Wickford is a town and civil parish in the south of the English county of Essex, with a population of 33,486. Located approximately 30 miles (50 km) east of London, it is within the Borough of Basildon along with the original town of Basildon, Billericay, Laindon and Pitsea. Wickford has a main high street which includes a wide range of shops. It also has a swimming pool, library, open-air market and a community centre within the vicinity of the town centre.

History

Wickford has a history going back over two thousand years. There is evidence that the area itself was inhabited in

prehistoric Prehistory, also known as pre-literary history, is the period of human history between the use of the first stone tools by hominins 3.3 million years ago and the beginning of recorded history with the invention of writing systems. The use of ...

times probably by a tribe of Britons called Trinovantes. There was a Roman military marching camp on the Beauchamps Farm site, which was succeeded by a Roman villa. This is now the site of Beauchamps High School. This area on higher ground was the historic core of Wickford, the site of the manor house and the parish church of St Catherine's. Over time, the commercial centre of Wickford has migrated westwards towards the modern High Street on the other side of the River Crouch. The place name 'Wickford' is first attested in a Saxon charter of 995, where it appears as ''Wicford''; it appears in the Domesday Book of 1086 as ''Wincfort''. The name means 'ford by a wych elm or ford by a dairy-farm'. Before the 20th century, Wickford was an agricultural village. At the time of the Domesday Survey, six land-holders were recorded. Historically, there have been only two considerable estates in Wickford: the manor of Wickford Hall and the manor of Stilemans.

Robert Wikeford Robert Wikeford or de Wikeford (c.1320 – 29 August 1390) was an English-born diplomat, lawyer and judge, who became Lord Chancellor of Ireland and Archbishop of Dublin. Early career He was born at Wickford in Essex, to the de Wickford o ...

or de Wickford (c.1320–90),

Archbishop of Dublin The Archbishop of Dublin is an archepiscopal title which takes its name after Dublin, Ireland. Since the Reformation, there have been parallel apostolic successions to the title: one in the Catholic Church and the other in the Church of Irelan ...

, was born in Wickford and his family are thought to have been

Lords of the Manor Lord of the Manor is a title that, in Anglo-Saxon England, referred to the landholder of a rural estate. The lord enjoyed manorial rights (the rights to establish and occupy a residence, known as the manor house and demesne) as well as seigno ...

of Wickford Hall.

Governance

Wickford was an ancient parish in the county of Essex and, from 1894, had a parish council. In 1934, the parish council was abolished when the town became part of Billericay Urban District. The civil parish was re-created on 1 April 2022. The first town councillors took office following an uncontested election in May 2022, and the council held its first meeting on 16 May 2022 at the Wick Community Centre.

American relations

The village of Wickford in Rhode Island, United States, is believed to have been named after this town. Wickford was also the English birthplace of Elizabeth Reade (1615–72), the second wife of John Winthrop the Younger (1606–76), Governor of Connecticut; she was also a step-daughter of

Hugh Peter Hugh Peter (or Peters) (baptized 29 June 1598 – 16 October 1660) was an English preacher, political advisor and soldier who supported the Parliamentary cause during the English Civil War, and became highly influential. He employed a flamboyant ...

(1598–1660), a prominent supporter of the Parliamentary cause during the English Civil War.

Naturism

Wickford became the birthplace of

Naturism Naturism is a lifestyle of practising non-sexual social nudity in private and in public; the word also refers to the cultural movement which advocates and defends that lifestyle. Both may alternatively be called nudism. Though the two terms ar ...

in the United Kingdom; in 1924, the English Gymnosophist Society was formed and had its home in the town.

Second World War

During the Second World War, the edge of the town was hit by a German doodlebug and, on 6 December 1944, a V-2 rocket fell in Branksome Avenue, about a mile west of the town centre. Around the town, in amongst the

hedgerow A hedge or hedgerow is a line of closely spaced shrubs and sometimes trees, planted and trained to form a barrier or to mark the boundary of an area, such as between neighbouring properties. Hedges that are used to separate a road from adjoini ...

s and fields, there are numerous pillboxes constructed as a part of British anti-invasion preparations.

1958 flood

In 1958, Wickford town centre was hit by a flood which made national news headlines. The most striking image of the flood was a double-decker bus, left stranded at Halls Corner overnight, partly submerged by the floodwater. A second flood, in 1960, meant that changes were made to the course of the River Crouch; this included turning the river into a concrete channel through the centre of the town, although this may be removed in the coming years, depending on the scale of the Wickford Masterplan (see below).

Geography

For the most part, Wickford is flat and above sea level. The highest point, on the outskirts of the town, is above sea level. The River Crouch flows through the town, from the west to the east. The

River Wick Wick River, known also as River Wick, is a river in Caithness in Highland, Scotland. It has its source at the confluence of Scouthal Burn and Strath Burn near Achingale Mill at the northern end of Bardarclay Moss () in the Flow Country. The ...

flows into the River Crouch from the south. The built-up area of Wickford extends into the neighbouring parishes of Runwell to the north and

Shotgate Shotgate is a civil parish and village in Essex, England. On 1 April 2007, Shotgate became the first area of Wickford to have a Parish Council. History Mid-Iron Age pottery found at Shotgate Farm shows that the area was inhabited in 300 BC. I ...

to the east.

Wick Country Park

The Wick Country Park comprises of former agricultural land, with over 2 km (1 1/4 miles) of easy access trails around the site. The trails leads visitors past old hedgerows, the lake, ponds, World War II pillboxes and recent woodland plantings; bridges and boardwalks allow the trails to continue over the North Benfleet brook.

Neighbouring towns and villages

* Basildon * Billericay * Rayleigh *

South Woodham Ferrers South Woodham Ferrers is a town and civil parish in the borough of Chelmsford, in the English county of Essex. It is approximately from London and southeast of the city of Chelmsford, and had a population of 16,453 at the 2011 Census, a decr ...

Battlesbridge Battlesbridge is a village in Essex, England. It straddles the River Crouch which is tidal and navigable up to this point. It is approximately south-southeast of Chelmsford and north of Rayleigh. The north bank of the river is in the civil par ...

Crays Hill Crays Hill is a village in the Basildon borough of Essex, England. The River Crouch passes under Church Lane. The village was listed in Domesday Book of 1086 when the Lord of the manor and tenant-in-chief was Sasselin of Layer. Crays Hill was pa ...

* Downham *

Ramsden Bellhouse Ramsden Bellhouse is a village and civil parish in Essex in the east of England. It is in the Borough of Basildon and in the parliamentary constituency of Billericay. The River Crouch flows through Ramsden Bellhouse, flowing under Church Road. ...

Ramsden Crays Ramsden Crays is a civil parish in the Basildon district of Essex, England. It lies north of Basildon and west of Wickford. The parish includes the village of Crays Hill and is located north of the A127. The River Crouch runs through the parish. ...

Ramsden Heath Ramsden Heath is a village in Essex in the east of England. It is located approximately south of the county town of Chelmsford; the closest towns are Billericay, approximately west-southwest, and Wickford, approximately southeast. The village ...

Rawreth Rawreth is a village and civil parish in the District of Rochford, Essex, England. It is situated between Wickford and Rayleigh. The place-name 'Rawreth' is first attested in the Pipe Rolls for 1177, where it appears as ''Raggerea''. It appea ...

* Rettendon * Runwell * Shotgate * South Hanningfield * West Hanningfield

Transport

Railway

Wickford railway station Wickford railway station is on the Shenfield to Southend Line and is also the western terminus of the Crouch Valley Line in the east of England, serving the town of Wickford in the Basildon district of Essex. It is down the line from Londo ...

is situated on the

Shenfield to Southend Line Shenfield is a commuter suburb of Brentwood, in the borough of Brentwood, Essex, England. In 2020, the suburb was estimated to have a population of 5,396. History The old village (now town), by the church and Green Dragon pub, lies along the ...

, which provides train services between

London Liverpool Street Liverpool Street station, also known as London Liverpool Street, is a central London railway terminus and connected London Underground station in the north-eastern corner of the City of London, in the ward of Bishopsgate Without. It is the t ...

and

Southend Victoria Southend Victoria railway station is the eastern terminus of the Shenfield to Southend Line in the East of England, a branch off the Great Eastern Main Line, and is one of the primary stations serving the resort city of Southend-on-Sea, Essex (t ...

. A journey to London takes approximately 40 minutes. The Crouch Valley Line is a branch line that operates generally hourly services from Wickford to

Southminster Southminster is a town and electoral ward on the Dengie Peninsula in the Maldon district of Essex in the East of England. It lies about north of Burnham-on-Crouch and south-east of Maldon; it is approximately east-north-east of London. To the ...

. Services are operated by Abellio Greater Anglia.

Buses

Bus services in Wickford are operated primarily by First Essex, but also by

Stephensons of Essex Stephensons of Essex is a privately owned bus company based in Rochford, Essex. It operates local bus services throughout Essex and West Suffolk, from headquarters at Rochford, near Southend-on-Sea, and depots at Maldon, Boreham, Braintree and ...

and

NIBS Buses NIBS Buses is a bus and coach operator in Essex, England. History NIBS Buses was established as a coach charter operator in 1968 by Bill and Chris Nelson as Nelson Coaches. In 1971 Beeline Coaches of Brentwood was purchased. By 1980 it operat ...

. Routes include: * 14 Wickford - Hanningfields - Chelmsford * 25 Basildon - Southend * 251 Warley - Brentwood - Wickford * X10 Basildon - Chelmsford - Stansted Airport

Roads

The town can be reached easily via the

A127 The A127, also known as the Southend Arterial Road, is a major road in Essex, England. It was constructed as a new arterial road project in the 1920s, linking Romford with Southend-on-Sea, replacing the older A13. Formerly classified as a tr ...

, which connects east London and Southend-on-Sea, and by the A130 from Chelmsford.

The Master Plan

The Wickford Masterplan was first unveiled at the Wickford Community Centre in December 2004 and published in November 2005 by DTZ Pieda Consulting, at a budget of £125 million, and many of the developments are currently in progress. At the heart of the proposals is the redevelopment of the High Street, which will be redesigned to be the town's premier meeting place. The Masterplan would create new public spaces, enhance the retail environment through the renewal of retail floor space and bring the market into the street scene, promoting urban living above shops and on the existing market site. Adjacent to the River Crouch, a number of high quality residential developments promoted as the "Town Centre Riverside Living" complex would revitalise the riverside as a public asset and promotion of new eating and drinking opportunities. In addition, a new residential development to the west of Market Avenue will be constructed. Promoting the station entrances on both sides of the railway line as key gateways to Wickford are also key areas of the plan, which would enhance transport interchange facilities and bring forward the car park site on Station Road for development as a new multi-storey car park and

mixed-use development Mixed-use is a kind of urban development, urban design, urban planning and/or a zoning type that blends multiple uses, such as residential, commercial, cultural, institutional, or entertainment, into one space, where those functions are to some ...

. As of present only the northern side of the station facing The Broadway is easily accessible, with the southern London-bound track only accessible from the outside though a small out-of-way footpath from Market Avenue as a courteous entrance for wheelchair-using passengers. Public and health services would be improved under the scheme, with the re-organisation of existing health, library and community services into a new 'iconic' building to the east of Market Avenue as an integrated community service facility. The Eastern Extension would create a better presence and new linkages to the east of the town centre by redeveloping the car park into a multi-storey development with residential and live-work uses and a new housing scheme to the east of Wickford Bypass. The Southern Gateway area, which surrounds London Road and the southern end of the High Street, are also planned to undergo a transition with a strong leisure and recreational theme, building on existing eating and drinking facilities and incorporating compatible residential uses. Overall 650 apartments are planned to be built as part of the Masterplan as officially stated by councillor Tony Ball, although other sources opposed to the project claim this figure is closer to 735.

Opposition

The Masterplan has met with resistance with many residents of Wickford, mainly due to overall cost, and also the fear from some older residents that raising the level of the river could see repeats of the floods in 1958 and 1960. There have also been criticism over the number of developments being constructed, which some say threaten to overdevelop and cause environmental and aesthetic damage to the town centre whilst providing minimal improvements to public services; one such group is the Wickford Action Group who has campaigned against many of the revisions made prior to the public approval of the plan.

Progress

Construction began in earnest in February 2007, which saw the demolition of many of the buildings in Lower Southend Road to make way for a new residential area. As of December 2009 this development has been partially completed (Riverside Place phase 1 + Riverside Court), however the compulsory purchase order of the post sorting office has been withdrawn leaving the fate of Riverside Place Phase 2 in doubt. As of April 2010, the whole of the Masterplan project is facing serious delays and construction has halted due to the global financial crisis. In May 2009 the construction company Bradgate Developments released a statement assuring residents the project was still on track.

Proposed super-max prison

Plans to build a prison capable of accommodating up to 1,500 inmates on land formally the

Runwell Hospital Runwell Hospital was a hospital in the Chelmsford district of Essex. It was managed by the South Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust. History Following the ending of contracts accommodating patients at the Essex County Council's ...

mental institute Psychiatric hospitals, also known as mental health hospitals, behavioral health hospitals, are hospitals or wards specializing in the treatment of severe mental disorders, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, dissociati ...

were scrapped. The land is now a housing estate.

Notable people

or de Wickford, (1330–1390),

, was born in Wickford, where his family are said to have been Lords of the Manor of Wickford Hall.O'Flanagan J. Roderick "Lives of the Lord Chancellors of Ireland" London 1870 *

Chantelle Houghton Chantelle Vivien Houghton (born 21 August 1983) is an English television personality, glamour model, and columnist. In 2006, she competed in the fourth series of the Channel 4 reality series ''Celebrity Big Brother''. Houghton was sent in as ...

, winner of ''Celebrity Big Brother'' 2006 lives in Wickford. * Capital Radio Afternoon DJ Chris Brooks lives in Wickford. * Southend United's previous manager Steve Tilson. * Comedy Actors/writers Rhys Thomas and Tony Way are both from Wickford. *

Tony Stockwell Tony Stockwell is a British psychic medium, author and television personality. He was born in Walthamstow, East London and currently lives in Wickford, Essex. Career Stockwell was born in London's East End. His career as a medium began at the age ...

– A British author, television personality and psychic medium. *

Ryan Cleary (hacker) LulzSec (a contraction for Lulz Security) was a black hat computer hacking group that claimed responsibility for several high profile attacks, including the compromise of user accounts from PlayStation Network in 2011. The group also claimed ...

Jon Morter Jonathan Morter (born 4 October 1974) is an English radio DJ, social media pioneer and campaigner. He helped launch various internet campaigns. He launched the Condescending Corporate Brand Page, a page that harshly ridicules corporate social ...

(notable for the Rage Against the Machine and The Justice Collective UK Christmas No.1 singles) used to run a Rock music night in Wickford. * Julian Dicks, former West Ham United and Liverpool FC footballer lives in Wickford.

References

External links

Basildon Borough History – Wickford & Shotgate
{{Authority control Towns in Essex Civil parishes in Essex Borough of Basildon