Chelmsford

Chelmsford () is a city in Essex, England. It is the county town of Essex and one of three cities in the county, along with Colchester and Southend-on-Sea. It is located 31 miles (50 km) north-east of Charing Cross in London, and 22 miles (35 km) south-west of Colchester. At the 2021 census the built up area had a population of 110,625. It gives its name to the wider Chelmsford local government district which also covers an extensive surrounding area. Chelmsford as a settlement started growing after 1100 AD, when a bridge across the River Can was built. The town grew in importance after King John issued a Royal Charter in 1196, allowing Chelmsford to host a market, and by 1219 the town had become the county town of Essex. Chelmsford was involved in the Peasants' Revolt of 1381, and King Richard II moved on the town after quelling the revolt in London. In 1516, King Henry VIII purchased the Boleyn estate, building Beaulieu Palace, located on the current site of New Hall School. During the early 20th century Chelmsford grew in industrial importance, becoming the birth place of radio under Guglielmo Marconi. Other big manufacturers were Crompton & Co under R. E. B. Crompton, Hoffmann Ball Bearings, Fell Christy (later known as Christy Norris Ltd), Coleman and Moreton, Thomas Clarkson and Eddington and Stevenson. In 1914, the parish church of St Mary the Virgin was raised to the status of a cathedral on the creation of the Diocese of Chelmsford, while in 2012 the town received Royal assent to become a city.