Widford is an area of
Chelmsford
Chelmsford () is a City status in the United Kingdom, city in the City of Chelmsford district in the county of Essex, England. It is the county town of Essex and one of three cities in the county, along with Southend-on-Sea and Colchester. It ...
and former
civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a type of administrative parish used for local government. It is a territorial designation which is the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties, or their combined form, the unitary authorit ...
, now in the
unparished area
In England, an unparished area is an area that is not covered by a civil parish (the lowest level of local government, not to be confused with an ecclesiastical parish). Most urbanised districts of England are either entirely or partly unpa ...
of Chelmsford, in the
Chelmsford
Chelmsford () is a City status in the United Kingdom, city in the City of Chelmsford district in the county of Essex, England. It is the county town of Essex and one of three cities in the county, along with Southend-on-Sea and Colchester. It ...
district, in the county of
Essex
Essex () is a county in the East of England. One of the home counties, it borders Suffolk and Cambridgeshire to the north, the North Sea to the east, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent across the estuary of the River Thames to the south, and Grea ...
, England. It is approximately south-south-west of the city's railway station. It encloses a mixed residential, industrial and rural area south of the
River Can
The River Can is a river in Essex, England. Chelmsford is centred on the confluence of the Can and the River Chelmer. The Can enters Chelmsford from the west, joining the Chelmer to the east of the city. From the confluence, the Can becomes pa ...
, east of the River Wid and mostly to the west of the
Great Eastern Main Line. In 1931 the parish had a population of 457.
Toponymy
Widford is first recorded in 1216 (as ''Witford''); the later 13th century forms ''Wydiford'' and ''Wydeford'' show that derivation from "withig" (by the willows) is probable. The name of the River Wid is a later back formation.
History
In early times the area was inhabited by the
Iceni
The Iceni ( , ) or Eceni were a Brittonic tribe of eastern Britain during the Iron Age and early Roman era. Their territory included present-day Norfolk and parts of Suffolk and Cambridgeshire, and bordered the area of the Corieltauvi to the we ...
and later by the
East Saxons
la, Regnum Orientalium Saxonum
, conventional_long_name = Kingdom of the East Saxons
, common_name = Essex
, era = Heptarchy
, status =
, status_text =
, government_type = Monarch ...
. In 1329, the manor of Widford was held by
Edward of Woodstock
Edward of Woodstock, known to history as the Black Prince (15 June 1330 – 8 June 1376), was the eldest son of King Edward III of England, and the List of heirs to the English throne, heir apparent to the English throne. He died before his fat ...
, Earl of Kent; and it afterwards passed to the Mortimer, Bacon, Altham, and other families.
On 1 April 1936 the parish was abolished and merged with Chelmsford, part also went to
Writtle
The village and civil parish of Writtle lies west of Chelmsford, Essex, England. It has a traditional village green complete with duck pond and a Norman church, and was once described as "one of the loveliest villages in England, with a ravis ...
.
Account of Widford in 1848
''White’s Directory of Essex'', published in 1848, describes Widford as 'a small parish on the London road' (the old Roman road which has become the A414, Widford Road & Moulsham Street). It contained of land, and about 190 inhabitants. When the census was taken in July 1841, its population had been swelled by railway labourers to 362. Widford village had about 300 occupants, but appeared to have been split so that some of it was in Chelmsford parish.
John Attwood MP owned most of the land and lord of the manor. The description from 1848 goes on to say that he 'has a handsome seat here, called Hylands on the western acclivity of the valley, commanding extensive views. Though the house was large and handsome, he is now erecting a more elegant and spacious mansion. The park and pleasure grounds are extensive and beautiful. The old house was erected by Chief Justice
John Comyns
Sir John Comyns SL (c. 1667 – 1 November 1740), of Writtle in Essex, was an English judge and Member of Parliament.
Early life
He was born the eldest surviving son of William Comyns, barrister, of Lincoln's Inn and his wife Elizabeth, the da ...
, Kt, in about 1730, and was much improved by the late P. C. Labouchere, Esq. Mr. Attwood is one of the parliamentary representatives of Harwich.'
The description of the village goes on 'the Church (St. Mary) is a small neat structure of mixed architecture, but evidently of Saxon origin. The wooden turret, at the west end, has two bells, and is crowned by a small spire. There is a chapel belonging to the lord of the manor, and near it is a monument in memory of Viscountess Falkland. The rectory, valued in K.B. at £8, and in 1831, at £225, is in the patronage of J Attwood and incumbency of the Rev William Buswell BA, who has a good residence, which he has lately much improved. The tithes were commuted in 1838, for £257 per annum. Mr. Attwood built a Schoolhouse in the church yard in 1843. In 1776, Lady Falkland left £200 to this parish, to provide for a weekly contribution of bread among the pool attending the church. To increase this charity, the Rev John Saunders left £100 in 1814. These bequests now form a fund of £379.4s.9d. three per cent Consols, and the dividends are applied in a weekly distribution of 17 threepenny loaves. In 1738, Benjamin Sarjant left £100 three per cent. Reduced Annuities, in trust, to apply the dividends yearly in clothing, for two poor widows, and two poor widowers.'
Notable buildings
The 1881 map of the area appears to show five buildings of significance: Hylands House, Widford Hall, Widford Lodge, St Mary's church and the workhouse.
*
Hylands Park
Hylands House is a Grade II* neo-classical villa situated within Hylands Park a 232-hectare (574 acre) park southwest of Chelmsford in Essex in South East England. It is owned and operated by Chelmsford City Council.
History
The last private ...
and House is now in the ownership of
Chelmsford City Council
Chelmsford () is a city in the City of Chelmsford district in the county of Essex, England. It is the county town of Essex and one of three cities in the county, along with Southend-on-Sea and Colchester. It is located north-east of London at ...
and its history is well documented. It is no longer in the former civil parish of Widford.
*Widford Hall still exists. When it was sold in 1949 it was recorded as a 'freehold corn and dairy farm comprising Georgian residence known as Widford Hall, with gardens, grounds, tennis court, summerhouse, with agricultural buildings including cow house, Dutch barn, 6 cottages and 259 acres of arable and pasture land; and an enclosure of freehold land used as allotments in total about 1.75 acres.
It has been converted to offices and is surrounded by Widford Industrial Estate.
*Widford Lodge remains too. On its sale in 1933 it was described as 'a freehold estate comprising residence which includes billiard room, 6 principal bedrooms, 3 garages, outbuildings including stables, kennels, greenhouses, two tennis courts, gardens and park lands, gardener's or chauffeur's cottages, in total 18 acres with extensive frontages to the main Chelmsford to London road, and to Wood Street'.
It became an independent preparatory school in 1935 following its resale when it had been trimmed to consist of a 'freehold estate comprising detached residence with gardens, lawns, lily pool, and outbuildings, with grounds of about 1 acre' in 1934.
*Parish church: It was designed by
James Piers St Aubyn
James Piers St Aubyn (6 April 1815 – 8 May 1895), often referred to as J P St Aubyn, was an English architect of the Victorian era, known for his church architecture and confident restorations.
Early life
St Aubyn was born at Powick Vicara ...
and built in 1862.
*The former workhouse became a hospital and has since been sold for development as a residential area. Its history is also well documented.
*Silent Woman Inn: reputed to be the only Silent Woman in Essex. This was a public house on the old main road opposite the White Horse. The original pub sign showing a picture of a woman with her head cut off is now in the Chelmsford and Essex Museum in Oaklands Park.
[http://www.chelmsforduk.co.uk/historydetail.php?id=7017&f=Chelmsford ]
*The Sir
Evelyn Wood public house, has another unique pub sign and pays tribute to the Essex celebrity of that name who was born at
Cressing
Cressing is a village and civil parish in the Braintree district of Essex, England. Within the parish is the village of Tye Green and the hamlet of Hawbush Green.
Cressing Temple is south from Cressing village, and less than 1 mile east from ...
vicarage in 1838 and became a great military hero in Victorian times. Large crowds gathered at the
Shire Hall, Chelmsford
The Shire Hall is a municipal facility in Tindal Square in Chelmsford, Essex. It is a Grade II* listed building.
History
The current building was commissioned to replace an ageing 16th sessions house at the north end of the High Street which ho ...
, when he was presented with a Sword of Honour on 14 October 1879, and again in 1903 when he received the Freedom of the Borough in recognition of his promotion to Field Marshal. He died at Harlow in 1919 at the age of 71 years.
References
External links
Essex genealogy resources on Genuki{{Chelmsford
Populated places in Essex
Former civil parishes in Essex
Chelmsford