MARCH 8TH, 2010
By ADMIN

Chelmsford

Chelmsford Essex UK Hub

Approximate Population: 120,000

Chelmsford is the county town of Essex, England - the principal settlement of the borough of Chelmsford. It is located 32 miles (51 km) northeast of Charing Cross in London. Chelmsford is steeped in history and was one of the original settlements in the United Kingdom. Residents of Chelmsford are known as ‘Chelmsfordians’. The town has a population of roughly 120,000 and is still growing. It is a modern, well placed town that has a large number of commuters who work in the City of London financial sector.

The town is surrounded by many small villages that retain their original charm (examples of these are Writtle, Good Easter, Roxwell, Mashbury, Chignal Smealy, Broomfield, Great and Little Baddow, Great and Little Waltham, Pepper’s Green and Pleshey). Chelmsford is home to three active local radio stations. Essex FM has been on air since 12 September 1981 and is owned by Global Radio. It moved to studios in Glebe Road in late 2004, having previously been based in Southend.

Since the 1980s Chelmsford has suffered from a decline in its defence-related industries, most notably Marconi with several factories closing. Also the one-time largest employer in Chelmsford, Hoffman’s, closed its Chelmsford site in 1988 the buildings remain and have been converted to apartments and a health club. However, the town’s location close to London and at the centre of Essex has helped it grow in importance as an administrative and distribution centre.

Originally an agricultural and market town, Chelmsford has been an important centre for industry since the 19th century. Following the opening of the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation in 1797, cheaper transportation and raw materials made milling and malting the main industries until the 1850s, when increasing prosperity created a local market for agricultural machinery.