Rochford facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rochford |
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 Town Square, Rochford |
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 Rochford
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| Population | 8,471 (2011 census) |
| OS grid reference | TQ876904 |
| Civil parish |
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| District |
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| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Rochford |
| Postcode district | SS4 |
| Dialling code | 01702 |
| Police | Essex |
| Fire | Essex |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| EU Parliament | East of England |
| UK Parliament |
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Rochford is a town and civil parish in the Rochford District in Essex, England. It is about 3 miles (5 km) north of Southend-on-Sea. Rochford is also about 43 miles (69 km) from London and 21 miles (34 km) from Chelmsford. In 2011, the town had a population of 8,471 people.
Contents
A Look at Rochford's Past
Rochford is the main town in its district. Its name comes from an Old English word, "Rochefort." This means "Ford of the Hunting Dogs." A "ford" is a shallow place in a river where you can cross. The town's buildings now connect to nearby areas like Ashingdon and Hawkwell. Kings Hill, a place in Rochford, was once famous for holding the Lawless Court until the 1800s.
The Peculiar People's Story
In 1837, two preachers named James Banyard and William Bridges rented an old workhouse in Rochford. This building became the first church for a group called the Peculiar People. They got their name from the Bible.
The Peculiar People had a lively way of worshipping. They followed the King James Bible very strictly. They believed in banning fun activities and even medicine. During the two World Wars, some members refused to fight. They believed that war went against the teachings of Jesus Christ. Today, the Peculiar People are known as the Union of Evangelical Churches.
Rochford and the World Wars
The area near Rochford played a part in both World Wars.
World War I: A Fighter Station
Southend Airport started as a grass airfield for fighter planes during World War I. It was set up in late 1914. The land was used by the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) for training pilots. In 1915, the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) took over. It became a base for fighting against German airships called Zeppelins at night.
World War II: RAF Rochford
Southend Airport officially opened in 1935. As World War II got closer, the Air Ministry took it over in 1939. It became a fighter airfield called RAF Rochford. It was a satellite station for another air base, RAF Hornchurch. RAF Rochford was mainly home to famous fighter planes like the Supermarine Spitfire and Hawker Hurricane. There was also a radar base nearby in Canewdon. The airfield was bombed several times during the war. It went back to being a civilian airport in 1946.
Rochford's Location
Rochford is located just north of Southend-on-Sea. It is a separate town from both Southend and Rayleigh.
How Rochford is Governed
Rochford is part of a larger area that elects people to the UK Parliament. The Member of Parliament (MP) for Rochford and Southend East is Bayo Alaba from the Labour Party. An "electoral ward" is a local area for voting. In 2011, the Rochford ward had 7,695 people. The wider Rochford District, which includes Rayleigh, Hockley, and Hawkwell, also has an MP. The MP for Rayleigh and Wickford is Mark Gino Francois from the Conservative Party.
Important Buildings and Places
Rochford Hall is a historic building. It is now privately owned by the Rochford Hundred Golf Club. The Corn Exchange building was finished in 1866. Today, it is home to the local branch of the Women's Institute.
Fun and Sports in Rochford
Rochford offers places for sports and outdoor activities.
Leisure Centre
Clements Hall Leisure Centre is a sports and fitness center. It is managed by Fusion Lifestyle for the Rochford District Council.
Walking Trails
The Roach Valley Way is a long walking path. It is 23 miles (37 km) long and goes in a circle around Rochford. The path follows the River Crouch and River Roach estuaries.
Sports Clubs
- Rochford Hundred Rugby Club was started in 1962. As of 2019, they play in a high-level rugby league.
- Rochford Town Football Club is a local soccer team. They play in the second division of the Essex Olympian Football League.
- Rankin's Cricket Club was formed in 1881. They play in the T Rippon Mid Essex League.
Getting Around Rochford
Rochford has good transport links.
Trains
Trains run from Rochford railway station. You can go east to Southend Victoria. Or you can go west to Liverpool Street station in central London. Southend Airport railway station opened in 2011. It is located right next to the airport.
Buses
Rochford also has bus services to nearby towns. Routes 7, 8, and 9 connect to Rayleigh and Southend-on-Sea.
Flights
London Southend Airport offers flights to over twenty places in Europe.
Media and News
Rochford gets local TV news from BBC East and ITV Anglia. TV signals come from the Sudbury TV transmitter. You can also get BBC London and ITV London from the Crystal Palace TV transmitter.
Local radio stations include BBC Essex (95.3 FM), Heart East (97.5 FM), and Radio Essex (105.1 FM).
The local newspaper for the town is the Southend Echo.
Rochford Hospital's Role
Rochford Hospital used to be the main maternity hospital for the area. In 1956, a nurse named Sister J Ward made important observations there. Her work helped create phototherapy, a treatment for newborn babies with jaundice. Most of the hospital site was later turned into housing. This happened after most services moved to Southend Hospital in 1990. Only the Acute Adult Inpatient Service remained on a small part of the old site.
Churches in Rochford
Rochford has several churches, showing its long history of faith.
St Andrew's Parish Church
St Andrew's Church is an old Church of England parish church. It is close to Rochford Hall. It is part of the Rochford Deanery and the Diocese of Chelmsford. People believe it started in Anglo-Saxon times. However, the church building you see today was built between the 14th and 16th centuries. It is a Grade II* listed building, which means it is a very important historic building.
Other Churches
- Rochford Congregational Church has been part of the community since 1750. This church also started the first school in the area for people who were not part of the main church. They made sure ordinary people could get a good education.
- Rochford Methodist Church is near the White Horse Public House. Methodists have been in Rochford since 1822. They first met in a building near Market Alley. In 1841, they moved to a new building. Then, in 1880, they moved to their current church.
- Rochford Community Church was founded in 1987. It meets at The Freight House, which is near the railway station.
Catholic Church
There is a Roman Catholic church in Ashington Road, Rochford. It is named after St Teresa of the Child Jesus. It was founded in 1953, and the current church building opened in 1977.
Famous People from Rochford
Many interesting people have connections to Rochford:
- Arthur Aitken, a military commander
- Jamie Cullum, a jazz-pop musician
- Terry Alderton, a comedian and former footballer
- Peter Allen, a journalist and radio presenter
- Barrie Delf, a professional footballer
- Digby Fairweather, a jazz musician
- Brenda Forbes, an actress from both England and America
- Philip Guard, an actor
- Dean Macey, an athlete
- Mike Penning, a Conservative MP
- Richard Rich, 1st Baron Rich, an important government official who died in Rochford in 1567
- Rachel Riley, a TV presenter and mathematician, born in Rochford
- Will Stevens, a racing driver
- Amanda Tapping, an actress, producer, and director, born in Rochford
- Andrew Tyrie, a Conservative MP
- Omar Abdullah, a former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, India
- James Bourne, singer and guitarist for the band McBusted
- Paul Stephenson (civil rights campaigner), a leader in the Bristol Bus Boycott
- Matthew Yates, an athlete
- Susannah Carr, an Australian television news presenter, born in Rochford
- Niall Buckler, founder and bass player of the band Mumm-Ra (band), was born here.
See also
In Spanish: Rochford para niños
