Chipping Ongar facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chipping Ongar |
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 High Street |
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 Chipping Ongar
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| Area | 1.560 km2 (0.602 sq mi) |
| Population | 6,420 (2020 estimate) |
| • Density | 4,115/km2 (10,660/sq mi) |
| OS grid reference | TL555035 |
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| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | ONGAR |
| Postcode district | CM5 |
| Dialling code | 01277 |
| Police | Essex |
| Fire | Essex |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| EU Parliament | East of England |
| UK Parliament |
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Chipping Ongar is a historic market town in Essex, England. It is part of the Epping Forest District. The town is located about 6 miles (10 km) east of Epping. It is also about 7 miles (11 km) southeast of Harlow and northwest of Brentwood. In 2020, about 6,420 people lived in the Chipping Ongar area.
Contents
What's in a Name? The Meaning of Ongar
The name "Ongar" comes from an old word meaning "grass land." You can see a similar word in German, Anger.
The word "Chipping" means "a market" or "a market-place." It comes from an Old English word, cēping. You can find "Chipping" in other town names too, like Chipping Norton and Chipping Sodbury. This part of the name tells us that Chipping Ongar was once a very important place for trading goods.
Chipping Ongar's Past: A Look at History
Chipping Ongar was a busy market town during the Medieval period. It was the main town for a large area called a "hundred."
Ongar Castle and Old Churches
The town still has parts of Ongar Castle. This castle was built by the Normans around 1086. It was later taken down between 1558 and 1603.
St Martin's Church is the local Church of England parish church. It was built in the 11th century and still shows signs of its Norman design. A small window in the church might have been for a hermit, someone who lived alone to pray, in medieval times.
Just 2 miles (3 km) west of Ongar is St Andrew's Parish Church in Greensted. Many people believe this is the oldest wooden church in the world!
Famous People and Local Changes
The famous missionary and explorer David Livingstone lived in Chipping Ongar in 1838. He came here to learn from a local minister while training for his work.
In 1965, the old area of Chipping Ongar became part of a new, larger parish called Ongar. This new parish also included the areas of Greensted and Shelley.
Over the years, many small local businesses have closed or moved. This happened especially after the M11 motorway opened in the 1970s. Now, Ongar is often seen as a "dormitory town." This means many people who live here travel to bigger towns like London, Brentwood, or Harlow for work.
Literary and Heroic Connections
Jane Taylor (1783–1824) is buried in Ongar. She wrote the words to the famous children's song, "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star".
There is a special window in St Helen's Catholic Church for Father Thomas Byles. He was a priest in Chipping Ongar from 1905. Father Byles sadly died on the Titanic in 1912. He bravely stayed on the ship to pray with other passengers, refusing to leave in a lifeboat.
Schools and Airfields of the Past
Ongar Grammar School was a private school for boys in Chipping Ongar. It opened in 1811 and was known by different names over the years. The school closed in 1940.
RAF Chipping Ongar was a military airfield used during World War II. It was about 2 miles (3 km) northeast of Chipping Ongar. The airfield opened in 1943 and was used by both the Royal Air Force and the United States Army Air Forces. It was mainly used for bomber planes during the war. The airfield closed in 1959.
Learning in Ongar: Education Today
Chipping Ongar Infant School and Chipping Ongar Junior School joined together in the mid-1980s. They now form Chipping Ongar Primary School, located on Greensted Road.
Another primary school, Ongar Primary School, is just north of Chipping Ongar in Shelley. For older students, The Ongar Academy in Shelley provides secondary education for the Ongar area.
Exploring Ongar: Geography and Surroundings
Chipping Ongar is located where several old roads meet. These roads connect it to places like Chelmsford, Epping, Dunmow, and Chigwell.
The civil parish of Ongar includes several areas. From north to south, these are Shelley, Chipping Ongar, and Marden Ash. Greensted is to the southwest.
The Historic High Street
The middle part of Ongar High Street is wide, like many old English market towns. This wide street allowed space for markets in Saxon times. The High Street has over 70 buildings that are "listed," meaning they are protected for their history. This area is part of the Chipping Ongar Conservation Area. The wide street also allows for some short-term parking, which helps local shops. However, some parts of the High Street are still very narrow, with shops close to the road.
Countryside Around Ongar
Much of the land around Ongar is made up of large farms. These farms mostly grow crops. In the past, there was more dairy farming because London was close by. But in recent decades, many hedges were removed, and fields became larger. Now, there are efforts to replant hedges and trees. The soil in the area is heavy clay. This means the land can get very wet in winter.
Getting Around: Transport in Chipping Ongar
Chipping Ongar is less than 25 miles (40 km) from Central London. It is also close to major motorways. The M11 motorway is about 6 miles (10 km) away, and the M25 motorway is about 8 miles (13 km) away. The A414 road runs through Ongar, connecting Chelmsford to Harlow.
Parking and Roads
In the town centre, there are rules for parking. You can park for 20 minutes with no return for 2 hours. There are also three paid car parks with space for 530 vehicles.
Some local people have asked for the speed limit to be lowered on the A414 road. However, police officials have said that a lower speed limit might not be followed by drivers.
Bus Services
Buses in Ongar connect to nearby towns like Brentwood, Chelmsford, Harlow, and Epping. Different bus companies operate these routes. The Epping Ongar Railway also runs special heritage bus services. These buses connect Ongar to North Weald and Epping on weekends and holidays.
Railway Connections
The Central line train service between Epping and Ongar closed in 1994. This means there is no longer a regular commuter train service from Ongar.
However, the Epping Ongar Railway now runs special steam and diesel trains on the old tracks. These heritage services run from North Weald Station to Ongar Station on Saturdays, Sundays, and Bank Holidays. They started running again in May 2012 after renovations.
The closest London Underground station for commuters is Epping, about 7 miles (11 km) away. The nearest regular train station is Brentwood, also 7 miles (11 km) away. This station is now served by the Elizabeth line. Harlow Town Station, a National Rail station, is about 9 miles (14 km) to the northwest.
International Friends: Town Twinning
Chipping Ongar is twinned with a town in France called Cerizay. This means the two towns have a special friendship and often exchange visits.
See also
In Spanish: Chipping Ongar para niños
