Hockley

Hockley is a large village and civil parish in Essex in the East of England located between Chelmsford and Southend-on-Sea, or, more specifically, between Rayleigh and Rochford. It came to prominence during the coming of the railway in the 1890s[2] and at the 2001 census had a population of 13,616 people,[3] reducing to 9,616 at the 2011 Census,[1] many of whom commute to London. The parish of Hockley itself has a population of 8,909 (2001 census), while the urban area runs into the neighbouring parish of Hawkwell. Hockley railway station serves the village.

For other uses, see Hockley (disambiguation).

Hockley
Hockley
Location within Essex
Population9,616 (2011)[1]
OS grid referenceTQ826924
Civil parish
  • Hockley
District
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townHOCKLEY
Postcode districtSS5
Dialling code01702
PoliceEssex
FireEssex
AmbulanceEast of England
UK Parliament

History

Hockley is an Old English word meaning ‘a small hill’ and today there is still a large wooded area named Hockley Woods. Notable buildings in the village include the church of St Peter and Paul, which has a nave which was possibly built before the twelfth century, a thirteenth-century chancel and a fourteenth-century tower, the upper half of which is octagonal and was built at a later date. The tower holds three bells, manufactured by Miles Gray in 1626, by James Bartlett in 1684 and by John Hodgson in 1657, and the building is Grade II* listed.[4] The church is situated to the north-west of the village centre, where the Grade II listed Spa Pump Room is situated. The building was built as a spa to a design by James Lockyer in 1842, after Robert Clay found a medicinal spring there in 1838.[5] Hockley is also the site of the former Bullwood Hall prison which closed in 2013.[6]

Plumberow Mount, a Roman burial mound,[7] which was excavated in 1913, by Mr. E. B. Francis. At the time, there was a summer house on the top of the mound, and so trenches were cut on three sides. The excavation found a Roman coin of Domitian and some Saxon pottery which may indicate a secondary burial. The oval mound is 14 feet (4.3 m) high, and 76 feet (23 m) in diameter, with a flattened top, where the summerhouse was located.[8] Since 2005, the mound has been surrounded by a metal fence to protect it from erosion, and a number of trees which were growing on or near it were cut down at the same time.[9]

Governance

Hockley is split into three wards.[10]

References
  1. UK Census (2011). "Local Area Report – Hockley Parish (1170213946)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  2. "Hockley Parish Council website: History". Hockley-essex.gov.uk. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  3. "Entry for K80403 Hockley". Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 8 February 2007. Retrieved 22 March 2011.
  4. Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1112667)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 22 March 2011. Church of St Peter and St Paul, Hockley
  5. Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1112670)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 22 March 2011. Hockley Spa Rooms
  6. Danny Shaw (10 January 2013). "BBC News - Seven prison closures in England announced". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  7. "Plumberow Mount". Geograph. 27 July 2006. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  8. Historic England. "Plumberow Mount (419159)". PastScape. Retrieved 22 March 2011.
  9. "Plumberow Mount". The Megalithic Portal. Retrieved 22 March 2011.
  10. "Hockley Parish Council: Council Members". Essexinfo.net. 11 May 2012. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
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