| Alresford | |
Ruins of St Peter's Church |
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Alresford
Alresford shown within Essex |
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| Population | 2,125 |
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| OS grid reference | TM069214 |
| District | Tendring |
| Shire county | Essex |
| Region | East |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Colchester |
| Postcode district | CO7 |
| Dialling code | 01206 |
| Police | Essex |
| Fire | Essex |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| EU Parliament | East of England |
| UK Parliament | North Essex |
| List of places: UK • England • Essex | |
Alresford ( /ˈɒlsfərd/ or /ˈeɪlsfərd/)[1] is a village in Essex, England. It is located 9 km (5.6 mi) southeast of Colchester and is 39 km (24 mi) northeast from the county town of Chelmsford. The village is in the district of Tendring and in the parliamentary constituency of North Essex. The local primary school is Alresford Primary School (~150 pupils, ages 4–11). A pre-school also meets there.
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According to national census figures for April 2001, there were 2,125 inhabitants in 842 households, with an almost even gender balance. The percentage of the population above the age of 45 is higher than the national average.[2]
The village, 9 km (5.6 mi) southeast of Colchester, lies above Alresford Creek, a tributary to the River Colne.
The village has Alresford railway station on the Colchester to Clacton Line, connecting the Alresford to the rail network that serves of the east of England. The rail service's operator is National Express East Anglia. Buses from Colchester are the 74 and 78 services.
The village contains the ruins of an old Anglican church (St Peter's), built about 1300, by Anfred de Staunton, which burnt down in 1971,[3] replaced by the 1975 essex-barn style church of St Andrew's. There is a thriving congregation of 70 adults with a children's and youth ministry. This is also used by local groups, including scramblers (for toddlers), Razmatazz (for 5 -11) and Police liaison meetings. The Rector is Rev Pauline Scott (since July 2009). St Andrew's is also the home of P@STA - Alresford's own puppet company.
Close to the church is the Village Hall that is used for many other local activities including the local Scout Group, indoor bowling, weddings, photographic club,luncheon club and for elections. Behind the church and village hall is the recreation ground, with a children's playground and space for football pitches used by Alresford Colne Rangers F.C. who have a club house with changing rooms attached to the Village Hall. There are also two bookable, flood-lit all-weather pitches.
A mile to the south of the village, past the ruins of St Peter's, is the picturesque Alresford Creek. Here are fifty yacht moorings managed by the Alresford Creek Boat Owners Association. (The ford is no longer passable by 4x4 vehicles due to the amount of mud at the bottom of the creek. Although it is still marked as fordable on GPS and paper maps.)
| Northwest: Colchester | North: Elmstead Market | Northeast: Frating |
| West: Wivenhoe | Alresford | East: Great Bentley |
| Southwest: River Colne | South: Brightlingsea | Southeast: Thorrington |
