Battlesbridge

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Battlesbridge
Bridge battlesbridge.jpg
The bridge and antiques centre
Battlesbridge is located in Essex
Battlesbridge
Battlesbridge
Location within Essex
OS grid referenceTQ775945
Civil parish
District
  • Chelmsford
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townWickford
Postcode districtSS11
Dialling code01268
PoliceEssex
FireEssex
AmbulanceEast of England
UK Parliament
List of places
UK
England
Essex
51°37′22″N 0°34′13″E / 51.622893°N 0.570345°E / 51.622893; 0.570345Coordinates: 51°37′22″N 0°34′13″E / 51.622893°N 0.570345°E / 51.622893; 0.570345

Battlesbridge is a village in Essex, England in the civil parish of Rettendon. It is a suburb of the town Wickford and falls under the postal codes used in Wickford. The village straddles the tidal River Crouch approximately 14 km (9 miles) south-southeast of Chelmsford.[1]

It is said that the Bataille family kept the bridge over the River Crouch in repair from the earliest days and that this is the origin of the settlement's name. There is no historical evidence for the family's involvement with the bridge however and another possibility is that the name stems from a corruption of 'Botolph's Bridge' referring to St Botolph the seventh century patron saint of wayfarers.

Today it is home to a number of antiques centres, one of which is a former mill.[2]

Battlesbridge is a conservation area which was jointly designated by Chelmsford Borough Council (north side of the river) and Rochford District Council (south side of the river) in February 1992 and March 1992 respectively.[citation needed]

The Tidal Gates were replaced in 2008. The new gates weighing 19 tonnes, were constructed using pine beams and metal sluices. The basic work was completed by Roy Hart and his son Justin. Woodham Ferrers engineers the Keeble brothers, assisted with some of the more specialised milling.

The design and draughtsmanship for the working drawings was entirely the work of Roy. [3]

The village is served by Battlesbridge railway station on the Crouch Valley Line.

Classic Car and Motorbike shows are held here each year.[citation needed]

The Battlesbridge Rural Theatre puts on shows in aid of Charities.[citation needed]

History[]

The Battaille family had to defend their land in 1413 from the nearby rival “Markey” family, a battle to take control of the land took place on the Battaille Bridge hence the modern name “Battlesbridge”

The old timber bridge was replaced by an iron structure in 1856, but this was destroyed when it was struck by a large steam traction engine, and the present structure was erected in 1872.[4]

This needed to have steel supports to prevent it from collapsing.

Images[]

  • The Crouch

  • Local information sign

  • Motorcycle Museum

  • The Village Pond

  • The Tidal Gates

  • Battlesbridge Free Church

  • Battlesbridge Harbour

Public Houses[]

The Barge Inn The Hawk
Barge battlesbridge.jpg Hawk battlesbridge.jpg

References[]

  1. ^ Ordnance Survey, Explorer 1:25,000 map, sheet 175
  2. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 21 May 2006. Retrieved 22 January 2009.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ^ http://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/2257547.a_heart_to_hart_with_the_river/?act=login
  4. ^ http://www.rettendonandbattlesbridge.org.uk/Battlesbridge_New_pdf-web.pdf[permanent dead link] Conservation Area management plan

External links[]

Retrieved from ""