WRITTLE PARISH COUNCILHistory of Writtle
Writtle Celebrates Marconi in 2022
In 1922 the U.K. Government issued the first licence to a British broadcast station. The new station’s callsign was “2MT”, transmitting from a WW1 Army hut in Writtle. The first broadcast was made on 14th February 1922 by a team of Marconi engineers led by Captain Peter Eckersley. The broadcasts from Writtle were a great success and paved the way for the formation of the B.B.C later that same year.
History and Heritage
Writtle is said to have been given its name “Writolaburna” by the Anglo Saxons meaning bubbling purling stream, describing the River Wid, or perhaps by the Celts, naming the village Rhyddol, ford in the valley. Writtle was in existence in Roman times as Roman bricks are in the church walls and a Roman villa is currently being excavated.
In the Doomsday Survey 1086 Writtle was an important Royal Manor on the main route between London and East Anglia, a detour to avoid crossing the marshy River Can at Chelmsford. After 1101 when a stone bridge was built over the River Chelmer, at the now developing Chelmsford Writtle remained a large village. In 1728, Sir John Comyns M.P. and Sergeant built a large mansion called “Hylands”, and after many owners the mansion and park have now been restored. It is owned by the Chelmsford City Council and is one of the finest houses open to the public in Essex.
Population
For hundreds of years Writtle was the largest parish in Essex. When the Doomsday Book was written in 1086 the population of Writtle was about 945 compared with Chelmsford at 20, and today that figure has risen to about 5,500.
Famous People
In 1211 King John built a hunting lodge within a moat beside Lordship Road as there was good hunting in nearby Writtle Forest which surrounded the village. Robert the Bruce 1 st King of Scotland is reputed to have been born in Writtle in 1274 as his family owned the Manor of Montpeliers. More recently in 1922 Marconi started the first regular radio broadcasts from a hut on the Marconi research site in Lawford Lane, which has now been removed to the Sandford Mill Museum in Chelmsford.
The centre of the village is its attractive Green and duck pond surrounded by many Grade 11 listed buildings. All Saints Church built in 1230 overlooks the Green. It has survived the tower falling down in 1800 and two serious fires in 1974 and 1991. Writtle University College is also a prominent feature of the village.
previously the Boys School from 1880-1963
