Hatfield Peverel
Encyclopedia
Hatfield Peverel is a large urban village and civil parish
in the centre of Essex
, England
. Its population, including the hamlet of Nounsley
, is approximately 5,500 (in 2004). Hatfield means a 'heathery space in the forest'; Peverel refers to William Peverel
, the Norman knight granted lands in the area by William the Conqueror after the Norman invasion of 1066. Sited on high ground east of the River Ter
, between Boreham
and Witham
on the A12, it is situated in the southern extremity of the Braintree
District Council area (to which it elects two members).
However, it is only 6 miles (10 km) northeast of Chelmsford
, the nearest large town, to which it is more directly connected by road and rail.Hatfield Peverel railway station
is on the National Express
East Anglia rail network. London
is 35 minutes away by train, a journey to Colchester
takes 30 minutes. The station is open seven days a week, though ticket office opening times vary drastically. There is a notable railway viaduct
across the River Ter just west of the station.
The parish council meets on the first Monday of each month at the Village Hall.
Hatfield Peverel is the site of a priory
founded by the Saxon Ingelrica, wife of Ranulph Peverel and reputed to be the mistress of William the Conqueror, to atone for her sins, and dissolved by Henry VIII
. The parish church, St Andrew's (Church of England
) is the surviving fragment of the Norman priory church nave. There is also a Methodist Church and a Salvation Army
(northeast London headquarters) congregation. The village has a Junior School (St Andrew's C of E) and an adjacent County Infant School, as well as thriving Scout and Guide organisations with headquarters in Church Road, a Post Office, library, and doctor's and dentist's surgeries. It is the site of a large Arla Foods
factory producing dairy products, as well as other small business concerns. There are six public houses, a farm shop and several other retail outlets. Major houses: Berwick Place, Crix, Hatfield Place, Hatfield Wick, The Priory.
The community is a diverse one with families centered around local activities as well as those who use the good transport links to find both employment and entertainment over a wide area of Essex and in the city. There are various events such as the family fete run by the Carter family. Richard Carter takes a group of children up to London weekly. He was awarded an OBE
on 4.11.05 which at MCR.
Hatfield Peverel Station is seen quite extensively in the 1976 film Exposé
starring Linda Hayden and Fiona Richmond
. The surrounding countryside is also seen. Hatfield Peverel is also the childhood hometown of dubstep artist Tom Ford (AKA Peverelist), who originally took the moniker of Hatfield Peverel Junglist Massive before shortening it. Ford is now based in Bristol and runs the Punch Drunk label as well as managing Rooted Records.
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
in the centre of Essex
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...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Its population, including the hamlet of Nounsley
Nounsley
Nounsley is a hamlet in the parish of the larger Essex village of Hatfield Peverel to which it is connected by a hill and footpaths. In the very hard winter of 1961/62, snow on Nounsley Hill cut the village off to wheeled traffic for 3 days....
, is approximately 5,500 (in 2004). Hatfield means a 'heathery space in the forest'; Peverel refers to William Peverel
William Peverel
William Peverell , was a Norman knight, and is shown in 'The Battle Abbey Roll' to have fought at the Battle of Hastings.-Biography:...
, the Norman knight granted lands in the area by William the Conqueror after the Norman invasion of 1066. Sited on high ground east of the River Ter
River Ter
The River Ter is a river in Essex, England that houses various aquatic creatures, such as the marsh heron famous for its large red bill. The river rises in Stebbing Green and flowing via Terling it joins the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation at near Rushes Lock. A small part of it, near Great...
, between Boreham
Boreham
Boreham is a village and civil parish, in Essex, England. It is located approximately northeast from the county town of Chelmsford. The village is in the borough of Chelmsford and parliamentary constituency of Saffron Walden.- History :...
and Witham
Witham
Witham is a town in the county of Essex, in the south east of England with a population of 22,500. It is part of the District of Braintree and is twinned with the town of Waldbröl, Germany. Witham stands between the larger towns of Chelmsford and Colchester...
on the A12, it is situated in the southern extremity of the Braintree
Braintree (district)
Braintree is a local government district in the English county of Essex. Its main town is Braintree.The main centres of population are Braintree, Witham and Halstead....
District Council area (to which it elects two members).
However, it is only 6 miles (10 km) northeast of Chelmsford
Chelmsford
Chelmsford is the county town of Essex, England and the principal settlement of the borough of Chelmsford. It is located in the London commuter belt, approximately northeast of Charing Cross, London, and approximately the same distance from the once provincial Roman capital at Colchester...
, the nearest large town, to which it is more directly connected by road and rail.Hatfield Peverel railway station
Hatfield Peverel railway station
Hatfield Peverel serves the villages of Hatfield Peverel and Nounsley in Essex, England. This station and all trains serving it are operated by National Express East Anglia.-Train Services:The following services currently call at Hatfield Peverel:...
is on the National Express
National Express
National Express Coaches, more commonly known as National Express, is a brand and company, owned by the National Express Group, under which the majority of long distance bus and coach services in Great Britain are operated,...
East Anglia rail network. London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
is 35 minutes away by train, a journey to Colchester
Colchester
Colchester is an historic town and the largest settlement within the borough of Colchester in Essex, England.At the time of the census in 2001, it had a population of 104,390. However, the population is rapidly increasing, and has been named as one of Britain's fastest growing towns. As the...
takes 30 minutes. The station is open seven days a week, though ticket office opening times vary drastically. There is a notable railway viaduct
Viaduct
A viaduct is a bridge composed of several small spans. The term viaduct is derived from the Latin via for road and ducere to lead something. However, the Ancient Romans did not use that term per se; it is a modern derivation from an analogy with aqueduct. Like the Roman aqueducts, many early...
across the River Ter just west of the station.
The parish council meets on the first Monday of each month at the Village Hall.
Hatfield Peverel is the site of a priory
Hatfield Peverel Priory
Hatfield Peverel Priory was a Benedictine priory in Essex, England, founded as a secular college before 1087 and converted into priory as a cell of St Albans by William Peverel ante 1100...
founded by the Saxon Ingelrica, wife of Ranulph Peverel and reputed to be the mistress of William the Conqueror, to atone for her sins, and dissolved by Henry VIII
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
. The parish church, St Andrew's (Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
) is the surviving fragment of the Norman priory church nave. There is also a Methodist Church and a Salvation Army
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
(northeast London headquarters) congregation. The village has a Junior School (St Andrew's C of E) and an adjacent County Infant School, as well as thriving Scout and Guide organisations with headquarters in Church Road, a Post Office, library, and doctor's and dentist's surgeries. It is the site of a large Arla Foods
Arla Foods
Arla Foods is a Swedish-Danish cooperative based in Århus, Denmark, and the largest producer of dairy products in Scandinavia. Arla Foods was formed as the result of a merger between the Swedish dairy cooperative Arla and the Danish dairy company MD Foods on 17 April 2000.Arla Foods is the seventh...
factory producing dairy products, as well as other small business concerns. There are six public houses, a farm shop and several other retail outlets. Major houses: Berwick Place, Crix, Hatfield Place, Hatfield Wick, The Priory.
The community is a diverse one with families centered around local activities as well as those who use the good transport links to find both employment and entertainment over a wide area of Essex and in the city. There are various events such as the family fete run by the Carter family. Richard Carter takes a group of children up to London weekly. He was awarded an OBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
on 4.11.05 which at MCR.
Hatfield Peverel Station is seen quite extensively in the 1976 film Exposé
Exposé (film)
Exposé is a 1976 video nasty starring Udo Kier, Linda Hayden and 1970s sex symbol Fiona Richmond. On release, it sparked controversy due to graphic scenes of sex and violence, resulting in a re-release in 2006, with around 30 cuts...
starring Linda Hayden and Fiona Richmond
Fiona Richmond
Fiona Richmond is a former glamour model and actress. She is the daughter of the Reverend John Harrison. Born Julia Rosamund Harrison, she became a British sex symbol in the 1970s for her appearances in numerous risqué plays, comedy revues, magazines and films.-Acting career:She made her film...
. The surrounding countryside is also seen. Hatfield Peverel is also the childhood hometown of dubstep artist Tom Ford (AKA Peverelist), who originally took the moniker of Hatfield Peverel Junglist Massive before shortening it. Ford is now based in Bristol and runs the Punch Drunk label as well as managing Rooted Records.