Writtle is a small, charming village just outside the central Essex town of Chelmsford. Boasting the traditional village green, a duck pond, and a church built by the Normans, it is a quintessential English village and was once described as one of the loveliest in the country.

Past history points to the fact that Writtle has been inhabited for around 6,000 years, from Bronze & Iron age man through to the Romans. In the Domedsay book, published in 1086, Writtle was recorded as a town of over 1,000 people, where nearby Chelmsford had just 20 residents. The village was an important and wealthy place during the Medieval and Tudor periods, and it is claimed by some that Robert the Bruce was born there, although it was most likely to be his father. More recently, in 1922, Marconi started the worlds first regular radio broadcast from a small hut in the village, with the most famous call sign of all time, 2MT, (two-emma-toc).

Nowadays, Writtle has a population of approx. 5,600 and is home to the highly regarded Writtle College. Being located just a mile from Chelmsford town centre, it is a popular place to live with good local facilities, shops and amenities, including a local butchers, post office, library, two supermarkets, a fish & chip shop and the Writtle Wick Family Centre. Sports & Leisure is also well covered and if you like traditional sports, there is Writtle Football Club, Writtle Cricket Club, or Writtle Tennis Club. Of the less mainstream sports, there is Writtle Bowling Club, Writtle Table Tennis Club & even a Writtle Croquet Club.

Writtle is also a popular dining destination for local residents, and those from the surrounding area, who come to eat out at one of the many restaurants and pubs to found in the village. Some of the more well known include the Indian Joy Restaurant, The Blue Bridge Restaurant & Bar which offers high class haute cuisine, or traditional country pub dining at The Duck Inn at Newney Green just outside Writtle. In the centre of the village surrounding the green, you will find pubs such as The Rose & Crown, The Wheatsheaf, & the recently opened Graham's on the Greene, offering live music, entertainment and great food throughout the day. However, if you would just like a quiet cup of tea and a slice of cake, try the Writtle Tea Rooms situated in Lordship Road, opposite the entrance to Writtle College.

Apart from the village, other attractions to be found in the parish of Writtle are the beautiful setting of Hylands House & Hylands Park, which is home to the southern part of the world famous V Festival, the original site of King John's Hunting Lodge & Tithe Barn, both located at the Writtle College site, & the ancient woodland of Writtle Forest.

Houses for Sale in Writtle Chelmsford

With lots of properties to choose from, Writtle is a popular place to reside providing good local amenities & facilities for residents as well as easy access to Chelmsford. Flats in Melba Court start at around £110K, whilst a bit further up the property ladder areas such as Longmeads Close, Longbrandocks, Back Road & Millfields offer suitable properties for families in the region of £150K to £250K. More expensive property in Writtle can be found in Victoria Road, Purcell Cole, Nathans Lane & the delightfully named Paradise Road.

Writtle Chelmsford Property Prices - Average recent property prices (Sep 11) are estimated to be in the region of £220K, being broken down as detached £317K, semi-detached £228K, terraced £203K, & flat at £132K.

Writtle Chelmsford Council Tax Rates - Council tax rates for Writtle (CM1) are determined by the Chelmsford Borough Council and are slightly above the UK national average. For the period 2011 -2012 the annual band rates are as follows...

A £989.16

B £1,154.02

C £1,318.88

D £1,483.74

E £1,813.46

F £2,143.18

G £2,472.90

H £2,967.48

Writtle Chelmsford Crime Stats - According to the Police.uk website, Writtle has an average crime rate compared to the UK. Since the new crime reporting system was launched in December 2010, it show that there are, on average, approximately 50 crimes committed each month, of which just over half are anti-social behaviour & 9% are burglary, with an average rate of approx. 5.2 crimes committed per thousand people.

Writtle College

Writtle College is one of the oldest and largest colleges in the UK and is a partner of the University of Essex. Patron of the college, which has around 8,800 students, is the famous gardener, TV presenter, and chat show host Alan Titchmarsh.

Formerly known as Writtle Agricultural College, it is divided into three schools structured as Sustainable Environments, Sport Equine & Animal Science and the Writtle School of Design. Notable areas include a new library, two indoor riding schools, a hydrotherapy unit for equines, a Dog grooming room, a mechanical horse for rider position studies, and a state of the art sperm analyser, known as SpermVision.

Writtle College
Lordship Road
Writtle
Chelmsford
Essex
CM1 3RR

Writtle College Telephone number is 01245 424200

Writtle College email address is info@writtle.ac.uk

Principal: Professor David Butcher

Schools in Writtle Chelmsford

Writtle Infants School in Writtle, Chelmsford is a smaller than average primary school and provides education for children aged between 4 and 7 years of age. In its latest Ofsted report in September 2008, it was rated as ‘good' and is a school where parents are supportive and there is effectual leadership and management. On its website, Writtle Infant School states that it aims to give all pupils the confidence to achieve the high standards expected of them and its vision for the school is to be a "special place where everyone feels included, valued and achieves their best."

Writtle Infant School
Lodge Road
Writtle
Chelmsford
Essex
CM1 3HZ

Tel: 01245 420963

Writtle Junior School in Writtle, Chelmsford is a smaller than average sized junior school and caters for children aged between 7 and 11 years of age. In its latest Ofsted report in December 2008, it was rated as ‘satisfactory', with the proportion of pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities having grown and now above the UK average. On its website, the headteacher of Writtle Junior School, Mr Taylor, states that education should be "exciting, stimulating and accessible to all" and they believe the curriculum does exactly that.

Writtle Junior School
Margaretting Road
Writtle
Chelmsford
Essex
CM1 3HG

Tel: 01245 420592

Writtle Chelmsford – Local Amenities

Doctors in Writtle

Writtle Village GP Surgery, 16a Lordship Road, Writtle, Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 3EH Tel: 01245 421205. Opening Times Mon-Fri.: Surgery 8.15am – 6.30pm Telephone lines open from 8.00am Dispensary 9.00am - 12.00pm then 2.00pm - 6.00pm.

Dentists in Writtle

Writtle Dental Practice, Christopher Galise, 4 Lawford Road, Writtle, Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 3EA Tel: 01245 421781

Writtle Libraries

Writtle Library, 45 The Green, Writtle, Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 3DT. Tel: 01245 420458. Books, large print books & audio books, CD’s, DVD’s, wifi internet access + other services. Opening times: Tuesday & Thursday 2.00pm-7.00pm, Saturday 9.00am-5.00pm. Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday: Closed

Writtle College Library, Writtle College, Lordship Road, Writtle, Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 3RR. Tel: 01245 424245   Opening Times: Term Time, 08.30 - 20.30 Monday to Thursday, 08.30 - 19.30 Friday, 13.30 - 18:00 Saturday & Sunday, Holiday Time, 08.30 – 16.30 Monday to Friday.

Writtle Nurseries

Kiddi Caru Nursery, Foxburrows Lane, Writtle, Chelmsford, CM1 3SS Tel: 01245 421341

The Duckling Nursery School, located within Writtle Infants School, Lodge Road, Writtle, Chelmsford, CM1 3HZ Tel: 07771 645270

Writtle Post Office

Writtle Post Office is located within Writtle Library at 45 The Green, Writtle, Chelmsford, CM1 3DT Tel: 01245 420201. Opening hours Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 9.00am - 1.00pm & 2.00pm - 5.30pm, Wed 9.00am - 12.30pm, Sat 9.00am - 12.30pm, Sun Closed

Banks in Writtle

Barclays Bank, 2 Lodge Road, Writtle, Chelmsford, CM1 3HB Tel: 08457 555555. Opening times: Mon-Fri 9.30am – 3.30pm. Sat/Sun Closed

Writtle Butchers

D.S. Eagle, 9 Wellfields, Writtle, Chelmsford, CM1 3LF Tel: 01245 420516. Established over 35 years, all types of meat, renowned homemade sausages, plus deli-counter selling cheeses, pies, pastries, pates. Opening Times: Monday – Friday 7.30am - 5.15pm, Saturday 7.00am – 4.00pm, Sunday closed.

Writtle Pharmacy & Chemists

Writtle Village Pharmacy, 52 The Green, Writtle, Chelmsford, CM1 3DU Tel: 01245 422357  Opening Times: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday:9:00am - 6:30pm, Wednesday: 9:00am - 6:00pm, Saturday: 9:00am - 1:00pm, Please call for Sunday, Bank Holidays and evenings opening times. Closed 1:00pm - 2:00pm daily.

Writtle Estate Agents

Beresfords Residential, 1 St. Johns Green, Writtle, Chelmsford, CM1 3DZ Tel: 01245 420880

Churches in Writtle

All Saints Parish Church, Church Lane, Writtle, Chelmsford, CM1 3EN Tel: 01245 422846

Writtle United Reformed Church, 51 The Green, Writtle, Chelmsford, CM1 3DT Tel: 01245 444931

Writtle Sports Clubs

Writtle Football Club, The Playing Fields, Paradise Road, Writtle, Chelmsford, CM1 3HW, Tel: 01245 353023. Two Saturday & Sunday teams, plus Vets team. Always on the lookout for new players.

Writtle Minors Football Club, The Playing Fields, Paradise Road, Writtle, Chelmsford, CM1 3HW, Tel: 01245 248704. Boys & Girls junior football.

Writtle Cricket Club, Paradise Road, Writtle Park, Writtle, Chelmsford, CM1 3HP Tel: 07906 405969. Teams at all age groups so come and play cricket in Writtle at this friendly club.

Writtle Tennis Club, Paradise Road, Writtle, Chelmsford, CM1 3HP Tel: 01245 351541. Four all weathers courts, floodlights and clubhouse.

Writtle Bowling Club, Romans Place, Writtle, Chelmsford, CM1 3JD Tel: 01245 420343

Writtle Croquet Club, Writtle College, Sports Ground, Foxburrows Lane, Writtle, Chelmsford, CM1 3SS Tel: 01245 421951

Writtle Table Tennis Club, The Pavilion, Paradise Road, Writtle, CheLmsford, CM1 3HP. Tel: 01277 631558

Writtle Vets

The Pet Clinic, House & Jackson, Roxwell Road, Writtle, Chelmsford, CM1 3RZ Tel: 01245 423162. Small pets and equine veterinary service.

Writtle Pubs

The Wheatsheaf, 70 The Green, Writtle, Chelmsford, CM1 3DU Tel: 01245 420695

The Chequers Inn, 11 Chequers Road, Writtle, Chelmsford, CM1 3NG Tel: 01245 422744

The Rose & Crown, 57 The Green, Writtle, Chelmsford, CM1 3RU Tel: 01245 420266

The Horse & Groom, Roxwell Road, Writtle, Chelmsford, CM1 3RU Tel: 01245 420245

Writtle Restaurants & Places to Eat

Joy Restaurant & Takeaway, 30 The Green, Writtle, Chelmsford, CM1 3DU Tel: 01245 422228 - Indian

The Blue Bridge Restaurant, 1 Bridge Street, Writtle, Chelmsford, CM1 3EY Tel: 01245 422891 – a la carte menu

Graham's on the Greene, 12 The Green, Writtle, Chelmsford, CM1 3DU Tel: 01245 422432 – open all day for breakfast, lunch, dinner, live entertainment

The Fish Shop, 9b Bridge Street, Writtle, Chelmsford, CM1 3EY Tel: 01245 420890

The Duck Inn, Newney Green, Writtle, Chelmsford, CM1 3SF Tel: 01245 421894

Writtle Tea Rooms, Lordship Road, Writtle, Chelmsford, CM1 3RS Tel: 01245 422600