North Weald

North Weald

A recent aerial view of the town
North Weald
North Weald shown within Essex
Population 4,477 
OS grid reference TL495045
Civil parish
District
Shire county
Region
Country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town EPPING
Postcode district CM16
Dialling code 01992
Police Essex
Fire Essex
Ambulance East of England
EU Parliament East of England
UK Parliament

North Weald, is a village in the civil parish of North Weald Bassett the Epping Forest district of the county of Essex, England.[1] It is located within the North Weald Ridges and Valleys landscape area, 2.2 miles (3.5 km) east of Epping, 4.5 miles (7.2 km) North-West of Chipping Ongar and 3.7 miles (6.0 km) south of Harlow. South Weald is located approximately 8 miles to the southeast.

A market is held every Saturday and Bank Holiday Monday at North Weald Airfield. The market used to be the largest open air market in the country, but has now reduced its size over the years[2] To the east of the village can be found the first organic farm in Essex,, Ashlyns Organic Farm.

The chairman of the parish council is Cyril Hawkins.

History

In 1086 North Weald was one of the most thickly wooded places in Essex. Peter de Valognes' manor in North Weald was said to contain woodland sufficient for 1,500 swine, showing how wooded the area was.

The 'wood of Henry of Essex' in North Weald was mentioned in 1248. In 1260 Philip Basset, Henry's successor as lord of the manor, complained that many robberies were being done in this wood near the road between Ongar and Waltham, and he secured the king's permission to assart (turn forestry into arable land) 6 acres of the wood.[3]

Norden's Map of Essex, 1594, does not show North Weald as a densely wooded parish. In 1777 there was apparently no woodland there apart from Weald Hall Coppice. This is specially interesting in view of the survival of large woods in neighbouring parishes. Weald Hall Coppice still survives, and there is also a small wood at Canes farm.[4]

The ancient manor houses were Weald Hall, near the centre of the parish, Canes, Marshalls and Paris Hall at Hastingwood. In addition to the four manor houses there were probably substantial medieval dwellings at Tylers Green, Bowlers Green, Bridge Farm (near Weald Bridge), and possibly one or two other places. The parish church, St Andrew's, which dates from the 14th century, is ½ mile east of Weald Hall.[5]

Apart from the church the oldest existing building in the parish is probably Tylers. This is a timber-framed and plastered house consisting of a central block with a gabled cross-wing at each end. It may date from the 16th century but there is some evidence that the central block was an earlier open hall with a screens passage at its south-west end. The 'King's Head' at Weald Gullet is a timber-framed building probably of the same period. It was restored about 1927. Two ancient timber-framed cottages which formerly stood on the north side of the main road near the end of Church Lane were destroyed in a German air raid in 1941.[6]

Until the 17th century the Epping-Chelmsford road was probably the most important in the parish. In 1786 a petition was presented to the Epping Highway Trust by the people of North Weald asking that the road should be taken over by the trust.[7] An Act of Parliament for this purpose was passed in the following year.[8] A toll-gate was erected at the junction of the main road and Woodside. The gate-keeper lived at first in a rented cottage but a toll-house was built about 1818.[9] This still survives: a single-story building of brick, now plastered, with a tiled roof.

In 1801 North Weald, with 620 inhabitants,[10] was one of the more densely populated parishes of the area. In the 19th century the population followed the trend normal in rural Essex until about 1861: there was an increase to 886 in 1831 and a subsequent slight decrease. But between 1861 and 1901, when the agricultural depression was depopulating most villages, the population of North Weald rose from 842 to 1,135.[3] This was clearly due to the coming of the railway in 1865. New places of worship in the 19th century were the Congregational chapel in Weald Bridge Road, built about 1830 but closed about 1874, the Chapel of Ease at Hastingwood (1864), the Iron Mission Church at Thornwood (1888), and the Wesleyan churches at Thornwood (1883) and Weald Gullet (1888).[3] The original school was relinquished in favour of a larger building and the new school was extended in about 1842 and again in 1871.

The airfield memorial for those who died in the two world wars and for those who worked for the airfield.

In 1865 coach travel in this area was superseded by the opening of the railway through Epping to Ongar, with a station at North Weald. This brought London within easy reach. This line was electrified as far as Epping in 1949. Beyond Ongar public transport was poor until the introduction of motor buses. There are now frequent bus services to Epping, Ongar, Brentwood, and Chelmsford.

The hall, rebuilt in 1967. The stage area remains from the original hall, built in 1928. It stands on ground donated by the Marconi company.

North Weald was late in getting its own post-office, probably because it was served directly from Epping. In 1883 a day mail was established at North Weald.[11] A telegraph office was set up in 1886.[12] The telephone service was introduced in 1920.[13]

The population rose very little during the first 20 years of the 20th century, and was only 1,239 in 1921 with the Post Office Radio Station established at Weald Gullet in 1921.[14] There was an increase to 1,642 in 1931 and then a burst of building lasting until the Second World War.[15] A few council houses were built before 1939.

Since 1945 three large housing estates have been built. In 1953 the estimated population of North Weald was 3,200-an increase of almost 100 per cent. on 1931.[15] The iron mission church at Thornwood was replaced in 1923 by a brick church and in 1931 the Wesleyan church at Weald Gullet was rebuilt. In 1939, however, the Wesleyan church at Thornwood was closed owing to lack of support. A village hall was built in 1928, on the south side of the village.[16] In 1967, the village hall was rebuilt.

Geography

The highest parts of the parish are in the south and west, rising to 300 ft. and affording good views. From there the land slopes gently down.

It is located 2.2 miles (3.5 km) east of Epping, 4.5 miles (7.2 km) north-west of Chipping Ongar and 3.7 miles (6.0 km) south of Harlow. South Weald is located approximately 8 miles to the southeast.

There are significant patches of sensitive historic landscape at the north-eastern and western edges of the village, which encompass patches of surviving pre 18th Century and 18th-19th century fields and a large area of ancient landscape to the south of the village. Also to the west and east of North Weald Airfield, sensitive areas of historic landscape comprise surviving pre 18th Century and 18th-19th century fields. Much was previously used for arable farming

Five areas with urban green-space character provide accessible areas for sport and recreation, whilst also contributing to the landscape character of the area.

Politics and governance

North Weald is represented at Westminster by Alex Burghart, MP for Brentwood and Ongar. It is a strongly Conservative area with the Conservatives winning 60% of the vote in 2015's local elections.

It is worth noting that possible confusion may arise from North Weald's constituency (Brentwood and Ongar) and its district (Epping Forest, not the constituency represented by Eleanor Laing).

County Councillor Anthony Jackson.

At a county level, North Weald is represented at the Essex County Council by Anthony Jackson, county councillor for North Weald and Nazeing. He is a businessman and holds the role of Deputy Cabinet Member to the Leader of Essex County Council. In 2017, at the county council elections he won 78.5% of the vote, followed by Labour with 12.7%. This result makes North Weald and Nazeing the most Conservative supporting area in Essex.[17]

North Weald & Nazeing
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Anthony Jackson 3,081 78.5 +30.9
Labour Stefan Mullard 500 12.7 +0.7
Liberal Democrat Arnold Verrall 346 8.8 +6.4
Majority 2,581 65.7 +51.5
Turnout 3,953 27.4 +2.7
Conservative hold Swing +15.1

The town is governed by a parish council. The parish council covers the North Weald Bassett parish and represents the towns of North Weald, Thornwood, Hastingwood, Tyler's Green and Foster Street. 15 unelected councillors are part of the council, chaired (as of 2016) by Cyril Hawkins. They manage local cemeteries, green space, recreational grounds, allotments, among other things. The composition (as of 2016) is as follows:

Party Councillor
Conservative David J Stallan (district councillor)
Conservative Nigel H Bedford
Conservative Anne G Grigg (district councillor)
Independent Elaine GG Brown
Independent George L Mullner
Independent Andrew C Tyler
Independent Baden Clegg
Independent Matthew G Harris
Independent Cyril Hawkins (Chairman)
Independent Richard J Spearman
Independent Brian E Bartram
North Weald Residents' Association Terry Blanks
North Weald Residents' Association Sheila M Jackman MBE
North Weald Residents' Association Alan Buckley

Demography

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1801 620—    
1811656+5.8%
1821827+26.1%
1831 887+7.3%
1841886−0.1%
1861 842−5.0%
18811,002+19.0%
18911,117+11.5%
1901 1,135+1.6%
19111,146+1.0%
1921 1,239+8.1%
1931 1,642+32.5%
1951 3,127+90.4%
19613,957+26.5%
2001 4,461+12.7%
2007 4,491+0.7%
2015 estimate4,477−0.3%

[18] As of 2001 census the population was 4,461 and 51.5% female, with an average age of 39.

St. Andrew's Church, built in 1330AD ontop of an original structure.

As of 2011 there are 1,867 households with an average household size of 2.45. Population density (people per hectare) stands at 6.80.[19]

In 2011, 98% of citizens were white-British, 1% were mixed and 1% Asian. The majority of citizens identify as Christian. The average life expectancy in North Weald is 80–82 years.[20]

In terms of housing, over 28% of residents own their home, with a further 47% still owing a mortgage. 12% of residents live in council houses. Residents of North Weald also vary in terms of their trade. In 2011, the majority of North Weald residents worked in retail (16%). 13% worked in real estate and 12% in manufacturing. Unemployment in North Weald is low (2.0% in 2011).[20]

The largest demographic are men between 40 and 44 who make up 9% of the total population. Women make up a similar number.[20]

There are 2 care homes in North Weald, Leonard Davis House and Cunningham House to accommodate for the large proportion of residents who are over 65.[21][22]

Transport

One of the buses used by the area.

Bus

Bus services are provided by Arriva Shires & Essex, Regal Busways and SM Coaches.

Local bus routes 62, 380, 381, 396, 501 (Sundays only), SB06 and Epping Ongar Railway Vintage Route 339 serve the station and North Weald village.

A heritage vintage bus.

Train

Pre 1994 North Weald station when London Underground owned the line.

The nearest London Underground service to the village is Epping which is served by the Central line. The closest National Rail service is from Harlow Town, which is served by the West Anglia Main Line and is operated by Abellio Greater Anglia.

The Epping to Ongar branch was not heavily used and became increasingly unprofitable. The service was further undermined when the Greater London Council removed the running subsidy for the line because it was not within the boundary of Greater London, and no comparable subsidy was forthcoming from the local government agencies in Essex, which meant that fare levels were much higher than on the rest of the Underground network. Initially, the Sunday service was dropped, and then the Saturday service. Subsequently, the service was restricted to a rush hour service only of seven trains in each direction per day (three in the morning and four in the evening). London Transport (later London Underground Ltd) had made repeated representations to the government to close the line, but each was refused as there was no alternative mode of transport between Epping and Ongar.

A final request was made in 1994 with a proviso that the line was to be sold to a private organisation which would continue to run the services. With the promise of continued services, the government finally agreed to London Underground closing the line. The line, including North Weald station, was closed on 30 September 1994.

Steam locomotive, Packford Hall on platform 1. Pictured with signal box.

It was not until 2004 that a volunteer force restored a partial service as a heritage railway, although this was closed later. After officially opening in 2012 as a heritage service Because London Underground would not provide platform space at Epping, North Weald is currently the westernmost terminus of the line, though a shuttle runs further west as far as Coopersale, though there are no station facilities there. It is intended to run to a separate station facility near Epping station in the future.[23]

The station itself has been extensively restored, with all the rooms being restored to their original uses, restoring the station to British Rail colours. The original GER signalbox dating from 1888 is being restored, complete with its original lever frame, as part of the works to signal the passing loop which has been reinstated through the station. The westbound platform has been restored, with a new accessible ramp installed and an original GER latticework footbridge (formerly from Woodford) erected.

The branch once again runs locomotive-hauled trains between Ongar and North Weald, with a diesel shuttle towards Coopersale and connecting heritage buses to Epping.

The B181 road runs through the town from Epping.

Road

A number of major arterial roads (B181 to Epping and A414 to London, Newmarket and, in the opposite direction, to Chelmsford) run nearby including the M25. The main road from London to Newmarket and Norwich runs through the west and that from Epping to Chelmsford through the south of the parish. A large R.A.F. station and wireless masts are prominent features of the landscape and there has recently been much domestic building. But some parts of North Weald are still rural and accessible through rural lanes.

Air

The airfield control tower

An iconic WW2 airfield remains popular with private flyers, North Weald Airfield owned by Epping Forest District Council. It is the home of North Weald Airfield Museum. Although unlicensed it is home to many private aircraft and historic types, and is host to a wide range of events throughout the year, including the Air-Britain Classic Fly-in and smaller airshows.[24]

Spitfire over North Weald, 1942.

The airfield was granted listed status in 2005.

North Weald is home to several vintage and veteran aircraft such as the Spitfire, Mustang, Kittyhawk, Dakota, Skyraider, Seafire and Harvard,[citation needed] and also home to early ex-military jets such as the Hunter, Venom, Vampire, Gnat, Jet Provost, along with general aviation types such as the SportCruiser, Cessna 172, Piper PA28, Aero AT3 and the Cirrus SR22.[citation needed] Resident organizations include Area 51, Hangar 11 Collection, Aces High, and Kennet Aviation.[24]

An original 1927 hangar remains, as does the former Officers Mess, a Grade 2 listed building. Some former married quarters dating from the early 1970s (and now in private ownership) can be seen in Lancaster and York Roads. A Hawker Hurricane Mk1 replica has been erected near the main gate and can be viewed on market days.

On occasions North Weald has 300 to 500 movements a day.

Sport

North Weald is home to Bantham and Ongar Bowls Club which plays behind the Talbot pub and North Weald Wireless Station Bowls Club which plays next to the old BT Telecom site.

North Weald is also home to North Weald Cricket Club which plays on the Memorial Playing Fields on School Green Lane.

There are also two football teams, Weald Bassett which is a junior side, and North Weald FC which plays in the Bishop's Stortford and District Football League. They play at Stonards Hill in Epping.

Blakes Championship 18 hole inland links golf course is one of the top golf courses in Essex. The Blakes Championship course, designed by renowned course architect Howard Swan, is best described as an inland links. The layout and undulations of the course are totally unique to the area with rolling fairways and sleepered bunkers giving the feel of a traditional seaside links. Buggy paths that cover the entire golf course enable buggies to be used for 12 months of the year.[25]

North Weald also has a 3 par gold club further down the main road.

Local facilities

Nurseries

Education

Libraries

A small library run by Essex county council. It houses the parish council meeting rooms.

Doctors

Shops

Restaurants and cafes

The King's Head Pub, the oldest in the area.

Newsagent and post office

Two newsagent and post office/off-license.

Veterinary and animal care

Other services

Places of interest

One of the Allan Williams turrets
The airfield museum
Latton Priory
Weald Common. The radio aerial can be seen in the distance.

In the media

In the 1990s, the Aces High hangar was used as the home for Channel 4's TV game show The Crystal Maze, which had moved from Shepperton Studios because of lack of space.

Channel Four's television show, Chewing Gum, filmed part of their Second Series down Vicarage Lane to which that series is hoping to be aired late-2016.

Boy George and his team filmed down on the railway for his music video 'Coming Home'. The shoot included both afternoon and evening filming. This train composed of stock of various arrangements from the chosen vintage period, giving backdrops for a wide range of scenes.[32]

North Weald station also provided the setting for an Armstrong and Miller sketch.[32]

Sacha Baron Cohen's film 'Grimsby' was also filmed at North Weald station and around the area.[33]

Notable people

Richard Biscoe (d. 1748), a nonconformist minister who later confirmed and became chaplain to George II and Boyle lecturer 1736–38, was Vicar of North Weald from 1738 to 1748.

References

  1. ↑ North Weald Bassett Parish Council
  2. ↑ http://www.hughmark.co.uk/nw_video.html
  3. 1 2 3 "North Weald Bassett: Introduction | British History Online". www.british-history.ac.uk. Retrieved 2017-04-06.
  4. ↑ Chapman and André, Map of Essex,1777, sheet xi.
  5. ↑ P.N. Essex, 86-87.
  6. 1 2 "History of the King's Head". http://pubshistory.com/EssexPubs/NorthWeald/kingshea.shtml. External link in |website= (help)
  7. ↑ B. Winstone, Epping and Ongar Highway Trust, 130-1
  8. ↑ B. Winstone, Epping and Ongar Highway Trust, 132
  9. ↑ B. Winstone, Epping and Ongar Highway Trust, 140
  10. ↑ V.C.H. Essex, ii, 350.
  11. ↑ P.M.G. Mins. 1883, vol. 261, min. 15782, vol. 254, min. 10599
  12. ↑ Ibid. 1886, vol. 303, min. 43.
  13. ↑ Ibid. 1920, min. 6422.
  14. ↑ Ibid. 1920, min. 6422.
  15. 1 2 Inf. from Essex County Council. At the 1951 Census the population was 3,127.
  16. ↑ Inf. from Rev. B. F. Adeney.
  17. ↑ "Essex County Council election results".
  18. ↑ "Census data of North Weald since 1801".
  19. ↑ "2011 Census data".
  20. 1 2 3 "One Epping Forest data" (PDF).
  21. ↑ "Leonard Davis House in North Weald".
  22. ↑ "Cunningham House run by Abbeyfield's Care".
  23. 1 2 "EOR: along the branch".
  24. 1 2 "North Weald Airfield". Wikipedia. 2017-01-05.
  25. ↑ "Golf at Blake's, North Weald".
  26. ↑ http://www.undergroundkent.co.uk/north_weald_redoubt.htm
  27. ↑ "North Weald Market".
  28. ↑ "North Weald airfield museam".
  29. ↑ "North Weald village hall".
  30. ↑ "History of Latton Priory".
  31. ↑ "North Weald buses".
  32. 1 2 "EOR filming".
  33. ↑ "North Weald filming".

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