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Billericay
Billericay (Essex)
Billericay

Billericay shown within Essex
Population 40,000
OS grid reference TQ675945
District Basildon
Shire county Essex
Region East
Constituent country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town BILLERICAY
Postcode district CM11, CM12
Dialling code 01277
Police Essex
Fire Essex
Ambulance East of England
European Parliament East of England
UK Parliament Billericay
List of places: UK • England • Essex

Coordinates: 51°37′41″N 0°25′06″E / 51.628, 0.4184

Billericay (pronunciation (help·info); IPA /bɪləˈrɪki/ or Bilrikee) is a small commuter town in Essex, England with a population of 40,000. Essex is a county in the East of England. The County town is Chelmsford, and the highest point of the county is Chrishall Common In Biology a population is the collection of inter-breeding organisms of a particular Species; in Sociology The British national grid reference system is a system of geographic grid references commonly used in Great Britain, different from using Latitude and Longitude The districts of England are a level of subnational division of England used for the purposes of local government Basildon district council The District Council is Conservative dominated Metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties are one of the four levels of Subdivisions of England used for the purposes of Local government outside Greater London Essex is a county in the East of England. The County town is Chelmsford, and the highest point of the county is Chrishall Common The region, also known as the government office region, is currently the highest tier of local government sub-national entity of England, with only one The East of England is one of the nine official Regions of England. Constituent country is a phrase used often by official institutions in contexts in which a country makes up a part of a larger entity or grouping England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland This list of sovereign states, alphabetically arranged gives an overview of States around the world with information on the extent of their Sovereignty. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located A post town is a required part of all postal addresses in the United Kingdom, and a basic unit of the postal delivery system UK Postal codes are known as postcodes. UK postcodes are Alphanumeric. The CM postcode area, also known as the Chelmsford postcode area, is a group of postal districts in central Essex, England around the towns of Billericay The UK Telephone numbering plan, also known as the National Telephone Numbering Plan, is the system used for assigning Telephone numbers in the United There are a number of law enforcement agencies in the United Kingdom. Essex Police is a Home Office (territorial police force with responsibility for policing the County of Essex in the East of England. The fire service in the United Kingdom operates under separate legislative and administrative arrangements in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Essex County Fire and Rescue Service (ECFRS is the Statutory FRS (fire and rescue service for the county of Essex in the southeast of England and is The East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust is the authority responsible for providing NHS Ambulance services in Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, East of England is a Constituency of the European Parliament. This is a list of the 646 constituencies currently represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, as at the 2005 general election Billericay is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. A Gazetteer of place names in the United Kingdom showing each place's County, Unitary authority or council area and its geographical coordinates List of places --> List of cities in the United Kingdom List of towns in England Lists of places This is a list of cities, Towns Villages and other named geographical features in the County of Essex, England. A geographic coordinate system enables every location on the Earth to be specified in three coordinates using mainly a spherical coordinate system. Commuting is the process of Travelling between one's place of residence and regular place of work Essex is a county in the East of England. The County town is Chelmsford, and the highest point of the county is Chrishall Common England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland

Contents

Geography and geology

Billericay is a semi-rural town, with many green spaces, including Norsey Wood, Mill Meadows Nature Reserve, Queen's Park Country Park, Sun Corner, Lake Meadows and South Green amongst others. Billericay contains Billericay School and Mayflower High School. The Billericay School is a mixed intake Secondary school and Sixth form college in Billericay. Mayflower High School is a Coeducational, Secondary school located in Billericay, Essex in the East of England in the United

Billericay is within the London Basin and lies on a mixture of London Clay, Claygate Beds and Bagshot Beds. The London Basin is an elongated roughly triangular Syncline approximately long which underlies London and a large area of south east England and south eastern The London Clay is a Marine geological formation of Ypresian (Lower Eocene Epoch c The London Clay is a Marine geological formation of Ypresian (Lower Eocene Epoch c In Geology, the Bagshot Beds are a series of Sands and Clays of shallow-water origin some being fresh-water some marine Near the high street, there is a change in soil type from sandy to clay, which gives rise to local underground springs.

History

One of the earliest records of human occupation of Billericay are the burial mounds, which still exist in Norsey Woods. A tumulus (plural tumuli) is a Mound of earth and stones raised over a grave or graves Norsey Wood is a mixed coppice woodland situated in Billericay, Essex, England. This is evidence of occupation in the Bronze and Iron Ages. The term Bronze Age refers to a period in human cultural development when the most advanced Metalworking (at least in systematic and widespread use included techniques for This article is about the archaeological period known as the Iron Age for the mythological Iron Age see Ages of Man. Evidence of Roman occupation has been found at a number of locations in the town and there may have been a small cavalry fort at Blunts Wall.

The Saxons did not settle in the centre of Billericay. The Saxons or Saxon people were a Confederation of Old Germanic tribes. They established themselves two miles south, at Great Burstead. Great Burstead (ɡreɪt ˈbɝstɛd is a village in Essex, England. In the late tenth century it was known as 'Burhstede. ' Billericay was not mentioned in the Domesday Book, as it lay within Great Burstead. The Domesday Book (ˈduːmzdeɪ bʊk also known as Domesday, or Book of Winchester) was the record of the great survey At this time the parish church for Billericay was at Great Burstead. In 1291 the name 'Byllyrica' is first recorded.

Middle Ages

In the 13th and 14th Centuries some of the Canterbury Pilgrims journeyed via Billericay. It is probable that some pilgrims spent the night in Billericay before crossing the River Thames at Tilbury. The Thames ( is a major River flowing through southern England. Tilbury is a town in the borough of Thurrock, Essex, England. This may account for why there were so many inns in the town.

Billericay's most notable historical episode was on the 28th June, 1381, when King Richard II's soldiers defeated Essex rebels at Billericay's Norsey Woods. Richard II (6 January 1367 &ndash ca 14 February 1400 was King of England from 1377 until he was deposed in 1399 Norsey Wood is a mixed coppice woodland situated in Billericay, Essex, England. About 500 rebels were killed in the battle which ended the Peasants' Revolt.

The Wycliffe preachers influenced the town. John Wycliffe (ˈwɪklɪf also spelled Wyclif, Wycliff, Wiclef, Wicliffe, or Wickliffe) (mid-1320s – 31 December Four local people (Thomas Watts, Joan Hornes, Elizabeth Thackwell, and Margaret Ellis) were burnt at the stake. Execution by burning has a long history as a method of Punishment for Crimes such as Treason, Heresy and Witchcraft Two other residents (Joan Potter and James Harris) were tortured for their faith during the reign of Queen Mary.

The Pilgrim Fathers

A meeting of the Pilgrim Fathers prior to their sailing in the Mayflower is said to have taken place in Billericay, and much local nomenclature and historical imagery reflects this: Mayflower House, Morris Men, Taxis, School, Hall. Pilgrims, or Pilgrim Fathers (or Pilgrim Mothers) is a name commonly applied to the early settlers of the Plymouth Colony in present-day Plymouth The Mayflower was the famous Ship that transported the English Separatists better known as the Pilgrims, from Southampton, England Sunnymede School's houses were called Mayflower, Pilgrim, Chantry and Martin (after Christopher Martin, a Billericay merchant who travelled on the Mayflower as Ship's Governor). The house system is a traditional feature of British Schools and schools in ex- British colonies, similar to the collegiate system of a University Chantry is the English term for the establishment of an institutional Chapel on private land or within a greater church where a priest would chant masses Christopher Martin was born sometime before 1582 He was married to Mary Prower Martin in Great Burstead Essex England in February1606 or 1607

Four people from Billericay were on board, including Christopher Martin. He and his wife, Marie, along with Solomon Prowe and John Langemore perished shortly after their arrival at Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Cape Cod (or simply the Cape to most New Englanders is a Peninsula nearly coextensive with Barnstable County Massachusetts and forming the easternmost

The unfortunate fate of the would be pioneers did not deter other inhabitants of Billericay inhabitants from setting sail for the New World. The town of Billerica, Massachusetts was established in 1655 to commemorate the origins of some of the first settlers.

Georgian and Victorian era

In the Georgian period many excellent examples of the period's houses were built in Billericay. The arts Especially during the mid-18th century the period was marked by cultural vibrancy with the establishment of the British Museum in 1753 and the contributions One of those remaining today is Burghsted Lodge in the High Street, which houses the library. The road from Billericay to Tilbury still had a reputation: with mention of "footpads" and highwaymen operating along the road where it passed through open country.

In the town, The Union Workhouse was built in 1840 to continue to implement the Poor Law. Year 1840 ( MDCCCXL) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year This article deals chiefly with the English Poor Laws covering England and Wales Parts of this building were later incorporated into what was St. Andrews Hospital. The railway arrived in Billericay in 1889, being on the Great Eastern Main Line between London and Southend-on-Sea. Year 1889 ( MDCCCLXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common The Great Eastern Main Line ( "GE") is a major railway line of the British railway system, which connects Liverpool Street station in the London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom.

The 20th Century

In 1916, during the First World War, one of the giant German Zeppelin airships (L32) was shot down during an aerial battle over Billericay. Year 1916 ( MCMXVI) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All During its fiery demise, it narrowly missed the High Street, crashing into a nearby field. Recent research has indicated that this may be identified with the 'ghost Zeppelin' of Tonbridge which was allegedly seen floating over that town earlier in the day.

St Andrew’s Hospital, which was formerly the site of the town’s Victorian workhouse, continued to function as an important communal building. A workhouse, colloquially known as a spike was a place where people who were unable to support themselves could go to live and work From 1973, it housed the internationally renowned Regional Plastic Surgery and Burns unit until this was relocated at Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford in April 1998. Year 1973 ( MCMLXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the 1973 Gregorian calendar. Chelmsford is the county town of Essex, England and the principal settlement of the borough of Chelmsford. Year 1998 ( MCMXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar) After the relocation most of the hospital was redeveloped into housing, but the listed buildings remain intact but are now residential.

Politics

A View of the High Street showing St Mary Magdalen church
A View of the High Street showing St Mary Magdalen church

Parliamentary

Since 2001 the MP for the Billericay constituency has been John Baron of the Conservative Party. Billericay is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. John Charles Baron (born June 21, 1959) is a British politician and the Conservative Party Member of Parliament for Billericay The Conservative Party (officially the Conservative and Unionist Party) is a Political party in the United Kingdom. The constituency is due to be reformed as Basildon and Billericay before the next election. Basildon and Billericay will be a borough constituency in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It was previously represented by Teresa Gorman from 1987 to 2001, a Conservative rebel who had the whip withdrawn for opposing the Maastricht Treaty. Teresa Gorman (born 30 September 1931) is a British politician and was Conservative Member of Parliament for Billericay Whip is a role in party-based politics whose primary purpose is to ensure control of the formal decision-making process in a parliamentary legislature The Maastricht Treaty (formally the Treaty on European Union, TEU) was signed on 7 February 1992 in Maastricht, the Netherlands after final Her predecessor, the conservative MP Harvey Proctor also had a significant place in the news in 1987, when he was charged with indecency. (Keith Harvey Proctor (born 16 January 1947 was a British Conservative Member of Parliament [1]

Local government

Billericay is part of the Basildon district, although occasional proposals have been made to add it to the nearby Brentwood district instead. Basildon district council The District Council is Conservative dominated History It is named after the town of Brentwood which is the main development in the area [2] Basildon District Council is Conservative controlled. Billericay is also served by a town council of 20 members, elected in 3 wards and a youth town council, elected in schools around the town. The Chairman of the Youth Town Council is Vikram Footring and Vice-Chairperson Sophie Harrison. [3] The town council has powers related to local planning and finance, while the youth council has an annual budget of £500 to spend or invest in local services or entertainment. [4]

The Billericay parish was not formed until 1937, before then the area had been part of the ancient Great Burstead parish. Great Burstead (ɡreɪt ˈbɝstɛd is a village in Essex, England. [5] In 1894 a Billericay Rural District was created which covered a wide area stretching as far as Brentwood and Pitsea. Billericay Rural District was a local government district in Essex, England from 1894 to 1934 Brentwood is a town and the principal settlement of the Borough of Brentwood, part of Essex in England. Pitsea is a small town in the east of the Basildon district of south Essex, England. [6] In 1934 the core of this district around Basildon and Billericay was used to create Billericay Urban District and in 1937 a Billericay civil parish was created covering the same area. Basildon Urban District (from 1934 to 1955 Billericay Urban District) was a local government district in south Essex, England from 1934 to 1974 The urban district, but not the parish, was renamed Basildon in 1955. Basildon Urban District (from 1934 to 1955 Billericay Urban District) was a local government district in south Essex, England from 1934 to 1974 In 1974 the district was abolished and its former area was used to create the present-day Basildon district. Basildon district council The District Council is Conservative dominated

Transport

Billericay is a part of the London commuter belt. The London commuter belt is the Metropolitan area surrounding London, England from which it is possible to commute to work in the capital

It is served by Billericay railway station on the National Express East Anglia route from Liverpool Street station, in the City of London, to Southend. Billericay railway station is a railway station in the town of Billericay in the Basildon district of the county of Essex in the East of England National Express East Anglia is a Train operating company and brand name of London Eastern Railway Ltd in the United Kingdom. Liverpool Street station, also called London Liverpool Street, is a major railway station and connected London Underground station in the north eastern For London as a whole see the main article London. The City of London is a geographically

Billericay is close to two primary routes: the A12 to the north and the A127 in the south. The A127, also known as the Southend Arterial Road, is a Trunk road in England linking London with Southend-on-Sea. The A176 provides a road link to Basildon to the south of Billericay, as well as to the A127. The only secondary road in the town, the B1007, passes from just south of the town centre as Laindon Road meets the A129 at Sun Corner and then continues northwards as Billericays High Street and then Stock Road. The A129 is a main road in Essex, England. The road connects Shenfield in the west and Hadleigh in the east linking various Commuter It continues north to the county town of Chelmsford. Along its route is the village of Stock and an interchange to the A12. The town is a distination on the A129, linking it to the neighbouring towns of Brentwood and Wickford.

Sport and culture

The town is represented by local teams in a number of sports. The grounds of the local football and cricket teams and tennis club are located in the West of Billericay, along Blunts Wall Road.

Billericay Cricket Club is located at The Toby Howe Cricket Ground. The Club moved to this magnificent ground in 1996. The ground provides two county-sized playing areas and, apart from Billericay CC fixtures, also accommodates some Essex County Cricket Club Second XI, Essex Academy and ECCB Under 15/Under 16/Under 17 fixtures. Essex CCC provide a full-time groundsman who maintains the ground to a high level.

Formed in 1880, Billericay Town FC is the local football team and are currently in the Ryman Premier League. Billericay Town Football Club are an English association football club based in Billericay, Essex, who currently play in the Isthmian The stadium is called the New Lodge and has a capacity of 3,500. Whilst members of the Essex Senior League, the club won the F. A. Vase in 1976 when Stamford were beaten 1-0 after extra-time at Wembley Stadium. The following season, 1976/77, saw the club go to Wembley again and - after a 1-1 draw there - played at Nottingham Forest F. C. in the re-play and emerged victorious with a 2-1 victory over Sheffield, the oldest club in the world. Billericay Town became the first [and so far the only] club to win the F. A. Vase for a third time in 1979 when they defeated Almondsbury Greenway 4-1. This match was notable for a hat-trick by Doug Young - the first hat-trick in a Cup Final at Wembley Stadium since Geoff Hurst's in the 1966 World Cup Final.

Billericay Rugby Football Club is the local rugby team, playing in Essex Division One. Billericay Rugby Football Club is a rugby football club based in Billericay. Their ground is the Willowbrook Sports Club to the North of the town off of Stock Road. They are the only team from Essex to play at Twickenham, the home of English Rugby, when they won the Tetley Bitter Vase in 1999, a trophy they won again in 2007. Billericay is the only town to have won both the football and rugby vases. The club was formed in 1969 (although evidence has been found dating back to 1905).

There has been a tennis club in the town since c. 1930. The current club is the Billericay Lawn Tennis Club.

The town is now served by a small community radio station, Phoenix FM. Phoenix FM is a community radio station serving the areas of Brentwood and Billericay, England. The station allows local townsfolk and organisations to get involved with issues regarding local politics, fundraising, and promotion of art and music.

The town was immortalised in the Ian Dury and the Blockheads song 'Billericay Dickie. Ian Robins Dury ( 12 May 1942 &ndash 27 March 2000) was an English Rock and roll singer songwriter and Bandleader Billericay Dickie is a song by Ian Dury, from his debut album New Boots and Panties!!. ' Billericay is also mentioned in George Orwell's novel 'Down And Out In Paris And London'. Eric Arthur Blair (25 June 1903 – 21 January 1950 who used the Pseudonym George Orwell, was an English writer Gavin Shipman, a main character in the sitcom Gavin & Stacey is from Billericay. Gavin & Stacey is a BAFTA award winning British sitcom originally aired on BBC Three and later shown on BBC Two, written

The Cater Museum is a privately owned folk museum. It is housed in an 18th century building in the High Street.

Civil registration

Between 1 July 1837 and 1 July 1939 Billericay was a registration district. Year 1837 ( MDCCCXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common Year 1939 ( MCMXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. A registration district in the United Kingdom is a type of Administrative region which exists for the purpose of Civil registration of Births From 1974 until the present, the town falls under the Basildon district. Year 1974 ( MCMLXXIV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. However, the registry office is not located in Basildon, but in Billericay at Burghstead Lodge, adjacent to the town's library in the High Street. There is also the facility to register deaths in Basildon Hospital. Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the United Kingdom's thirty-four NHS Foundation Trusts It provides healthcare for people in the south [7]

Twinning

Billericay is twinned with Fishers, Indiana[8] Flag of the United States and Billerica, Massachusetts[9] Flag of the United States in the US. Fishers is a town located in Fall Creek and Delaware townships Hamilton County Indiana, with a population of 65382 according to a special census conducted Billerica (bɪlˈrɪkə is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The town is also twinned with the French market town of Chauvigny, Vienne. Chauvigny is a commune of the Vienne département, in western France. Flag of France

Notable people from the area

jack: best kid in billericay since 1387

External links

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