Widford is a parish of Chelmsford approximately south-south-west of the city’s railway station. The current parish boundary encloses a mixed residential, industrial and rural area south of the River Can, east of the River Wid and mostly to the west of the Great Eastern Main Line.
Toponymy
Widford is first recorded in 1216 ; the later 13th century forms Wydiford and Wydeford show that derivation from "withig" is probable. The name of the River Wid is a later back formation.
History
In early times the area was inhabited by the Iceni and later by the East Saxons. In 1329, the manor of Widford was held by Edward of Woodstock, Earl of Kent; and it afterwards passed to the Mortimer, Bacon, Altham, and other families.
Account of Widford in 1848
White’s Directory of Essex, published in 1848, describes Widford as ‘a small parish on the London road’. It contained of land, and about 190 inhabitants. When the census was taken in July 1841, its population had been swelled by railway labourers to 362. Widford village had about 300 occupants, but appeared to have been split so that some of it was in Chelmsford parish. John Attwood MP owned most of the land and lord of the manor. The description from 1848 goes on to say that he ‘has a handsome seat here, called Hylands on the western acclivity of the valley, commanding extensive views. Though the house was large and handsome, he is now erecting a more elegant and spacious mansion. The park and pleasure grounds are extensive and beautiful. The old house was erected by Chief JusticeJohn Comyns, Kt, in about 1730, and was much improved by the late P. C. Labouchere, Esq. Mr. Attwood is one of the parliamentary representatives of Harwich.’ The description of the village goes on ‘the Church is a small neat structure of mixed architecture, but evidently of Saxon origin. The wooden turret, at the west end, has two bells, and is crowned by a small spire. There is a chapel belonging to the lord of the manor, and near it is a monument in memory of Viscountess Falkland. The rectory, valued in K.B. at £8, and in 1831, at £225, is in the patronage of J Attwood and incumbency of the Rev William Buswell BA, who has a good residence, which he has lately much improved. The tithes were commuted in 1838, for £257 per annum. Mr. Attwood built a Schoolhouse in the church yard in 1843. In 1776, Lady Falkland left £200 to this parish, to provide for a weekly contribution of bread among the pool attending the church. To increase this charity, the Rev John Saunders left £100 in 1814. These bequests now form a fund of £379.4s.9d. three per cent Consols, and the dividends are applied in a weekly distribution of 17 threepenny loaves. In 1738, Benjamin Sarjant left £100 three per cent. Reduced Annuities, in trust, to apply the dividends yearly in clothing, for two poor widows, and two poor widowers.’
Notable buildings
The 1881 map of the area appears to show five buildings of significance: Hylands House, Widford Hall, Widford Lodge, St Mary’s church and the workhouse.
Hylands Park and House is now in the ownership of Chelmsford City Council and its history is well documented. It is no longer in the parish of Widford.
Widford Hall still exists. When it was sold in 1949 it was recorded as a ‘freehold corn and dairy farm comprising Georgian residence known as Widford Hall, with gardens, grounds, tennis court, summerhouse, with agricultural buildings including cow house, Dutch barn, 6 cottages and 259 acres of arable and pasture land; and an enclosure of freehold land used as allotments in total about 1.75 acres. It has been converted to offices and is surrounded by Widford Industrial Estate.
Widford Lodge remains too. On its sale in 1933 it was described as ‘a freehold estate comprising residence which includes billiard room, 6 principal bedrooms, 3 garages, outbuildings including stables, kennels, greenhouses, two tennis courts, gardens and park lands, gardener's or chauffeur's cottages, in total 18 acres with extensive frontages to the main Chelmsford to London road, and to Wood Street’. It became an independent preparatory school in 1935 following its resale when it had been trimmed to consist of a ‘freehold estate comprising detached residence with gardens, lawns, lily pool, and outbuildings, with grounds of about 1 acre’ in 1934.
The former workhouse became a hospital and has since been sold for development as a residential area. Its history is also well documented.
Silent Woman Inn: reputed to be the only Silent Woman in Essex. This was a public house on the old main road opposite the White Horse. The original pub sign showing a picture of a woman with her head cut off is now in the Chelmsford and Essex Museum in Oaklands Park.
The Sir Evelyn Wood public house, has another unique pub sign and pays tribute to the Essex celebrity of that name who was born at Cressing vicarage in 1838 and became a great military hero in Victorian times. Large crowds gathered at the Shire Hall, Chelmsford, when he was presented with a Sword of Honour on 14 October 1879, and again in 1903 when he received the Freedom of the Borough in recognition of his promotion to Field Marshal. He died at Harlow in 1919 at the age of 71 years.
