Bobbingworth

infobox UK place
country = England
official_name= Bobbingworth
latitude= 51.7295
longitude= 0.2214
os_grid_reference= TL535057
population = 279 (2001)
civil_parish= Bobbingworth
shire_district= Epping Forest
shire_county = Essex
region= East of England
constituency_westminster= Brentwood & Ongar
post_town= ONGAR
postcode_area=CM
postcode_district=CM5
dial_code= 01277

Bobbingworth is a village and civil parish in Essex, England. It is located about 3 km (2 miles) northwest of Chipping Ongar and is 18 km (11 miles) west from the county town of Chelmsford. The village is in the district of Epping Forest and the parliamentary constituency of Brentwood & Ongar. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 279. Bobbingworth covers an area of 2,595 acres. The village lies off of the A414.

A notable building in Bobbingworth is Blake Hall, which, after the bombing of the North Weald Aerodrome in September 1940 (during World War II) became the R.A.F. Station Headquarters. Blake Hall tube station, now closed and to the south of the village, was named after the building.

Bobbingworth School

Bobbingworth School and adjacent teacher's residence, since closed and converted into residential property, was built in 1855-6 by the Capel Cure family, who own Blake Hall. It was built as 'a good substantial schoolroom' and until 1869 was solely attended by girls. In 1871, however, the pupils included 18 boys, an addition made possibly in anticipation of the requirements of the Education Act. In the same year an inspector reported to the Education Department that only 47 places were needed to secure universal elementary schooling in the parish and that 55 places were available at the school.

The Capel Cures continued to support the school until 1904, apparently without assistance from public funds, retaining it as their property but allowing it to be administered as a Church school. An inspector, visiting it in 1896, found the buildings in good repair but the scholastic standard low. The school did not officially pass under the control of the Essex Education Committee until some three years after the 1902 Education Act.