Go Back
Hylands House, Chelmsford: Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hylands_house.jpgAuthor: Graham Pearce
Chelmsford is the county town of Essex, England and main settlement in the Borough of Chelmsford. It is located in the London commuter belt about 51 km (32 mi) to the northeast of Charing Cross, London. The town presently has a population of around 160,000 people (2012 estimate). It gave its name to Chelmsford, Massachusetts, Chelmsford Ontario and Chelmsford, New Brunswick.
The history of Chelmsford can be traced to the Neolithic and late Bronze Age, based on discoveries of settlements in the area. The Romans established a fort here in AD 60, and a civilian town developed around it. The town was named Caesaromagnus, possibly an attempt to create a planned town. Archaeological excavations have revealed the existence of Roman ruins, including an octagonal temple in Chelmsford.
Chelmsford derived its name from Ceolmaer's ford. The town was listed in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Celmeresfort. It was first mentioned as Chelmsford in 1189. It received its market charter, granted to William of Sainte-Mère-Eglise, in 1199. This market is still in operation today, being held Tuesdays to Satudays.
Chelmsford industrialized particularly in the first half of the 20th century. It was home of the Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company. When the company closed down its operations in Chelmsford in the 1980s, it caused a steep decline in the town's economy. The town has cashed in on its geographic proximity to London, to develop as a distribution center serving the British capital.
Chelmsford Cathedral: Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chelmsfordcath.jpgAuthor: Petepetepete
Visiting Chelmsford
From London, take the A12 road to reach Chelmsford. This road dates back to Roman times. It originally passed right through Chelmsford but has since been diverted to be on the east side of town.Places of Interest in Chelmsford
- Chelmsford Cathedral: Originally the St Mary's Church, it was elevated to cathedral status in 1914. This is the second smallest cathedral in England after Derby Cathedral.
- Chelmsford Museum: Museum recounting the local history of the town. It incorporates the Essex Regiment Museum as well as the Industrial History Museum.
- Hylands House: Country house built in 1730, it was purchased and restored by the Chelmsford Borough Council, after the death of its last private owner, sparing it from dereliction.
- Shire Hall: Historic civic building erected in 1791 featuring a Portland Stone façade.
- Victorian Railway Viaduct: 18-arch viaduct across the River Can built in 1842.
Chelmsford is 
on the Map of cities in England
Latest updates on Penang Travel Tips
Map of Ceremonial Counties of England
Songs about Penang
About this website
Hello and thanks for reading this page. My name is Timothy and my hobby is in describing places so that I can share the information with the general public. My website has become the go to site for a lot of people including students, teachers, journalists, etc. whenever they seek information on places, particularly those in Malaysia and Singapore. I have been doing this since 5 January 2003, for over twenty years already. You can read about me at Discover Timothy. By now I have compiled information on thousands of places, mostly in Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore, and I continue to add more almost every day. My goal is to describe every street in every town in Malaysia and Singapore.
Copyright © 2003-2024 Timothy Tye. All Rights Reserved.