Good Easter facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Good Easter |
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 Crossroads at Good Easter |
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 Good Easter
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| OS grid reference | TL624122 |
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Chelmsford |
| Postcode district | CM1 |
| Dialling code | 01245 |
| Police | Essex |
| Fire | Essex |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| EU Parliament | East of England |
Good Easter is a small village and a local area (called a civil parish) in the Chelmsford district of Essex, England. It's about 6 miles (10 km) northwest of Chelmsford, which is a city and the main town of Essex. The area of Good Easter also includes two smaller communities called Farmbridge End and Tye Green. A main road, the A1060, runs along the southern edge of the parish.
Contents
The Story of Good Easter's Name
The name 'Good Easter' might sound like the holiday, but it actually has a different origin! It comes from an old word, Estre, which was used in the 11th century. This word meant a 'sheep fold' or a 'place where sheep are kept'.
The village was mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Estra. By the year 1200, it was called Godithestre. The 'Good' part of the name comes from an Anglo-Saxon woman's name, Godgyth or Godgifu. She likely owned the land at that time.
Good Easter has a sister village nearby called High Easter. Its name comes from the same 'sheep fold' meaning. The 'High' part simply means it was geographically higher up.
A Look Back at Good Easter's Past
For many years, from the late 1800s to the early 1900s, Good Easter was part of the Dunmow Hundred. This was an old way of dividing up land. The village also belonged to the Chelmsford Union, which helped people who were poor.
The Village Church
The local church, St Andrew, has records that go all the way back to 1538! This means people have been worshipping there for nearly 500 years. In 1902, the church could seat about 250 people.
The church has been repaired and improved several times.
- In 1878, it was restored for £600.
- A fire in 1885 caused damage, but the church was fixed in 1886 for £2,200.
- In 1891, three of its five bells were replaced, and two new ones were added.
- A new organ was put in the church in 1910.
Land and Farming
The land around Good Easter is made of a type of soil called marl and clay. Farmers in the late 1800s and early 1900s mostly grew crops like wheat, barley, and beans.
The size of the parish changed a bit over time:
- In 1882, it was about 2,081 acres (8.42 km²).
- By 1902, it was 1,983 acres (8.03 km²) plus five acres of water.
- In 1914, it was 1,987 acres (8.04 km²) plus one acre of water.
The number of people living in the village also changed:
- In 1881, there were 520 people.
- In 1901, there were 488 people in the civil parish and 534 in the church parish.
- By 1914, the population was 453 (civil) and 485 (church).
Some parts of the parish boundaries were changed in 1884. A piece of Mashbury parish was added to Good Easter, and a piece of Good Easter was added to Margaret Roothing parish.
Schools in Good Easter
A public elementary school for boys and girls was built in 1844. Later, in 1872, a special school board was created. They built a new school in 1874 for £1,200. This new school could hold 100 students.
The school was made bigger in 1895 to fit 130 students. In 1902, about 67 older students and 30 younger children (infants) usually attended the school.
Village Life and Jobs
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, many people in Good Easter worked in farming. There were also several important businesses in the village:
- Public Houses: Places like the Old Star, the Wheeler's Arms, The Fountain, and the Hop Pole were popular gathering spots. The owner of the Old Star was also a draper and grocer.
- Skilled Workers: There were carpenters, a shoemaker, a miller and baker, and a blacksmith. The owner of the Wheeler's Arms was also a wheelwright.
- Other Businesses: A shopkeeper, a hay and straw carter, and a solicitor also worked in the village.
By 1902, a shop called 'Good Easter Stores' sold many things, including groceries, clothes, shoes, and hardware. In 1914, the village still had farmers, blacksmiths, and a baker.
Famous People from Good Easter
- Beth Chatto was a well-known gardener who was born in Good Easter. She created famous gardens and wrote books about plants.
- Two vicars (church leaders) from Good Easter, Tully Kingdon and Goodwin Hudson, later became bishops in the Anglican Church.
