Doddinghurst
Encyclopedia
Doddinghurst is a village and civil parish in south Essex
. It is 3 miles (5 km) to the north of Brentwood
.
as Doddenhenc, an Anglo-Saxon name meaning "the wood of Dudda or of his people". The modern form of the village name was established by the 13th century.>
The Church, All Saints, and its associated Priest House are charming historical buildings, and are clearly visible on Church Lane. The Church has a 13th century nave and south doorway with other aspects added or improved during the 15th and 17th centuries with a major restoration in 1886 including the rebuilding of the chancel. The Marriage Register in the church is dated back to 1755. The core of the priest House dates back to the 16th century although with 18th century external features and a more modern western wing.
Durrant’s Handbook of Essex 1887 – produced in Chelmsford - (p91) refers to “Doddinghurst (often pronounced Dod’n’st)”
to Doddinghurst) and Church Lane (forming part of an overall road circling from Kelvedon Hatch
which also runs through Hook End and Wyatts Green
) intersecting at the north end of the village. The village's amenities include a pair of closely linked school
s (Doddinghurst Infant School and Doddinghurst CofE Junior School
), All Saints Church dating back to the 13th century, the Willow pub (formerly the Moat) and a village hall. There is a scout
hut (for the 1st Doddinghurst Scout Troup) located towards the back of the playing fields in the north of the village.
There is a small group of shops near the village hall and church at the north end of the village (including a newsagent
, a barber
, a beauty salon, a pharmacy
and an off-licence), while on Church Lane there is an estate agent
, a ladieswear shop and a fish bar. Half a mile away (towards the geographical centre of the village), is a Post Office
.
The Village Hall is opposite All Saints Church in Church Lane. Adjoining the Village Hall are the office and committee rooms of Doddinghurst Parish Council who manage the major amenities of the Village including all the recreational and play space, the Burial Ground at the rear of All Saints Church and Allotments. Behind the Village Hall in the north end of the village there is a large playing field (with a playground
forming part of it), on which the village events are held, including the Doddinghurst Donkey Derby, which is held every two years in aid of six local charitable organizations and events such as the Village Fun Day organised and funded by the Parish Council. The Village Hall playing field, and a further field behind, are also home to the Doddinghurst Olympic Football Club.
The village has a doctor
s' surgery located on Outings Lane with four or five doctors and several nurses. The surgery also supports the surrounding villages. The village is set amongst pleasant fields and small deciduous woods, many of which are connected by a network of gently undulating footpaths. The River Wid runs through the village, along with a number of its tributaries.
Much of the village has been built or redeveloped from 1950 onward although it remains a largely rural community with much of the area given over to arable agriculture.
On 17 September 2007 Doddinghurst Parish Council received Quality Status under the UK’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
(DEFRA) scheme designed to enhance the relationship between the local community and local governance. In November 2009 the Parish Council became eligible, and adopted, the Power of Well-Being which significantly improves its ability to spend money on matters benefitting either the social, or economic or environmental benefit of the community.
The village has significant areas of land for recreational use other than the playing field behind the Village Hall, including the Peartree Recreational Field (opposite the Post Office), while the junior school has a large field and woodland attached.
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
. It is 3 miles (5 km) to the north of Brentwood
Brentwood, Essex
Brentwood is a town and the principal settlement of the Borough of Brentwood, in the county of Essex in the east of England. It is located in the London commuter belt, 20 miles east north-east of Charing Cross in London, and near the M25 motorway....
.
History
The village was recorded in the Domesday BookDomesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
as Doddenhenc, an Anglo-Saxon name meaning "the wood of Dudda or of his people". The modern form of the village name was established by the 13th century.>
The Church, All Saints, and its associated Priest House are charming historical buildings, and are clearly visible on Church Lane. The Church has a 13th century nave and south doorway with other aspects added or improved during the 15th and 17th centuries with a major restoration in 1886 including the rebuilding of the chancel. The Marriage Register in the church is dated back to 1755. The core of the priest House dates back to the 16th century although with 18th century external features and a more modern western wing.
Durrant’s Handbook of Essex 1887 – produced in Chelmsford - (p91) refers to “Doddinghurst (often pronounced Dod’n’st)”
The village today
The village is based around a pair of main roads, Doddinghurst Road (from BrentwoodBrentwood, Essex
Brentwood is a town and the principal settlement of the Borough of Brentwood, in the county of Essex in the east of England. It is located in the London commuter belt, 20 miles east north-east of Charing Cross in London, and near the M25 motorway....
to Doddinghurst) and Church Lane (forming part of an overall road circling from Kelvedon Hatch
Kelvedon Hatch
Kelvedon Hatch is a village and civil parish in the Borough of Brentwood in south Essex, England. It is situated just north of Pilgrims Hatch, approximately to the north of Brentwood and is surrounded by Metropolitan Green Belt. The village today is no longer a rural backwater with a large...
which also runs through Hook End and Wyatts Green
Wyatts Green
Wyatts Green is a settlement in the Brentwood borough of Essex, England. Although located in the parish of Blackmore, Hook End and Wyatts Green it is adjacent to the village of Doddinghurst....
) intersecting at the north end of the village. The village's amenities include a pair of closely linked school
School
A school is an institution designed for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools...
s (Doddinghurst Infant School and Doddinghurst CofE Junior School
Doddinghurst CofE Junior School
Doddinghurst CofE Junior School is a junior school located in Doddinghurst, a village near Brentwood in Essex, a county of England...
), All Saints Church dating back to the 13th century, the Willow pub (formerly the Moat) and a village hall. There is a scout
Scouting
Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, that they may play constructive roles in society....
hut (for the 1st Doddinghurst Scout Troup) located towards the back of the playing fields in the north of the village.
There is a small group of shops near the village hall and church at the north end of the village (including a newsagent
Newsagent
A newsagent's shop , newsagency or newsstand is a business that sells newspapers, magazines, cigarettes, snacks and often items of local interest. In Britain and Australia, these businesses are termed newsagents...
, a barber
Barber
A barber is someone whose occupation is to cut any type of hair, and to shave or trim the beards of men. The place of work of a barber is generally called a barbershop....
, a beauty salon, a pharmacy
Pharmacy
Pharmacy is the health profession that links the health sciences with the chemical sciences and it is charged with ensuring the safe and effective use of pharmaceutical drugs...
and an off-licence), while on Church Lane there is an estate agent
Estate agent
An estate agent is a person or business that arranges the selling, renting or management of properties, and other buildings, in the United Kingdom and Ireland. An agent that specialises in renting is often called a letting or management agent...
, a ladieswear shop and a fish bar. Half a mile away (towards the geographical centre of the village), is a Post Office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
.
The Village Hall is opposite All Saints Church in Church Lane. Adjoining the Village Hall are the office and committee rooms of Doddinghurst Parish Council who manage the major amenities of the Village including all the recreational and play space, the Burial Ground at the rear of All Saints Church and Allotments. Behind the Village Hall in the north end of the village there is a large playing field (with a playground
Playground
A playground or play area is a place with a specific design for children be able to play there. It may be indoors but is typically outdoors...
forming part of it), on which the village events are held, including the Doddinghurst Donkey Derby, which is held every two years in aid of six local charitable organizations and events such as the Village Fun Day organised and funded by the Parish Council. The Village Hall playing field, and a further field behind, are also home to the Doddinghurst Olympic Football Club.
The village has a doctor
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
s' surgery located on Outings Lane with four or five doctors and several nurses. The surgery also supports the surrounding villages. The village is set amongst pleasant fields and small deciduous woods, many of which are connected by a network of gently undulating footpaths. The River Wid runs through the village, along with a number of its tributaries.
Much of the village has been built or redeveloped from 1950 onward although it remains a largely rural community with much of the area given over to arable agriculture.
On 17 September 2007 Doddinghurst Parish Council received Quality Status under the UK’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is the government department responsible for environmental protection, food production and standards, agriculture, fisheries and rural communities in the United Kingdom...
(DEFRA) scheme designed to enhance the relationship between the local community and local governance. In November 2009 the Parish Council became eligible, and adopted, the Power of Well-Being which significantly improves its ability to spend money on matters benefitting either the social, or economic or environmental benefit of the community.
The village has significant areas of land for recreational use other than the playing field behind the Village Hall, including the Peartree Recreational Field (opposite the Post Office), while the junior school has a large field and woodland attached.