South Woodham Ferrers facts for kids
Quick facts for kids South Woodham Ferrers |
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 Queen Elizabeth II Square |
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 South Woodham Ferrers
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| Population | 16,453 (2011) |
| OS grid reference | TQ812970 |
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | CHELMSFORD |
| Postcode district | CM3 |
| Dialling code | 01245 |
| Police | Essex |
| Fire | Essex |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| EU Parliament | East of England |
| UK Parliament |
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South Woodham Ferrers is a town located in Essex, England. It is part of the City of Chelmsford. The town is about 35 miles (56 km) east of London. It is also 8 miles (13 km) south-east of Chelmsford. In 2011, about 16,453 people lived there.
The town sits east of Fenn Creek. This creek flows into the River Crouch. South Woodham Ferrers is part of the Maldon area for Parliament. Sir John Whittingdale is the local Member of Parliament (MP).
Contents
History of South Woodham Ferrers
Before 1889, South Woodham Ferrers was mostly farmland. The area began to grow when the railway station opened that year. The station was first called "Woodham Ferris". It was built to serve the nearby village of Woodham Ferrers. This village is about 1 mile (1.6 km) north of the station.
Over time, South Woodham Ferrers slowly grew around the station. Farmland was divided into plots and sold. In 1974, Essex County Council made a big plan. This plan was to greatly expand the town. It included building many new homes and facilities. A new town centre was also part of this plan.
South Woodham Ferrers was part of the Woodham Ferrers parish until 1987. On April 1, 1987, it became its own separate parish. Many street names in the town's southwest area come from the books of J. R. R. Tolkien. Examples include Gandalf's Ride, Hobbiton Hill, and Rivendell Vale. The town also has a weekly magazine called 'The South Woodham Focus'. It started in 2000.
Town Centre and Shopping
The town centre has about 100 different businesses. Nearly half of these are shops. The rest are professional services like banks. There are also many places to eat, such as cafés and restaurants.
The supermarket chain Asda opened a store here in 1978. This made them a main shop in the town. In 2001, Asda bought most of the town centre land. They then sold some of it to another company, SW Investments. Asda now owns the town's car parks and Queen Elizabeth II Square. They also own about one-third of the shops. SW Investments owns most of the other areas, including Market Square.
In 1981, Queen Elizabeth II visited the town. She officially opened the town square. It was named after her, Queen Elizabeth II Square.
Schools in the Town
The main secondary school in South Woodham Ferrers is William de Ferrers School. Its first students started in 1982. The town also has five primary schools. These are Collingwood, Elmwood, St. Josephs RC, Trinity St. Mary's C of E, and Woodville. Chetwood Primary School closed in 2009. A Sure Start centre took its place.
Bushy Hill: A Local Landmark
Bushy Hill is located north of South Woodham Ferrers. It is part of the town council area. The west side of Bushy Hill was covered in trees. Locals called this area "Little Wood." Another area, "Big Wood," is closer to Edwin's Hall. It is also known as "Bluebell Wood."
Later, Bushy Hill became known as "Radar Hill." This was because of a large radar testing site there. Companies like Marconi and BAE Systems used this site. They developed radar technology, some for military use. The site is still used today. The large dish that gave the hill its nickname is now gone. A walking path goes around the site. Signs warn of "helicopters landing" and "danger of radiation." The site is secured with gates and cameras.
Before Marconi, Bushy Hill was also called "Landslip Hill." This name came from the south side of the hill. Part of it has slid away, leaving a bare slope. You can clearly see this from the town.
Getting Around: Transport Options
Road Travel
The town is connected by the A132 road. This road links to the A130 and A127. These are important main routes. The B1012 road goes east to Southminster and Burnham-on-Crouch. The B1418 road goes north to Danbury.
Train Services
South Woodham Ferrers railway station is on the Crouch Valley Line. This line runs from Wickford to Southminster. The station's name has changed over time. It was first "Woodham Ferris." In 1913, it became "Woodham Ferrers." It got its current name in 2007.
Ferry Crossings
In the past, there was a ferry. It crossed the River Crouch to places like Hullbridge.
Air Travel
Southend Airport is about 6 miles (10 km) away from the town.
Media and Entertainment
South Woodham Ferrers is in the BBC London and ITV London TV regions. Television signals come from the Crystal Palace transmitter. Local radio stations include BBC Essex (95.3 FM), Heart Essex (102.6 FM), and Radio Essex (107.7 FM). The town has a local community magazine called 'The Focus'. It is published every two weeks. There is also a local newspaper, the Essex Chronicle.
Music in South Woodham Ferrers
The town has two choirs. The men's choir was once named after the town. It now performs as men2sing. The women's choir is called The Swift Singers.
Local Government
South Woodham Ferrers has three levels of local government. These are the Town Council, Chelmsford City Council, and Essex County Council. The Town Council meets and has its offices at Champions Manor Hall. This hall also serves as a community centre. In 2006, South Woodham Ferrers elected its first town mayor.
Sports and Activities
South Woodham Ferrers has many sports clubs. The Rugby Club has a clubhouse at Saltcoats Park. They have teams for different age groups, from under 7s to adults. There are also ladies' and veterans' teams.
The Cricket Club has three teams. They play home games at Purleigh CC and Saltcoats Park. South Woodham Ferrers also has several amateur football teams. South Woodham Ferrers United FC is the largest. It has over 40 teams, from young children to adults. Other teams include William De Ferrers, Woodham Athletic, and Woodham Radars.
Team Bentham is a skateboard team from the town. They won the 'Lord of the Swords' competition in Essex in 2019. The team is named after the English thinker Jeremy Bentham.
Famous People from South Woodham Ferrers
- Terry Alderton, a comedian and actor
- Gordon Southern, a comedian
- Jon Morter, known for his music campaigns and radio work
- James Harper, a professional footballer
- Frank Bruno, a professional boxer (he used to train here)
See also
In Spanish: South Woodham Ferrers para niños
