Copford facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Copford |
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 Copford police station |
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 Copford
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| Population | 1,689 (2011) |
| OS grid reference | TL9223 |
| Civil parish |
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| District |
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| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Colchester |
| Postcode district | CO6 |
| Dialling code | 01206 |
| Police | Essex |
| Fire | Essex |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| EU Parliament | East of England |
| UK Parliament |
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Copford is a friendly village in Essex, England. It's located about 3 kilometers (2 miles) west of the city of Colchester. You can also find a smaller area called Copford Green nearby. A famous poet, Matthew Arnold, once visited Copford and said he was amazed by how peaceful and "deeply rural" the village and its surroundings felt.
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Discovering Copford's Past
Did you know Copford was once owned by the Bishop of London? This means it was like a large estate controlled by the church leader. After Bishop Edmund Bonner passed away in 1569, the land briefly belonged to the King or Queen of England. But by 1609, it went back to being owned by private families.
The local church, St Michael and All Angels, is very old and special. It was built in the 1100s and is famous for its amazing wall paintings. These paintings are from the 12th century and are some of the best examples of Norman art in England! They were carefully cleaned and fixed up in the late 1800s. Right next to the church, you'll find Copford Hall, which is a grand old house.
How Copford is Governed
Copford is part of a local area called Copford and West Stanway. This area helps make decisions about the village. In 2011, about 1,915 people lived in this part of Copford.
Getting Around Copford
Copford is easy to reach! It's located about half a mile east of where two main roads, the A12 and the A120, meet near Marks Tey.
If you prefer trains, the closest station is Marks Tey. From there, you can catch a train on the Great Eastern Main Line. This line connects London to Norwich, making it simple to travel to bigger cities.
For local trips, bus services 70 and 71 run along London Road. These buses can take you to Colchester, Chelmsford, and Braintree. If you live in Copford Green or the nearby village of Easthorpe, there's even a special community bus that runs every Wednesday. Just remember to buy your ticket in advance!
Life in Copford's Community
Copford has three main areas where people live. The biggest is the Queensberry Avenue Estate, which has about 250 houses. The London Road/School Road area, leading down to the Village Hall, has around 190 homes. And the Copford Green area has another 150 houses.
The village has a modern Village Hall, built in the early 1990s, where many community events happen. There's also a school, with some parts dating back to the Victorian era. The school was largely rebuilt in 2002 with a new hall, and a new block for older students was added in 2023.
The Parish Council, which looks after the village, owns two fun play parks. One is behind the Village Hall, and the other is on Queensberry Avenue. They also own some lovely woods with a picnic area and several walking paths, perfect for exploring nature!
Famous People from Copford
- Benjamin Lay: He was an important American abolitionist and Quaker. This means he strongly believed in ending slavery and worked to make that happen.
