| Hockley | |
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Hockley
Hockley shown within Essex |
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| Population | 8,909 (2001) |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | TQ826924 |
| District | Rochford |
| Shire county | Essex |
| Region | East |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | HOCKLEY |
| Postcode district | SS5 5 |
| Dialling code | 01702 |
| Police | Essex |
| Fire | Essex |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| EU Parliament | East of England |
| UK Parliament | Rayleigh |
| List of places: UK • England • Essex | |
Hockley is a large village and civil parish in Essex, England located between Chelmsford and Southend-on-Sea. More specifically it lies between Rayleigh and Rochford. It came to prominence during the coming of the railway in the 1890s[1] and at the 2001 census had a population of 13,616 people,[2] many of whom commute to London. The parish of Hockley itself has a population of 8,909 (2001 census), while the urban area runs into the neighbouring parish of Hawkwell. Hockley railway station serves the village.
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Hockley is an Anglo Saxon word meaning a small hill and today there is still a large wooded area named Hockley woods. Notable buildings in the village include the church of St Peter and Paul, which has a nave which was possibly built before the twelfth century, a thirteen century chancel and a fourteenth century tower, the upper half of which is octagonal and was built at a later date. The tower holds three bells, manufactured by Miles Gray in 1626, by James Bartlett in 1684 and by John Hodgson in 1657, and the building is Grade II* listed.[3] The church is situated to the north-west of the village centre, where a grade II listed Victorian pump room is situated. The building was built as a spa to a design by John Lockyer in 1842, after Robert Clay found a medicinal spring in 1838. It was subsequently used as a Baptist chapel, and now houses a factory.[4] Hockley is also the site of the Bullwood Hall men's prison, which was a women's prison until 2006.[5]
Hockley is also home of a burial mound, Plumberow Mount,[6] which was excavated in 1913, by Mr. E. B. Francis. At the time, there was a summer house on the top of the mound, and so trenches were cut on three sides. The excavation found a Roman coin of Domitian and some Saxon pottery which may indicate a secondary burial. The oval mound is 14 feet (4.3 m) high, and 76 feet (23 m) in diameter, with a flattened top, where the summerhouse was located.[7] Since 2005, the mound has been surrounded by a metal fence to protect it from erosion, and a number of trees which were growing on or near it were cut down at the same time.[8]
Plumberow Mount is also excellent for sledging in the winter and has proven popular with local children, although caution is needed because there is a children's park with a metal fence around it at the bottom of the mount which has resulted in a number of accidents.
Hockley is split into three wards.[9]
MGA Entertainment's UK division has its headquarters in Hockley.[10]
There are three well known pubs in Hockley, which are still in business- the Spa Hotel[11] in the village, the Bull Inn, located in a timber framed and weatherboarded seventeenth century building[12] and the White Hart Inn[13] west of the village. The village green at the White Hart has hosted cricket games, bonfires on 5 November, and many other children's games in the past. In addition, the Hockley community centre has a members bar and provides a venue for numerous local groups and clubs.
There is also the newly formed Hockley Massive Project, which started in 2010 and is open on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday evenings for 12-17 year olds.[14] The youth club entered one of their members, Joshua Copeland, into the Essex Boys and Girls Clubs Table-Tennis Finals, which took place at Ingatestone Boys' Own Club in February 2011. The competition was strong but he came away as the overall winner of the under-19 boys group, which means he progresses into the table tennis finals, held in Cheshire later in the year. This is a huge achievement for him to represent the youth club at such a high level and with GB table tennis players in attendance at this tournament, competition will be nothing less than fierce. There is also the well established Hockley Lawn Tennis club, located down Folly Lane. The club captain is Trevor Paterson, and current head coach is Royston Kymberley.
Hockley is home to FC Hockley who were formed in 2006 and play in the Southend Sunday Sceptre League.[15]