Little Baddow Newsletter

ISSUED BY LITTLE BADDOW PARISH COUNCIL

March 2011

Little Baddow Parish Assembly Wednesday 23rd March 2011 Arrive for 7.30pm start

Guest Speaker: Mr Michael Hindmarch High Sheriff of who will talk on ‘The Ancient Office of High Sheriff of Essex’

Historic Houses in Little Baddow A portrait of Tofts

The history of Tofts can be traced Lord of the Manor. His son, the more Georgian front and also retains some from the 13th century and more famous William Goodday Strutt Tudor parts at the rear. recently is rooted inextricably in inherited the manor and earned for military history, from General William himself an illustrious military During the First World War, the Goodday Strutt to the role the house reputation. For his efforts during the manor belonged to the Woodhouse played in the Second World War. In Siege of Gibraltar and serving in the family. The parish itself lost fifteen the 13th Century, Middlemead Manor, West Indies, King George III made men to the Great War, but the consisting of half the parish of Little him Lieutenant Colonel and he was Woodhouses lost two of those men - Baddow, was divided between the elevated, in 1796, to Brigadier Mosley and Lionel were killed in Toft and the Bassett families, each General. action and the third son, Jack, was with their own manor house and land. In the village, you may know him as removed from the conflict altogether Clement Toft, the grandson of the first the man after whom The General’s to avoid further loss in the family. A Toft owner was responsible for Arms is named. His contribution to memorial to the two sons can be rebuilding or enlarging Tofts in the Tofts House was extending it by found in the Little Baddow church. 15th century. He married Dorothy building the “square white brick Seymour, whose sister Jane had block.” The house still has the Then, in the Second World War, Tofts married Henry VIII. was taken over by American soldiers When Clement died, the house and used in a local deception scheme passed to his son John, who was to fool the German pilots. The knighted for his diplomatic missions. chicken house was illuminated with Unfortunately, during John’s lights powered from the house, a ownership, much land was sold decoy measure to protect the because of financial difficulties, soldiers. significantly reducing the size of the manor. The house now belongs to the Evans Centuries later, in 1778, John Strutt Family. acquired the property and became Courtesy of John McCrindle

Willow Trees and Cricket Bats in Little Baddow and Essex You may have noticed that willow trees are prolific not The trees are grown along river banks and on land which only in Little Baddow, but also across the county. has a high water table, for example water meadows, and is of good quality soil over clay such as in Little Baddow. The Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation Company Trees are grown from sets which are harvested approxi- planted cricket bat willows along the canal in the 1860’s mately every four years and then planted on during as an additional source of income. December to February in their permanent site. Side Walter Warsop, a renowned cricket bat maker, moved his shoots are removed to create blemish free, straight factory to Little Baddow in 1907 (it now continues in East trunks of between 3-5 cricket bat lengths before they are Hanningfield as Warsop-Stebbing). Warsop bats were felled. shipped around the world and Don Bradman used a Little This can take between 15 to 20 years. As a condition of Baddow bat to score his first test century against the Felling Licence (from the Forestry Commission) each in January 1929 - a photo of which is in the Sports tree has to be replaced on at least a one to one basis. Ground Pavilion. Each trunk is mechanically split into clefts, which are Today, the main growers in our area are J.S Wright and then sawn to the rough shape of a bat blade. Once this Son, based at , who are the largest produc- is done the sawn clefts are waxed at each end to prevent ers of English willow cricket bat blades in the world. splitting during the drying process. The genus of willow, Salix alba 'Caerulea', is grown for its The clefts are graded during manufacture. Users range strength and properties which stops it from splintering, as from boys to Test Cricketers, and these bats were used well as being tough and lightweight. in Australia during the Ashes!

Courtesy of John McCrindle

Page 2 March 2011 The Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation ‘A Gem On Our Doorstep’

Courtesy of John McCrindle Residents of Little Baddow know that resting overnight at Paper Mill Lock, notably the traditional boats ‘Victoria’, to get north from the village means the half way point. ‘Blackwater Rose’ and the 12 seater crossing the Chelmer & Blackwater, ‘Caffel’. but perhaps many may not know The Navigation is privately owned to about this beautiful waterway, its this day, unlike most canals which You can walk along the length of the history, or the opportunities it brings. were nationalised in 1948. Following towpath, or you can choose a shorter, financial problems it has been circular walk to include part of the The first attempts to convert the river managed in recent years by Essex Navigation - some great walks are to a canal began in 1677, but due to Waterways Ltd., a division of the described in the free booklet opposition from those who stood to Inland Waterways Association. ‘Navigation Walks Along and Around lose money, approval was only finally Within the last 2 years over £1 million the Chelmer and Blackwater’, agreed in 1793. Once built, it was has been spent on renovations and available from Essex County Council. used extensively for commercial improvements. The Chelmer Canal Download a copy from traffic without a break until 1972. For Trust also has coordinated extensive www.essex.gov.uk/prow, or phone much of that time, horses hauled volunteer work to help maintain and 01245 437291. shallow draught barges the 13.75 improve the waterway. miles between Heybridge and If that sounds a bit energetic, you can , passing through 12 Today, over 100 leisure boats are simply stroll down to Papermill Lock locks. This would take two days, based on the waterway, including for a cup of tea and a cake!

P.S. To Contact ‘Victoria’ (up to 48 passengers), to hire a canoe, rowing boat, or the 12 seater ’Caffel’, based at Papermill Lock call 01245 225520. To book the ‘Blackwater Rose’ which takes up to 10 passengers based at Sandford Lock, call 01206 853282. Heather Hills

Heather Hills was gifted to Little Baddow Parish Council Essex and it probably had religious purposes. in 1925 by Mr and Mrs Nicholson as a public recreation ground. Previously, the land had belonged to the Old The majority of the land is mixed woodland including oak, Rodney when it was an hotel and pleasure gardens, and birch, sweet chestnut, sycamore, hawthorn, holly, elm, was known as The Warren, probably because it was scots pine, and larch. There are two main areas of used for rabbit farming. At that time, the land was largely heather and grassland on the steep slopes to the west of open heath land, with only a few trees - most of the the stream and to the north of the earthworks. woodland today is relatively new growth (30-50 years). A smaller area of grassland is behind the old school The new name reflected the abundance of heather building (St Andrew’s room) and is known as the Old growing on the slopes. A licence was granted to Essex Playing Field. It was most likely used by the school and Wildlife Trust in 1999 to manage the reserve. is now a sunny glade maintained by cutting back encroaching scrub and giving the grass a cut. York Street, the public footpath running along the northern boundary is shown on early maps as a track To encourage heather regeneration and to promote way. It is thought to be a section of salt road from biodiversity, birch scrub, bracken and bramble have been Maldon. Iron Age earthworks on Heather Hills are removed. EWT has constructed new footbridges, cleared considered to be of county significance as the presence fallen timber, improved paths, litter-picked, installed way of a pillow barrow is one of only two known to exist in markers, and during this past winter created two ponds.

Page 3

Chairman’s Report 2010-11

What a busy year we have had - with so many fund Quality Status. My thanks go to our Parish Clerk, Roger raising events going on during the year in support of Upward, for all the work he put in to ensure we received the Wickhay Green Play Area, and the refurbishment this award. of the Memorial Hall kitchen. It has been, to say the least, hectic! Newsletter. This year, it was decided to introduce a Newsletter at the half year point so that the village were Memorial Hall Kitchen. Many of you will have, by now, kept up to date with what was going on, particularly as experienced the new kitchen with its improved facilities this was such a busy year for many villagers and for all and extra space which have enhanced the working the parish councillors. I trust this was well received by all conditions for all those using the hall. The new kitchen in the village and we always welcome your feedback, has however tended to highlight the need to pay some photos or ideas for articles. attention to the bar area, and the Council will address this in the early part of 2011. Caretaker. Our new caretaker, Jackie Rymill, started in 2010 and her introduction of flowers and hand towels has Wickhay Green Play Area. At long last the Play Area added a touch of class to the building that fits nicely with was officially opened on Sunday 17th October with the all the improvements that have been carried out to the Mayor of Chelmsford officiating with many, many children kitchen. Well done Jackie! so excited and enthusiastic to take a ride on the Zip Wire that I almost didn’t get on. The whole of the fund raising Planning. There was a total of 46 planning applications team, including Councillors Claire Hodgson and Mary during the year of which the Parish Council objected to 14 Buckley, are to be congratulated on their combined efforts with 6 being supported by the Borough Council. There of raising the £57,000 required to fund the project. Well were 2 that went to appeal, but both were refused. done! Elections. We took the opportunity to hire the Danbury Flyer as an Election Bus to transport residents to and from the Memorial Hall for the General Elections held in May 2010. It is our intention to provide a similar service for the Local Election to be held on 5th May 2011. A notice will appear in the village magazine and the notice board giving details of the times the bus will run, between 10.00am and 3.00pm.

Speeding in the Village. There were complaints received regarding the number of vehicles speeding through the village and the council have involved the PCSO’s in monitoring speeds. Data from recent speed checks was inconclusive and new speed checks have been sought.

Parish Charter The Parish Council signed the Parish Charter that signifies a closer partnership with Chelmsford Borough Council, recognising the increasing importance attached to partnership working by central government.

My thanks go to the Parish Clerk and all the councillors who have fully supported me during the past year, which have enabled so many new activities to take place. Also, thank you to Duncan Robertson for his legal support with John at the opening of the Wickhay Green Play area. the new leases for Wickhay Green and Heather Hills, to Peter Hodgson as warden for Holybred Wood, to Michael Quality Council. I had great pleasure in accepting, on Vandome who is our internal auditor, and to Margaret behalf of the Parish Council, the re-accreditation of Jarvis for monitoring the Wickhay Green Play Area. Quality Council status confirmed in a presentation held at the Chelmsford Borough Council Chambers in June this year. This award confirms the existing good practices of John Robinson the Council - only one in four councils in Essex achieve Chairman

Page 4 March 2011

Finance Report for the Year 2010-11

As I write this in December, it is with 2011/12 in line with the Retail Prices pleasure (if also with some surprise) Index. Apart from anticipated that I can report that we project a increases in expenses such as financial outcome for the year better heating for the Hall and insurance, we than we had expected at its start. have to allow for the cost of elections Why surprise? Despite the which occur this coming year, and recession, and the fact that Hall financial support for the community income would have been restricted bus, which was not needed last year. during the kitchen improvements, bookings have been very strong and The figures shown below relate to will probably be 12-15% up on the normal parish council activities. In previous year. addition, there have been two special initiatives in 2010. The first was the This has been enormously helpful, as new Wickhay Green Play Area which it has enabled us to commission a cost just over £57,000 (Parish number of one-off expenditures Council contributed £10,000), and the increasing use of the Hall, which including essential maintenance to second was the refurbishment of the reflects the active social life of our the hall and stage floor, a contribution hall kitchen and bar, for which the Parish. As you will see from the to improvements to the bar area, total cost was over £32,000 (PC figures below, the income from the some improvements to the Parish contribution £2,500). These are both Hall now forms over a third of our website, new noticeboards, and a magnificent achievements due to total income, up from less than a contribution towards essential fundraising efforts in the village and quarter a few years ago. This has improvements to local records grants from Essex County Council, enabled us to restrict increases in the archiving at the Essex Environment Trust, Chelmer Precept, which per house is well History Centre. Housing Association, and The Big below that of Danbury or . Lottery Fund. Our income, and the things we pay That said, we consider we must for, are shown below. reluctantly increase the precept in We are very pleased with the Keith Ferguson Where our money comes from and our best projection for expenditure in the financial year ending in March 2011.

Hall Sports Grass Precept Website Hall Play Area Sports Flyer Other Heather Grants Other Spec. Provs

INCOME (Total £62784) (Expenditure Continued..) • Precept £35938 • Grass cutting £ 880 • Hall £20000 • Website £ 2000 • Sports facilities £ 6406 • Play Area £ 842 • Other £ 440 • [Danbury Flyer is Nil for this year only]

• Heather Hills £ 750 EXPENDITURE (Total £62540) • Grants £ 600 • Hall £25700 • Other £ 18817 • Sports facilities £ 6385 • Specific provisions & reserves £ 6566

Page 5

A profile of Claire Hodgson—Parish Councillor

Claire has been a parish councillor for 3 years and has lived in the village for 13 years with husband Peter and son Jake.

They moved to Little Baddow from Earls Colne after she decided she needed a bigger garden to grow vegetables and Peter needed a bigger shed! She was working as Product Manager for a large mail order gardening company based in Kelvedon, so travelling to work was easy, giving her lots of free time to tend her vegetable patch (and she hasn’t bought an onion since).

Claire spent the first 18 years of her life in London, and then went to Portsmouth to study Engineering Geology, where she met Peter, before embarking on a varied career. She has worked for a pub chain managing marketing budgets and for Britvic Soft Drinks controlling advertising for the multiples such as Tesco and Sainsburys. She was also a Works Chemist, testing bitumen products for Claire says ’I am passionate about maintaining the Tarmac. community spirit of Little Baddow, and ensuring its beauty She gave up work in 2004 to be a mum, housewife, dog is kept for generations to come. I hope to live in the walker, chicken keeper and eventually a councillor. village for many more years.’ Little Baddow Photo Competition

Starting on 1st April, there will be a black-and-white. They must not be So please send us your pictures! new competition for the best photo subject to any copyright. Up to 4 pictures per resident per taken in the Little Baddow Parish At the next Annual Assembly, in month may be sent by email to by a resident. 2012, all photos previously shown on [email protected]. If Each month, the 4 photos judged the the website will be on display, and you have more that you want to be best that month will be shown on the those attending will be invited to vote considered, they are all welcome, but Little Baddow Website home for their favourite, which will be you are asked to let us have them on page. Anyone in the Parish can declared the winner. There will be a disk posted to The Parish Clerk, The submit any number of entries in any prize for the winning entry, which will Ridings, North Hill, Little Baddow, month, but they must be in .jpg appear on the website home page for CM3 4TG. format. Photos can be of anything in the following year, alongside photo Little Baddow, and can be colour, or entries for that year's competition. Full details of the rules of the competition will appear on the website. Contact Details for Parish Council Mary Buckley [email protected] Parish Clerk 07818 296957 Roger Upward [email protected] Keith Ferguson [email protected] 226740 07941 181992 Claire Hodgson [email protected] Borough Councillors 226085 Chris Kingsley Christopher.kingsley@ Simon Johnson [email protected] 223744 chelmsford.gov.uk 227338 Bob Shepherd MBE [email protected] Jo Roberts [email protected] 223709 227606 Ian Wright [email protected] John Robinson (Chair) [email protected] 226289 224858 Bob Shepherd MBE [email protected] County Councillor 223709 Peter Martin [email protected] Tim Thorogood [email protected] 223624 471123 Parish Website : www.littlebaddow.org.uk

Page 6 March 2011 Little Baddow History Centre The History Centre is a village gem, tucked away behind the cart lodge at the URC chapel. It stores the village archives – records from clubs, churches and parish council, old photographs and historical artefacts - and promotes the village heritage. Family historians now regularly visit to look up the village records. The shop sells local historical publications as well as lovely gifts.

Three special exhibitions are organised each year. The current one is ‘The Parish Chest Revisited’ which highlights happenings in the village and runs until April. From May to August, the exhibition will feature ‘The Countryside around Little Baddow’ and there are dawn chorus walks arranged to get you out into the fresh Norah Shipman making a presentation of a sampler morning air! The autumn exhibition is yet to be finalised made by her grandmother in 1846 to Sir Alastair – you can view the website www.thehistorycentre.org.uk Stewart (History Centre Committee Member) for up-to-date details and the Centre opening times. launched in 2010. Regular events at the History Centre are the ‘Strawberry Tea’ in July and the ‘Victorian Christmas’ on the second If you wish to join, please contact Robbie Maxted on Saturday in December. 01245 224852 or if you just want to be a volunteer, please contact Mary Klaber on 01245 222910. The History Centre is supported by an enthusiastic group of volunteers and is entirely self funding. To enable it to If you haven’t discovered the History Centre yet, 2011 is continue, the ‘Friends of the History Centre’ was the time to do so!

PARISH COUNCIL Memorial Hall Transformed ELECTIONS With a touch of flair and imagination, the village hall MAY 5, 2011 has the potential to be transformed into a first class venue for special parties and celebrations.

Are you concerned about our village? The hall has been transformed twice since the new kitchen was installed - once for a special birthday and Do you want to make a difference? for New Year’s Eve. Who could have imagined our Hall looking as beautiful as this?

Well you can! Become a Parish Councillor.

The Notice of Election will be published no later than Monday March 28th 2011.

Nomination papers must be received by noon on Tuesday April 5th.

There is only a short period to submit

your nomination papers. These are available from Chelmsford Borough

Council or our Parish Clerk. If you would like your function at the Memorial Hall Please contact Roger Upward on to look like this, please contact Jackie Rymill on 01245 226740 for information. 01245 227417.

Page 7 Little Baddow Newsletter 2011 Little Baddow Directory & News Baby & Toddler Edward Bear Club & Ridge Runners Drama Group Jacky Bannerman - 222595 Eden Café Andrew Ritchings - 13th -16th April Tuesdays 10:00-11:30am Ann Poulard - 224221 01621 828056 nd 2 Friday 10:00am ‘Rebecca’ Bell Ringers St Andrews Room St Andrews Room by Wendy Godden - 223873 Sally Lowe - 223733 Clifford Williams Essex Wildlife Trust Bridge Clubs Geoff Ford - 222328 Schools Contact Sally Lowe for Heather Hills Danbury Park - 224994 tickets on 223733. Colin Williamson - 226045 Historical Society Elm Green - 225230 Monday evenings Ann Greenslade - 224261 Heathcote - 223131 Memorial Hall St John’s - 222173 Little Baddow History Centre Sandon - 473611 Brownies Andy Coppell - 224896 Open Gardens Jo Mackin - 361262 Mary Klaber - 222910 Scottish Country 14th May 2011 Kathryn Wilkinson - 227845 Jane Rigler - 223429 Dancing Jan Yule - 222117 Conservation Society Butler Educational Trust Holybred Wood - Warden

Margaret Martin - 223624 Peter Hodgson - 226085 Scouts, Cubs, Beavers Presentations and out- Clive Pretty - 225209 ings are organised Carpet Bowls Horticultural Society throughout the year. Doreen Shepherd - 223709 Jenny Shaw - 01621 843459 Slimming World Please see the parish Emma Chapman - website for details. Churches Kick Boxing 01621 853889 Julie Nisbett - 226315 Wednesdays 10:00am St Mary the Virgin Thursdays Memorial Hall Vicky Briggs - 222486 Memorial Hall Film Nights Roman Catholic Church Strictly Dancing Join us for film shows Father Paul Fox - 324138 Memorial Hall Caretaker Trevor Rawlins - 226121 throughout the year in United Reform Church Jackie Rymill - 227417 Wednesday 7:45pm the Memorial Hall. Look Rev. Dr Michael Powell Memorial Hall in Little Baddow News, 422781 Danbury Journal or the Brenda Hooson - 222836 National Trust - Warden Sunday Lunch Club Parish Website for John Gibson - 222148 Richard Wallace - 222669 Jan Yule - 222117 dates. 2nd Sunday Contact Elizabeth Community Bus Neighbourhood Watch Memorial Hall Willington 224060 Colin Budgey - 225434 Malcolm Breeze - 225089 Eddie Wright - 225509 WEA Butler Open Gardens Audrey Saunders - Educational Community Care John Robinson-224858 223053 Foundation Joan Atkinson - 226241 Small grants available Lunch for the Elderly Open Group Women’s Institute for educational Tuesday 12:15pm Joy Bloxham - 223196 Sandra Boniface - 224558 purposes. St Andrews Rooms

Parish Clerk Walkers Application forms are Conservation Society Roger Upward - 226740 John McCrindle - 225270 available from Gillian Foulkes - 227572 Robin Kerridge - 224208 Pat Breeze 225089, Prayer Fellowship- Wendy Godden 223873, Cricket Club Ecumenical Margaret Martin 223624 Martin Higgins - 222933 Elizabeth Bourne - 223183 Fiona Walker 224580 Ann Poulard - 224221 Drama Club or The Clerk, Duffields, Wednesdays 2:00pm Sally Lowe - 223733 Duke Street, St Andrews Room Chelmsford. Little Baddow Memorial Hall The perfect venue for parties, clubs and societies on your doorstep with favourable rates for residents. For more information and availability visit the website, www.littlebaddow.org.uk, or ring Jackie Rymill 01245 227417 between 10.00am and 7.00pm Monday to Friday.