Chelmsford

Chelmsford () is a city in the City of Chelmsford district in the county of Essex, England. It is the county town of Essex and one of three cities in the county, along with Colchester and Southend-on-Sea. It is located north-east of London at Charing Cross and south-west of Colchester. The population of the urban area at the 2021 census was 111,800.

Chelmsford as a settlement started growing after 1100 AD, when a bridge across the River Can was built. The town grew in importance after King John issued a Royal Charter in 1196, allowing Chelmsford to host a market, and by 1219 the town had become the county town of Essex. Chelmsford was involved in the Peasants' Revolt of 1381, and King Richard II moved on the town after quelling the revolt in London. In 1516, King Henry VIII purchased the Boleyn estate, building Beaulieu Palace, located on the current site of New Hall School.

During the early 20th century Chelmsford grew in industrial importance, becoming the birth place of radio under Guglielmo Marconi. Other big manufacturers were Crompton & Co under R. E. B. Crompton, Hoffmann Ball Bearings, Fell Christy (later known as Christy Norris Ltd), Coleman and Moreton, Thomas Clarkson and Eddington and Stevenson. In 1914, the parish church of St Mary the Virgin was consecrated as a cathedral after the creation of the Diocese of Chelmsford, while in 2012 the town received Royal ascent to become a city. Provided by Wikipedia