Chignall St James
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| Chignal St James | |
|---|---|
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | CHELMSFORD |
| Postcode district | CM1 |
| Dialling code | 01245 |
| Police | Essex |
| Fire | Essex |
| Ambulance | East of England |
Chignal St James is a village in Essex, England. The village is part of the civil parish of Chignall, and is situated 3½ miles northwest by west from the county town of Chelmsford. Population of Chignal St James is about 250.[citation needed]
The spelling of the village name is open to discussion.[according to whom?] Sometimes it is spelt as "Chignall St James" at other times, as "Chignal St James" or "Chignal Saint James".
Businesses providing employment in the area include Ashdown Engineering, Gardening Express & Balance Life Magazine,[citation needed] and local farms.
The area once included a Roman villa, the site of which was discovered in the 1970s.[1][2] Originally the village was a settlement for farmers and their labour force that worked the land, but as mechanisation took over the farming population left. The village is now partly a commuter settlement, and partly resident to remaining agricultural workers and retired people.[citation needed]
The village has a public house, The Three Elms, thought[by whom?] to be over 500 years old.
In 2009 there was a controversial planning proposal to create a quarry close by to the village, but this was turned down by the planning authorities.[citation needed]
Notable village landmarks include an old brick-built farm barn with a dove-cote thought[by whom?] to be the oldest and only example of its type in Essex, an old red brick school (now a dwelling), the former church, and the Old Rectory.
Unsubstantiated sightings of big cats (thought to be black leopards or pumas), have been made by local farmers.[citation needed]
References
External links
Media related to Chignal St James at Wikimedia Commons
- The Three Elms
- Chignal Parish Council Web Site
- Ashdown Engineering
- Gardening Express
- Balance Life Magazine
Towns, villages and hamlets of the City of Chelmsford | ||
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| Villages and hamlets |
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