inn" and "beautiful forest scenery."
RAF Chigwell
From 1933 to 1958, the RAF (Royal Air Force) had a base in Chigwell. During World War II, this base helped protect the area with barrage balloons. These were big balloons that made it harder for enemy planes to fly low. Later, during the Cold War, the base was part of Britain's system to warn about nuclear attacks. Today, some of the old RAF Chigwell site is a Local Nature Reserve called Roding Valley Meadows.
How Chigwell is Run
Chigwell has its own local council called the Chigwell Parish Council. This council helps manage local services and represents the people of Chigwell. The council offices are on Hainault Road.
People living in Chigwell vote for councillors from three areas: Grange Hill, Chigwell Row, and Chigwell Village. These local councillors also work with the larger Epping Forest District Council and Essex County Council.
Geography
The small village of Chigwell Row is to the east of Chigwell. This part of the area has many trees and is mostly countryside. Grange Hill is another area in Chigwell.
Chigwell has about 12,500 people living there. It is known for having many large, nice houses. You can see these houses especially on Manor Road, Hainault Road, and Chigwell High Road. The popular TV show Birds of a Feather was set in Chigwell, though many scenes were filmed elsewhere.
Education
There are several schools in Chigwell. These include Chigwell Primary Academy, Limes Farm Infants School & Nursery, and Limes Farm Junior School. For older students, there's Guru Gobind Singh Khalsa College and West Hatch High School.
One very old school is Chigwell School, which is a private school. It was started in 1629 by Samuel Harsnett, who was an Archbishop. Famous people who went to Chigwell School include William Penn, who later founded Pennsylvania in America. Another famous student was the actor Sir Ian Holm. The original schoolroom from the 1600s, where William Penn studied, is still standing today. It is now the school library.
Culture
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Many sports teams have connections to Chigwell. The Tottenham Hotspur Football Club used to have its training facilities here until 2012. Even now, they run training sessions for young people in the area. The Leyton Orient Football Club also has a training ground next to Chigwell School.
If you like sports, there's a David Lloyd Leisure Centre with tennis courts and swimming pools. You can also find a Holmes Place Health Club, Topgolf (where you can hit golf balls), and the Chigwell Golf Club. The Chigwell Cricket Club and the Old Loughtonians Hockey Club are also based here.
Chigwell has two pubs: the King William IV and the Two Brewers.
The old pub called Ye Olde King's Head was open until 2011. It is believed to be the "Maypole Inn" from Charles Dickens' book Barnaby Rudge. This historic building is now a Turkish restaurant.
There is also a Local Nature Reserve called Roding Valley Meadows. It follows the River Roding and is a great place to enjoy nature.
The TV show Birds of a Feather was set in Chigwell.
Transport
Most of the bus services in Chigwell are run by Transport for London. These buses help people get around the area.
Chigwell has two train stations on the Central line of the London Underground: Chigwell station and Grange Hill station. These stations connect Chigwell to London. Other nearby stations like Buckhurst Hill and Loughton also offer train services.
Notable people
Many interesting people have lived in or are connected to Chigwell:
- Thomas Edwards, a brave soldier who received the Victoria Cross.
- Sally Gunnell, a famous athlete.
- Admiral Sir Eliab Harvey, a Royal Navy officer.
- Simon Harris, a music producer.
- Scott Kashket, a football player.
- Harriet King, a Victorian poet.
- Lieutenant-General Sir Francis Lloyd, a British Army officer.
- Bobby Moore, a legendary footballer who captained England to win the 1966 FIFA World Cup.
- Geoff Hurst, another footballer from the 1966 World Cup-winning team.
- Lieutenant Colonel Augustus Charles Newman, who also received the Victoria Cross.
- Ronnie O'Sullivan, a famous snooker player.
- Ruth Rendell, a crime writer.
- George Shillibeer, who created the first London omnibus.
- Alan Sugar, a well-known businessman and TV personality from The Apprentice.
- General Sir John Watson, another Victoria Cross recipient.
- Vicki Michelle, an actress.
- Dave Gahan, a singer from the band Depeche Mode.
- Joey Essex, a television personality.
See also
In Spanish: Chigwell para niños
