- Broomfield, Essex
infobox UK place
country = England
latitude=
longitude=
official_name= Broomfield
population =
shire_district= Chelmsford
shire_county =Essex
region= East of England
constituency_westminster=
post_town= CHELMSFORD
postcode_district = CM1
postcode_area= CM
dial_code= 01245
os_grid_reference= TL706103Broomfield is a small village situated immediately to the north of
Chelmsford , in centralEssex . Importantant features of the village include the Parish Council [http://www.essexinfo.net/broomfield] , a large hospital of the same name, two pubs (the Kings Arms and the Angel), a church, a primary school [http://www.broomfield.essex.sch.uk] and secondary school, and Broomfield Football Club. Broomfield Cricket Club [http://www.broomfieldcricketclub.com] were first mentioned in the "Essex Chronicle" in May 1788, recording a match played against Little Waltham in that Parish. They still play on their ground in Mill Lane, Broomfield.Broomfield Hospital (also often referred to as simply 'Broomfield') is one of the largest in the East of England. It is both nationally and internationally renowned as a specialist centre for Plastics & Burns treatment. [http://www.meht.nhs.uk/hospitals/broomfield.htm]Chelmer Valley High School [http://www.chelmervalleyhighschool.co.uk] , the local secondary school, is situated next to the hospital and is the main catchment school for the Chelmsford area, along with The Boswells School in Springfield.
White's Directory of Essex 1848
BROOMFIELD is a pleasant scattered village, with many good houses, 2½ miles North of Chelmsford, on the road to Braintree, Dunmow, etc., and on the western side of the vale of the Chelmer, of which it commands pleasing views. Its parish is very fertile, and contains 820 souls, and 1,954 acres. Lady Stewart is lady of the principal manors; but there are in parish several small freehold manors and estates, belonging to various owners, and bearing different names, as stated in the following Directory, Butler's, the seat of Miss Seabrook, formerly belonged to the Butler, Pascal, and other families; and the mansion was built in the latter part of the last century, by the Rev. J. White, who also improved the gardens and grounds. Broomfield Place is the residence of Charles King, Esq.
The Church (St. Mary,) stands on a gentle eminence, near the village green. It is an ancient structure, with a massive round tower at the west end, surmounted by a wooden spire, remarkable for the great quantity of timber used in its construction. Round towers are very common in Norfolk and Suffolk, and are generally attributed to the Danes. The nave has a north aisle, separated from it by pillars and circular arches, modernised. There is a remnant of a wooden screen between the nave and chancel, and in some of the windows are fragments of stained glass. A small north chancel was added about 30 years ago, but it was not in keeping with the rest oh the fabric. In 1226, Walter de Mandeville gave the rectory to the Prior of Holy Trinity, in London; but it now belongs to the Felsted Charity. The vicarage, valued in K.B. at £7.13s.4d., and in 1831 at £161. is in the patronage of the Bishop, and incumbency of the Rev. Henry Eley, M.A. The tithes were commuted in 1845, - the rectorial for £517.5s., and the vicarial for £194.10s. per annum. The Church Lands, given by John Gyne, in 1561, comprise 21A.1R.27P., let for £24, and Salmon Croft, 1A.1R.29P., let for £1.5s. The rents are applied in the service of the church, and in paying the cleric's salary. Three tenements, called Almshouses, are occupied by paupers, but the donor is unknown. A messuage, given to the poor by Thomas Woollard, in 1700, was used as the parish Workhouse till 1836, when it was divided into tenements for poor families. The Parish School was built by the late Thomas Christy, Esq., in 1831, and is now supported by subscription. It is in two rooms for boys and girls, and attended by about 160 children, who pay 1d. each per week.
External links
[http://www.broomfield-essex.co.uk/ Broomfield Web-Page]
[http://www.chelmervalleyhighschool.co.uk/ Chelmer Valley High School website]
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