Pilgrims Hatch
Encyclopedia
Pilgrims Hatch is a residential suburb of Brentwood
, Essex
, in the east of England
. There is a borough council ward bearing the name 'Pilgrims Hatch' which covers the Bishops Hall and Flower estates (the urban area north of the A12) and a small rural area to the north up to Ashwells Road and Days Lane. Pilgrims Hatch usually elects Liberal Democrat councillors. It has a population of around 5,000 people.
The name derived from 12th century Thomas Becket
pilgrimages to Canterbury through Brentwood
, a popular stopping place at the time, before travelling onto Tilbury
for the ferry. Pilgrims from the Midlands would pass through Pilgrims Hatch en-route to Brentwood. At this time Pilgrims Hatch was not recognised as a community as such, having only a few properties in an area which was mainly open countryside and not settled in any numbers until the 20th century. The Chapman & André map of 1777 references 'Pilgrims Hatch Common' and shows limited development along what was to become the modern Ongar Road near the junction with Coxtie Green Road (Cox Green then). The main development of Pilgrims Hatch as a village occurred after World War II
.
Although population development may have been quite late, Pilgrims Hatch was home to a critical part of early communications infrastructure with Cable & Wireless having a substantial telegraph radio receiving station built on the junction of Hatch Road and Doddinghurst Road in 1921 (with the associated transmitting station in nearby Chipping Ongar
). During World War II this site was considered sufficiently important in the war effort that substantial air defences were also constructed around it. Although some buildings from the site remained early into the 21st century it has now been transfomed into housing developments and an extension to Bishops Hall Park.
, Chuck Berry
, Daniel O'Donnell
, Lee Evans
, and JLS
. There is an annual Brentwood Festival held at the centre, as well as a traditional Firework Spectacular on or close to Guy Fawkes Night
.
(the only civilian dog display team ever to be selected for this honour). Most of the dogs used are rescue dogs and are of diverse breeds.
church, St. George's, just over its border with Brentwood. Also, towards Kelvedon Hatch
and Ongar, there is an example of a classic Essex flint
church, St. Paul's, at Bentley Common. The Peniel Pentecostal Church
is also situated in Pilgrim's Hatch.
There is also a Baptists' churchhttp://www.pilgrimsbaptist.co.uk which has no building of its own but meets on Sundays at Larchwood primary school.
A mosque
was once due to have been built in the area, however lengthy delays on the part of the purchaser compelled the owner of the proposed site to seek an alternative sale at auction.
high street stores and supermarkets, but does has a number of local shops and businesses. It also is well served by local restaurants, takeaways and pubs.
's chapel, a ruined chapel that dates back to the 12th century.
Between Pilgrims Hatch and Ongar is a secret nuclear bunker
, an ex-government shelter now owned by a farmer who has turned it into a local tourist attraction. Road signs directing motorists to the "secret" bunker's location are a somewhat amusing anachronism.
. Although the area is very close to the A12, the trunk road is accessible only at Brentwood or nearby Mountnessing. The A128 road runs through Pilgrims Hatch, connecting the village with Brentwood to the south and Ongar
to the north.
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....
, 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...
, in the east of England
East of England
The East of England is one of the nine official regions of England. It was created in 1994 and was adopted for statistics from 1999. It includes the ceremonial counties of Essex, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk. Essex has the highest population in the region.Its...
. There is a borough council ward bearing the name 'Pilgrims Hatch' which covers the Bishops Hall and Flower estates (the urban area north of the A12) and a small rural area to the north up to Ashwells Road and Days Lane. Pilgrims Hatch usually elects Liberal Democrat councillors. It has a population of around 5,000 people.
History
'Pilgrims Hatch' literally means Pilgrims Gate (with 'Hatch' being derived from the Old English form of haecc) and, until recently, local schools used a large farmers gate as a symbol of the area. While no longer common it is still the semi-official symbol of the village.The name derived from 12th century Thomas Becket
Thomas Becket
Thomas Becket was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 until his murder in 1170. He is venerated as a saint and martyr by both the Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion...
pilgrimages to Canterbury through 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....
, a popular stopping place at the time, before travelling onto Tilbury
Tilbury
Tilbury is a town in the borough of Thurrock, Essex, England. As a settlement it is of relatively recent existence, although it has important historical connections, being the location of a 16th century fort and an ancient cross-river ferry...
for the ferry. Pilgrims from the Midlands would pass through Pilgrims Hatch en-route to Brentwood. At this time Pilgrims Hatch was not recognised as a community as such, having only a few properties in an area which was mainly open countryside and not settled in any numbers until the 20th century. The Chapman & André map of 1777 references 'Pilgrims Hatch Common' and shows limited development along what was to become the modern Ongar Road near the junction with Coxtie Green Road (Cox Green then). The main development of Pilgrims Hatch as a village occurred after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Although population development may have been quite late, Pilgrims Hatch was home to a critical part of early communications infrastructure with Cable & Wireless having a substantial telegraph radio receiving station built on the junction of Hatch Road and Doddinghurst Road in 1921 (with the associated transmitting station in nearby Chipping Ongar
Chipping Ongar
Chipping Ongar is a small market town, and a civil parish called Ongar, in the Epping Forest district of the county of Essex, England. It is located East of Epping, South-East of Harlow and North-West of Brentwood.-Geography:...
). During World War II this site was considered sufficiently important in the war effort that substantial air defences were also constructed around it. Although some buildings from the site remained early into the 21st century it has now been transfomed into housing developments and an extension to Bishops Hall Park.
Features
Whilst small, and economically integrated with Brentwood, Pilgrims Hatch does contain some features of note.Culture
The Brentwood Centre is situated on the edge of Pilgrims Hatch, and is the centre of sport, leisure, and musical events within the area. Numerous artists of note have performed here including David EssexDavid Essex
David Essex OBE is an English musician, singer-songwriter and actor. Since the 1970s, Essex has attained nineteen Top 40 singles in the UK , and sixteen Top 40 albums...
, Chuck Berry
Chuck Berry
Charles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter, and one of the pioneers of rock and roll music. With songs such as "Maybellene" , "Roll Over Beethoven" , "Rock and Roll Music" and "Johnny B...
, Daniel O'Donnell
Daniel O'Donnell (Irish singer)
Daniel Francis Noel O'Donnell is an Irish singer, television presenter and philanthropist. O'Donnell came to public attention in 1983 and has since become a household name in Ireland and the UK. He has also had considerable success in the US. He is known for his close relationship with his...
, Lee Evans
Lee Evans (comedian)
Lee Evans is an English comedian, writer, actor and musician.-Personal life:Lee Evans was born in Avonmouth, Bristol, England to an Irish mother and a Welsh father, Dave Evans, a nightclub performer. He left Bristol at the age of 13 and then went to The Billericay School in Billericay, Essex...
, and JLS
JLS
- Music :* JLS, an English boyband** JLS , debut album by JLS* JLS a Spanish Rock band based in Zaragoza , Spain formed in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic by lead Leo Susana.- Organizations :...
. There is an annual Brentwood Festival held at the centre, as well as a traditional Firework Spectacular on or close to Guy Fawkes Night
Guy Fawkes Night
Guy Fawkes Night, also known as Guy Fawkes Day, Bonfire Night and Firework Night, is an annual commemoration observed on 5 November, primarily in England. Its history begins with the events of 5 November 1605, when Guy Fawkes, a member of the Gunpowder Plot, was arrested while guarding...
.
Essex Dog Display Team
Pilgrims Hatch is home to the founder and training ground of the Essex Dog Display Team. Starting out in the 1980s this dog training school has emerged as an internationally renowned display team regularly performing at events such the Royal TournamentRoyal Tournament
The Royal Tournament was the World's largest military tattoo and pageant, held by the British Armed Forces annually between 1880 and 1999. The venue was originally the Royal Agricultural Hall and latterly the Earls Court Exhibition Centre...
(the only civilian dog display team ever to be selected for this honour). Most of the dogs used are rescue dogs and are of diverse breeds.
Faith
Given that, historically, there has not been a long-established community there are no long-standing churches in Pilgrims Hatch. There is an EvangelicalEvangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
church, St. George's, just over its border with Brentwood. Also, towards 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...
and Ongar, there is an example of a classic Essex flint
Flint
Flint is a hard, sedimentary cryptocrystalline form of the mineral quartz, categorized as a variety of chert. It occurs chiefly as nodules and masses in sedimentary rocks, such as chalks and limestones. Inside the nodule, flint is usually dark grey, black, green, white, or brown in colour, and...
church, St. Paul's, at Bentley Common. The Peniel Pentecostal Church
Peniel Pentecostal Church
Peniel Pentecostal Church is located in Pilgrims Hatch, Brentwood, Essex, UK. The church was founded by the now disgraced 'Bishop' Michael Reid, and is currently under new leadership .- Doctrine :...
is also situated in Pilgrim's Hatch.
There is also a Baptists' churchhttp://www.pilgrimsbaptist.co.uk which has no building of its own but meets on Sundays at Larchwood primary school.
A mosque
Mosque
A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The word is likely to have entered the English language through French , from Portuguese , from Spanish , and from Berber , ultimately originating in — . The Arabic word masjid literally means a place of prostration...
was once due to have been built in the area, however lengthy delays on the part of the purchaser compelled the owner of the proposed site to seek an alternative sale at auction.
Local services
The area relies mainly on 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....
high street stores and supermarkets, but does has a number of local shops and businesses. It also is well served by local restaurants, takeaways and pubs.
Places of interest
Brentwood is the location of Thomas BecketThomas Becket
Thomas Becket was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 until his murder in 1170. He is venerated as a saint and martyr by both the Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion...
's chapel, a ruined chapel that dates back to the 12th century.
Between Pilgrims Hatch and Ongar is a secret nuclear bunker
Bunker
A military bunker is a hardened shelter, often buried partly or fully underground, designed to protect the inhabitants from falling bombs or other attacks...
, an ex-government shelter now owned by a farmer who has turned it into a local tourist attraction. Road signs directing motorists to the "secret" bunker's location are a somewhat amusing anachronism.
Travel links
Pilgrims Hatch has bus services to and 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....
. Although the area is very close to the A12, the trunk road is accessible only at Brentwood or nearby Mountnessing. The A128 road runs through Pilgrims Hatch, connecting the village with Brentwood to the south and Ongar
Chipping Ongar
Chipping Ongar is a small market town, and a civil parish called Ongar, in the Epping Forest district of the county of Essex, England. It is located East of Epping, South-East of Harlow and North-West of Brentwood.-Geography:...
to the north.