Bobbingworth

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Bobbingworth
Bobbingworth (Essex)
Bobbingworth

Bobbingworth shown within Essex
Population 279 (2001)
OS grid reference TL535057
Parish Bobbingworth
District Epping Forest
Shire county Essex
Region East
Constituent country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town ONGAR
Postcode district CM5
Dialling code 01277
Police Essex
Fire Essex
Ambulance East of England
European Parliament East of England
UK Parliament Brentwood & Ongar
List of places: UKEnglandEssex

Coordinates: 51°43′46″N 0°13′17″E / 51.7295, 0.2214

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.

[edit] 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.