Woodham Ferrers

infobox UK place
country = England
official_name= Woodham Ferrers
latitude= 51.67
longitude= 0.598

shire_district= Chelmsford
shire_county = Essex
region= East of England

constituency_westminster= Maldon (UK Parliament constituency)
Maldon & East Chelmsford
post_town= CHELMSFORD
postcode_district= CM3
postcode_area=CM
dial_code= 01245
os_grid_reference= TL7963100050

Woodham Ferrers is a small village about convert|7.5|mi|km|0|lk=on southeast of Chelmsford, located between South Woodham Ferrers and Bicknacre in the county of Essex, England. The village is often shortened to "Woodham" by those in the area. The village is sometimes erroneously referred to as "North Woodham" due to its geographical relationship with "South Woodham Ferrers".

History

Originally a hermitage during the reign of Henry II the name "Woodham" was adopted in 1175 when it became a priory, including 60 acres of forest stretching towards Danbury.cite web |url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=39842 |title=Houses of Austin canons - Priory of Bicknacre or Woodham Ferrers |format=HTML |accessdate=2008-07-13] .

There is a residence within the village that was once owned by the Bishop of York and was attacked during the peasants revolt 1381.

In the turn of the 16th century the convent was used as a hospital until being returned to the church in 1540.

Due to the proximity of both the Marconi Company and North Weald Airfield the village was in the flight path for a number of air-raids during World War II, however it was not a direct target itself.cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/31/a4598931.shtml |title=War Around Woodham Ferrers |work= [http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/ WW2 People's War] |publisher=BBC |format=HTML |accessdate=2008-07-13]

Education

The village is served by St. Mary's C of E primary school however it has no secondary school.

Religious sites

St Mary Church situated at the south end of the village was recorded in the Domesday Book 1066.

References