A page about the city of Chelmsford

Chelmsford is a large town (over 100,000 inhabitants) about 40kms north east of London. It is the county town, or administrative centre, of the county of Essex.

The Salvation Army is based in the town centre and the Salvation Army Citadel is in Baddow Road. The band are there on Sunday at 10am and 5:30pm and our rehearsal night is usually Thursday from 8:15pm until 10pm.

Chelmsford Borough has a historic core dating back to a Roman fort (Caesaromagus) which was established midway between London (Londinium) and Colchester (Camulodumum). Medieval buildings can still be found in Moulsham Street, while modern shopping facilities are available in the High Chelmer and Meadows shopping precincts.

The Cathedral and Tindal Square offer a peaceful haven in the centre of town and Central Park with the Rivers Can and Chelmer is no more than a couple of minute's walk from the High Street. Picturesque villages, windmills and antique shops set amid beautiful Essex countryside can all be found throughout the Borough.

Just outside Chelmsford is Hylands Park, 500 acres of mixed park landscaped by Humphry Repton. At the centre of the park is Hylands House, a Grade II* listed 18th century building currently being restored in stages by the Borough Council.

Hylands House, Chelmsford

Chelmsford is important as the birthplace of the electronics industry. Guglielmo Marconi established the first radio factory in the world in Hall Street, by 1899 the first radio link between England and France had been made, and in 1920 experimental public broadcasts of concerts were being transmitted. Marconi's efforts led in 1926, to the establishment of the British Broadcasting Corporation. The BBC still has a presence in New London Road, Chelmsford from where the local radio station, BBC Essex, now operates while Marconi Limited continues to employ a large number of folk in the town.

Chelmsford is a major administrative centre, with the offices of the Borough Council, County Police Headquarters and the County Courts and Chelmsford Diocese all located within the town centre. The town has also been favoured with a number of insurance companies and financial institutions locating their headquarters in the town centre.

Chelmsford also has a well deserved reputation for top quality training and education facilities which the recent establishment of the Anglia Ruskin University campus in the town.

The Salvation Army "opened fire" in Chelmsford in 1886 and has been active in the town ever since. The corps moved to its current hall in March 1974. The present commanding officers, Majors Alan and Linda Watters moved to Chelmsford in the summer of 2006 and took over the leadership of the corps.