:Chelmsford

File:Chelmsfordcath.jpg]]

File:Chelmsfordviaduct.jpg through Central Park.]]

Before 1199, there were settlements nearby from ancient times. The remains of a Neolithic and a late Bronze Age settlement have been found in the Springfield suburb, and the town was occupied by the Romans. A Roman fort was built in AD 60, and a civilian town grew up around it. The town was given the name of Caesaromagus (Caesar's field or Caesar's marketplace), although the reason for it being given the great honour of bearing the Imperial prefix is now unclear – possibly as a failed 'planned town' provincial capital to replace Londinium or Camulodunum{{Citation needed|reason=Surely as one of Ceaser's military camps during his campaign through Essex is a better explanation?|date=July 2024}}. The remains of a mansio, a combination post office, civic centre and hotel, lie beneath the streets of modern Moulsham, and the ruins of an octagonal temple are located beneath the Odeon roundabout. The town disappeared for a while after the Romans left Britain.{{Citation needed|reason=Disappeared for a while?|date=July 2024}}

An Anglo-Saxon burial was discovered at Broomfield to the north of Chelmsford in the late 19th century and the finds are now in the British Museum. The road 'Saxon Way' now marks the site.

The city's name is derived from Ceolmaer's ford{{Citation needed|reason=Is this undisputed?|date=July 2024}} which was close to the site of the present High Street stone bridge. In the Domesday Book of 1086, the town was called Celmeresfort and by 1189 it had changed to Chelmsford. Its position on the Londinium – Camulodonum Roman road (the modern A12) ensured the early prosperity of Chelmsford.

On 7 September 1199, following the commissioning of a bridge over the River Can by Maurice, Bishop of London, King John granted to William of Sainte-Mère-Eglise a royal charter for Chelmsford to hold a market, marking the origin of the modern town. An under-cover market, operating Tuesday to Saturday, is still an important part of the city centre over 800 years later.

The town became the seat of the local assize during the early 13th century (though assizes were also held at Brentwood) and by 1218 it was recognised as the county town of Essex, a position it has retained to the present day.

King Robert I of Scotland, better known as Robert the Bruce (1274–1329), had close ties with the nearby village of Writtle and there is some evidence to suggest he was born at Montpeliers Farm in the village,Robert's absolution for Comyn's murder, in 1310, gives Robert as a layman of Carrick, indicating Carrick / Turnberry was either his primary residence, or place of birth. Lochmaben has a claim, as a possession of the Bruce family, but is not supported by a medieval source. The contemporary claims of Essex / the Bruce estate at Writtle Essex, during the coronation of Edward, have been discounted by G. W. S. Barrow.Geoffrey le Baker's: [https://archive.org/details/chronicongalfrid00bakeuoft Chronicon Galfridi le Baker de Swynebroke] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160831232310/https://archive.org/details/chronicongalfrid00bakeuoft |date=31 August 2016 }}, ed. Edward Maunde Thompson (Oxford, 1889).[https://books.google.com/books?id=9YCVFdVvZK8C&dq=writtle+and+bruce&pg=PA18 King Robert the Bruce By A. F. Murison] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624111925/https://books.google.com/books?id=9YCVFdVvZK8C&pg=PA18&dq=writtle+and+bruce&sig=Tjk9iqKCTZFFkV-ul4w1DUHTMEo#PPA18,M1 |date=24 June 2016 }}.Scottish Kings 1005–1625, by Sir Archibald H Dunbar, Bt., Edinburgh, 1899, [https://archive.org/details/scottishkingsrev00dunbuoft p. 127] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160831001654/https://archive.org/details/scottishkingsrev00dunbuoft |date=31 August 2016 }}, where Robert the Bruce's birthplace is given "at Writtle, near Chelmsford in Essex, on the 11th July 1274". Baker, cited above, is mentioned with other authorities, but the story is disputed and possibly conflated with his father, Robert de Brus, 6th Lord of Annandale.

Chelmsford was significantly involved in the Peasants' Revolt of 1381, and King Richard II moved on to the town after quelling the rebellion in London. 'The Sleepers and The Shadows', written by Hilda Grieve in 1988 using original sources, states: "For nearly a week, from Monday 1st July to Saturday 6th July [1381], Chelmsford became the seat of government ... The king probably lodged at his nearby manor house at Writtle. He was attended by his council, headed by the temporary Chancellor ... the new chief justice ... the royal chancery ... Their formidable task in Chelmsford was to draft, engross, date, seal and despatch by messengers riding to the farthest corners of the realm, the daily batches of commissions, mandates, letters, orders and proclamations issued by the government not only to speed the process of pacification of the kingdom, but to conduct much ordinary day-to-day business of the Crown and Government." Richard II famously revoked the charters which he had made in concession to the peasants on 2 July 1381, while in Chelmsford. It could be said that given this movement of government power, Chelmsford for a few days at least became the capital of England. Many of the ringleaders of the revolt were executed on the gallows at what is now Primrose Hill.

King Henry VIII purchased the Boleyn estate in 1516, and built Beaulieu Palace on the current site of New Hall School. This later became the residence of his then mistress, and later wife Anne. Soon after it became the residence of Henry's daughter, by his first marriage, Mary I.

In the 17th century many of the victims of Matthew Hopkins (the self-styled "Witchfinder General") spent their last days imprisoned in Chelmsford, before being tried at the Assizes{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/legacies/myths_legends/england/essex/ | title=BBC – Legacies – Myths and Legends – England – Essex – Witch-finder witch? }} and hanged for witchcraft.

In 1835, when visiting Essex and Suffolk to cover local elections, Charles Dickens visited Chelmsford. He was apparently so upset that he could not find a newspaper on a Sunday that he wrote in a letter to a friend that Chelmsford was "the dullest and most stupid place on earth".{{Cite news|last=Russell|first=Steven|date=7 February 2012|title='The dullest and most stupid place on earth...' Charles Dickens in Suffolk and Essex|work=East Anglia Daily Times|url=https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/the-dullest-and-most-stupid-place-on-earth-charles-dickens-2026752|access-date=8 April 2021}}

• In 1899 Guglielmo Marconi opened the first "wireless" or radio factory in the world at Hall Street in the Moulsham area of Chelmsford.
• In 1920 Marconi made the first official publicised sound broadcast in the United Kingdom, featuring Dame Nellie Melba at the New Street Works, the first purpose-built radio factory in the world.
• In 1922, Marconi made the world's first regular wireless broadcasts for entertainment (call sign "2MT") began from the nearby village of Writtle.

Station 2MT led to the creation of its sister station in London "2LO", which subsequently led to the creation of the BBC.

In 1914 Chelmsford's church became a cathedral (see below) and the town got its own bishop.

During World War II Chelmsford, an important centre of light engineering war production, was attacked from the air on several occasions, both by aircraft of the Luftwaffe and by missile. The worst single loss of life took place on Tuesday 19 December 1944, when the 367th Vergeltungswaffe 2 or V2 rocket to hit England fell on Henry Road, a residential street near the Hoffmans ball bearing factory and the Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company factory in New Street. Both factories were key to the war effort. Thirty-nine people were killed and 138 injured, 47 seriously.{{cite web |url=http://www.chelmsfordwarmemorial.co.uk/WW2/WW2_HOWSE,_Pamela_Christine.html |title=Pamela Christine HOWSE, Civilian. Killed in Chelmsford |publisher=Chelmsfordwarmemorial.co.uk |access-date=21 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130603145922/http://www.chelmsfordwarmemorial.co.uk/WW2/WW2_HOWSE,_Pamela_Christine.html |archive-date=3 June 2013 |url-status=dead }} Several dwellings in Henry Road were completely destroyed, and many badly damaged in nearby streets. A monument to the dead is located in the city cemetery on Writtle Road.

On 14 May 1943 Luftwaffe bombing raids hit Chelmsford leaving more than 50 people dead{{cite news |title=Beryl Ina JUDD, Civilian Fatally injured during an air raid at King's Road, Chelmsford. Aged 11 |url=https://www.chelmsfordwarmemorial.co.uk/second-world-war/chelmsford/ww2-judd-beryl-ina.html |access-date=30 December 2022 |work=Chelmsford War Memorial}} and leaving nearly 1,000 homeless. The bombs hit mainly the town centre, Springfield, and Moulsham.

The GHQ Line part of the British hardened field defences of World War II runs directly through Chelmsford with many pillboxes still in existence to the north and south of the city.

Hylands Park, the site of the former annual V Festival, hosted a prisoner of war camp, and from 1944 until it was disbanded in 1945, was the headquarters of the Special Air Service (SAS).[http://www.chelmsford.gov.uk/history-hylands The History of Hylands] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160404214844/http://www.chelmsford.gov.uk/history-hylands |date=4 April 2016 }}, Chelmsford City Council, published 24 November 2004. Retrieved 20 October 2010

Since the 1980s defence-related industries in the city have declined, most notably the Marconi Company with all of its factories either being closed or sold. The site on West Hanningfield Road was sold to BAE Systems; the Waterhouse Lane site sold to E2V and the former New Street Works site has undergone major redevelopment for residential/mixed use.{{cite web|title=Former Marconi site, New Street|url=http://www.chelmsford.gov.uk/marconi|access-date=11 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150404141706/http://www.chelmsford.gov.uk/marconi|archive-date=4 April 2015|url-status=dead}}

The one-time largest employer in Chelmsford, RHP (the former Hoffman ball bearing manufacturer), closed its New Street/Rectory Lane site in 1989. Some of the factory was converted into luxury apartments and a health club although most of the site was demolished to make way for the Rivermead Campus of the Anglia Ruskin University.

The city's location close to London and at the centre of Essex has helped it grow in importance as a financial, administrative and distribution centre.

The Channels Development, Beaulieu Park, The Village and Chancellor Park are some of the most recent large-scale housing developments built in the city. The local plan targets an additional 18,000 new homes by 2036, in developments largely to the north of the city.{{cite web|title= Adopted Local Plan |url=https://www.chelmsford.gov.uk/planning-and-building-control/planning-policy-and-new-local-plan/new-local-plan/adopted-local-plan/|access-date=19 April 2021}}

In 2007, the Channel 4 programme Location, Location, Location voted Chelmsford the 8th-best place to live in the UK.[http://www.buyabetterhome.co.uk/23.html The 20 Best Places in Britain to Buy] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017005014/http://www.buyabetterhome.co.uk/23.html |date=17 October 2015 }}. Retrieved 8 September 2011[http://www.chez-vous.biz/blog/labels/uk.html chez-vous.biz] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100612173728/http://www.chez-vous.biz/blog/labels/uk.html |date=12 June 2010 }} – Wokingham in Berkshire comes out top in best place to live survey. Retrieved 8 September 2011[http://www.virginmedia.com/homefamily/property/ten-best-places-to-live.php?ssid=3 Virgin Media – Top ten places to live] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201083834/http://www.virginmedia.com/homefamily/property/ten-best-places-to-live.php?ssid=3 |date=1 December 2008 }}. Retrieved 8 September 2011

The letters patent officially granting city status to the City of Chelmsford were received on 6 June 2012.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-18342211 |title=Chelmsford to receive Letters Patent granting city status |date=6 June 2012 |publisher=BBC News}} to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II.{{cite web|title=The Queen Gives Chelmsford City Status|url=http://www.essexportal.co.uk/essex-news/the-queen-gives-chelmsford-city-status|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029191257/http://www.essexportal.co.uk/essex-news/the-queen-gives-chelmsford-city-status|archive-date=29 October 2013}}{{cite web|title=Chelmsford, Perth and St Asaph gain city status to mark the Diamond Jubilee|url=http://www.thediamondjubilee.org/chelmsford-perth-and-st-asaph-gain-city-status-mark-diamond-jubilee|work=The official website of The Queen's Diamond Jubilee|access-date=11 May 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131030070807/http://www.thediamondjubilee.org/chelmsford-perth-and-st-asaph-gain-city-status-mark-diamond-jubilee|archive-date=30 October 2013}}{{cite web|title=Written Ministerial Statement – Diamond Jubilee Civic Honours Competition|url=http://www.dpm.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/sites/default/files_dpm/resources/Written-Ministerial-Statement-Diamond-Jubilee-Civic-Honours-Competition.pdf|publisher=Cabinet Office|access-date=11 May 2012|date=14 March 2012}}{{London Gazette|issue=60167|date=11 June 2012|page=11125}}

The announcement to make Chelmsford a city had been made on 14 March 2012 by the Lord President of the Privy Council and Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg.

{{main|City of Chelmsford}}

File:War Memorial, Chelmsford (geograph 5488574).jpg in the background]]

Chelmsford is at the geographic and political centre of Essex and has been the county town since 1215. The headquarters of Essex County Council is at County Hall, Duke StreetEssex County Council – [http://www.essexcc.gov.uk/vip8/ecc/ECCWebsite/dis/vid.jsp?oid=20602 Contact us] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100922045033/http://www.essexcc.gov.uk/vip8/ecc/ECCWebsite/dis/vid.jsp?oid=20602 |date=22 September 2010 }}. Retrieved 24 December 2007. and the headquarters of Chelmsford City Council at Chelmsford Civic Centre, Duke Street.Chelmsford City Council – [http://www.chelmsford.gov.uk/contactus Contact Us] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160502225920/http://www.chelmsford.gov.uk/contactus |date=2 May 2016 }}. Retrieved 24 December 2007. The civic centre was designed by Cordingley & McIntyre as a public library and completed in April 1935.{{cite web|url=https://www.chelmsfordwarmemorial.co.uk/first-world-war/history-of-civic-centre-memorial.html|title=History of Chelmsford's Civic Centre War Memorial|publisher=Chelmsford War Memorial|access-date=8 February 2021}}

The headquarters of Essex Police is located in the Springfield area of the city at Kingston Crescent.{{cite web |url=http://www.essex.police.uk/contact_us/headquarters.aspx |title=Headquarters |publisher=Essex.police.uk |access-date=21 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120503030121/http://essex.police.uk/contact_us/headquarters.aspx |archive-date=3 May 2012 |url-status=dead }}

Chelmsford formed part of the ancient Chelmsford hundred of Essex.Vision of Britain – [http://vision.edina.ac.uk/unit_page.jsp?u_id=10094069&c_id=10001043 Chelmsford hundred] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090211074433/http://vision.edina.ac.uk/unit_page.jsp?u_id=10094069&c_id=10001043 |date=11 February 2009 }} ([http://vision.edina.ac.uk/bound_map_page.jsp?first=true&u_id=10094069&c_id=10001043 historic map] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090211075310/http://vision.edina.ac.uk/bound_map_page.jsp?first=true&u_id=10094069&c_id=10001043 |date=11 February 2009 }}). Retrieved 24 December 2007. It was incorporated as a municipal borough in 1888,Vision of Britain – [http://vision.edina.ac.uk/relationships.jsp?u_id=10042203&c_id=10001043 Chelmsford MB] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090211073050/http://vision.edina.ac.uk/relationships.jsp?u_id=10042203&c_id=10001043 |date=11 February 2009 }} ([http://vision.edina.ac.uk/bound_map_page.jsp?first=true&u_id=10042203&c_id=10001043 historic map] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090211073018/http://vision.edina.ac.uk/bound_map_page.jsp?first=true&u_id=10042203&c_id=10001043 |date=11 February 2009 }}). Retrieved 24 December 2007. under the provisions of the Municipal Corporations Act 1882. In 1934 the borough was enlarged by gaining {{convert|1659|acre|ha|abbr=off}} from Chelmsford Rural District, including parts of the parishes of Broomfield, Springfield, Widford and Writtle. The municipal borough and civil parish.{{cite web|url=https://www.ukbmd.org.uk/reg/districts/chelmsford.html|title=Chelmsford Registration District|publisher=UKBMD|accessdate=27 December 2021}} was abolished on 1 April 1974 and its former area was combined with most of the remainder of the rural district to form the larger Borough of Chelmsford which was granted city status by Royal Charter in 2012.

For the Chelmsford constituency in the House of Commons, the member of Parliament is Marie Goldman. In the 2024 general election, Goldman gained 20,214 votes (39.9%), winning the seat with a majority over Vicky Ford, the Conservative candidate, who gained 15,461 votes (30.5%).

The following statistics were measured in the 2001 Census:

• The population for Chelmsford consisted of male: 49.2%, female: 50.8%, under 18: 22.5%, over 60: 19%, born outside UK: 5.9%, English: 96%, black: 0.7%, Asian: 1.4%, mixed: 1.1%, other: 0.7%, Christian: 73.3%, Muslim: 0.9%.
• Education census statistics for Chelmsford consisted of full-time students between 16- 74: 20.2%, no qualifications for ages between 16 and 74: 22.2%.
• Housing census statistics for Chelmsford consisted of owner occupied housing: 76.5%, social housing: 14.9% (council: 11.3%, housing association 3.6%), privately rented: 6.3%, homes without central heating and/or private bathroom: 5.8%.

File:highchelmer.jpeg

Originally an agricultural and market town, Chelmsford has been an important centre for industry since the 19th century. Following the opening of the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation in 1797, cheaper transportation and raw materials made milling and malting the main industries until the 1850s, when increasing prosperity created a local market for agricultural machinery.

Foundries and engineering works followed including Fell Christy at his Factory (In later years known as Christy Norris Ltd) on the corner of Kings Road and Broomfield Road opened 1858, closed 1985, Coleman and Moreton, Thomas Clarkson (Steam Omnibus manufacturer and Founder of the Eastern National Bus Company) and Eddington and Stevenson (makers of traction engines). The Company Christy Norris still survives, trading as Christy Turner Ltd based in Ipswich. A residential street close to the old Factory was named "Fell Christy" in his honour.{{Cite web |last=StreetCheck |title=Interesting Information for Fell Christy, Chelmsford, CM1 1RZ Postcode |url=https://www.streetcheck.co.uk/postcode/cm11rz |access-date=2024-12-27 |website=StreetCheck |language=en}}

As well as the headquarters of Essex Police, Essex County and Chelmsford City Councils, the modern city is home to a range of national and international companies including M&G Group, Teledyne e2v and ebm-papst.{{Cite web |title=TELEDYNE e2v Sensors on ESA's Euclid mission will explore the composition and evolution of the dark universe {{!}} Teledyne e2v |url=https://www.teledyne-e2v.com/en-us/news/Pages/teledyne-e2v-sensors-on-esa%E2%80%99s-euclid-mission-will-explore-the-composition-and-evolution-of-the-dark-universe.aspx |access-date=2024-12-27 |website=www.teledyne-e2v.com}}{{Cite web |title=Locations |url=https://www.ebmpapst.com/gb/en/support/contact/locations.html |access-date=2024-12-27 |website=www.ebmpapst.com |language=en}}

Chelmsford is largely a commercial city which employs around 80,000 people. There are three medium-sized shopping centres, Bond Street, High Chelmer and The Meadows. Chelmsford has six retail parks, Riverside, Chelmer Village, Clocktower Retail Park, The Army & Navy, Moulsham Lodge Retail Park and the smaller Homelands Retail Park housing a Flagship B&Q Store, Wyvale Garden Centre (part of the Garden centre Group) and Pets Corner. The High Street has a variety of independent and chain stores. On 29 September 2016 a new retail development opened anchored by John Lewis.{{Cite web |title=John Lewis Partnership - John Lewis announces Chelmsford opening date |url=https://www.johnlewispartnership.co.uk/content/cws/media/press/y2016/press-release-14-july-2016-john-lewis-announces-chelmsford-opening-date.html |access-date=2024-12-27 |website=www.johnlewispartnership.co.uk}}

On 6 January 2005, Chelmsford was granted Fairtrade Town status.{{cite web |url=http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/get_involved_fairtrade_towns.htm |title=Fairtrade Towns |access-date=28 June 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070630015452/http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/get_involved_fairtrade_towns.htm |archive-date=30 June 2007 }}. Retrieved 18 February 2008.

Sizeable businesses are now based in the Chelmsford Business Park at Boreham housing companies such as the Anderson Group and Global Marine Systems. Chelmsford is a centre for national electricity suppliers operating within the industrial and commercial sectors, with both EnDCo and F&S Energy headquartered within the city. The city has a low unemployment rate (1.6% in 2002) and a well-educated workforce, with 9% holding a degree or above (in 2002; British average: 7.1%).Chelmsford Borough Council – [http://www.chelmsford.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=12024 Key Statistics About Chelmsford] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120605234650/http://www.chelmsford.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=12024 |date=5 June 2012 }}. Retrieved 24 December 2007.

Chelmsford has a vibrant nightlife scene with many pubs, late night bars and restaurant establishments in the city centre area. Its central Essex location and good public transport links make the city ideal for revellers, commuters and tourists to visit from surrounding areas.{{citation needed|date=December 2018}}

File:Marconi 1909.jpg]]

File:Marconi's New Street Factory, Chelmsford.jpg

File:Colonel R. E. B. Crompton.webp]]

File:arcworks.jpg

{{Main|Marconi Company}}

In 1899, Guglielmo Marconi opened the world's first "wireless" factory under the name 'The Marconi Wireless Telegraph & Signal Company' in Hall Street, employing around 50 people. The company was later called the Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company Ltd. For this reason Chelmsford is credited as the "birthplace of radio", and this phrase can be seen on administrative signs on major roads entering the city, although this statement is disputed.{{cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org/tesla/ll/ll_whoradio.html |title=Tesla – Master of Lightning: Who Invented Radio? |publisher=PBS |access-date=17 September 2010}}

Outgrowing its Hall Street premises, Marconi moved to the purpose-built {{convert|70000|sqft|m2|adj=on|abbr=off}} New Street Works in June 1912. On 15 June 1920 the factory hosted the first official publicised sound broadcast in the United Kingdom, featuring Dame Nellie Melba and using two {{convert|450|ft|m|adj=on|abbr=off}} radio broadcasting masts.

In 1922, the world's first regular wireless broadcasts for entertainment began from the Marconi laboratories at Writtle near Chelmsford – Call sign '2MT' in what was little more than a wooden hut.

In 1999, Marconi's defence division, including the Chelmsford facilities, was purchased by British Aerospace to form BAE Systems. Two sites remain under BAE control; the Great Baddow site which is now BAE's Advanced Technology Centre and its Integrated Systems Technologies business at Glebe Road.

The military and secure communications division of Marconi was merged into Selex Communications based at the New Street factory. They vacated the site in April 2008 with the remaining operations moved to nearby Basildon, bringing to an end more than 100 years of the Marconi name in Chelmsford.{{cite web|url=http://www.chelmsfordweeklynews.co.uk/archive/2001/04/30/Essex+Archive/5491406.Chelmsford__Marconi_moving_after_a_century/ |title=Chelmsford: Marconi moving after a century (From Chelmsford Weekly News) |publisher=Chelmsfordweeklynews.co.uk |access-date=21 April 2012}}

The New Street factory was scheduled to be redeveloped starting in 2010,Project Wireless Consultation – [http://www.chelmsfordwireless.co.uk/IsolatedStorage/649770c6-30bb-47a2-9843-008a1a085bfc/ContentAssets/Documents/newsletter%20dec%2006.pdf Newsletter Issue 1: Winter 2006] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071202153119/http://www.chelmsfordwireless.co.uk/IsolatedStorage/649770c6-30bb-47a2-9843-008a1a085bfc/ContentAssets/Documents/newsletter%20dec%2006.pdf |date=2 December 2007 }} Retrieved 24 December 2007, but this fell through when site owners Ashwell Property Group entered administration in December 2009. The factory remained empty, derelict and vandalised for several years, to the dismay of Marconi Veterans and Chelmsfordians.{{cite web|url=http://www.chelmsfordweeklynews.co.uk/news/localnews/8212495.Legal_action_to_save_Marconi_site/ |title=Legal action to save Marconi site (From Chelmsford Weekly News) |publisher=Chelmsfordweeklynews.co.uk |date=12 June 2010 |access-date=21 April 2012}}{{cite web |url=http://www.thisistotalessex.co.uk/news/Anger-factory-s-shameful-state/article-2314500-detail/article.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130505084405/http://www.thisistotalessex.co.uk/news/Anger-factory-s-shameful-state/article-2314500-detail/article.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 May 2013 |title=The 90th anniversary of Dame Nellie's broadcast should have been a landmark event to be proud of. | This is Essex |publisher=Thisistotalessex.co.uk |date=17 June 2010 |access-date=21 April 2012 }} The site was sold for redevelopment to Bellway Homes in the summer of 2012 with demolition of the majority of the site including the iconic Marconi House and Building 720 in April/May 2013. Only the Grade II listed water tower, The 1912 front building façade, the New Street cottages, and the power house will remain.{{cite web|url=http://www.chelmsford.gov.uk/marconi|title=Chelmsford: Former Marconi site, New Street|publisher=Government of the United Kingdom|access-date=11 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150404141706/http://www.chelmsford.gov.uk/marconi|archive-date=4 April 2015|url-status=dead}}

Chelmsford became home to the United Kingdom's first electrical engineering works established by Rookes Evelyn Bell Crompton. Crompton was a leading authority on electrical engineering, and pioneered electric street lighting and electric traction motors within the United Kingdom. He installed electric street lights in the town centre to celebrate the incorporation of the Borough of Chelmsford in 1888. Although this made Chelmsford one of the earliest towns to receive electric street lighting, the Council later removed it because gas from the Council owned gasworks was cheaper. Crompton supplied the traction motors for the first electric trains on Southend Pier. The company manufactured electrical switchgear, alternators and generators for many power stations in the UK and worldwide.

Crompton set up his original factory known as the 'Arc Works' in Queen Street in 1878. After a fire there in 1895,{{cite web |url=http://unlockingessex.essexcc.gov.uk/custom_pages/monument_detail.asp?content_page_id=89&monument_id=1031913&content_parents=61,80 |title=Seax Archeaology – Unlocking Essex's Past |publisher=Government of the United Kingdom |access-date=30 August 2009 }}{{Dead link|date=August 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} he built a huge new electrical engineering factory also called the 'Arc Works' in Writtle Road. Crompton and Co. became Crompton Parkinson in 1927 when Colonel Crompton partnered with fellow electrical engineer Frank Parkinson. During World War II, the factory was frequently targeted by the Luftwaffe. In 1969 a takeover by Hawker Siddeley saw Crompton Parkinson Ltd downsized and operations moved elsewhere. The Marconi Company took over the site which became the base for the newly formed Marconi Radar Systems.Simons, R. & Sutherland, J., [http://www.radarpages.co.uk/download/p172.pdf Forty Years of Marconi Radar from 1946 to 1986] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304001730/http://www.radarpages.co.uk/download/p172.pdf |date=4 March 2016 }}, GEC Review, (1998). Retrieved 24 December 2007.

After years of decline, the Marconi factory closed in 1992 and the site was demolished a few years later apart from the frontage on Writtle Road. 'The Village' housing development now occupies the site with road names such as Rookes Crescent, Evelyn Place, Crompton Street and Parkinson Drive as tributes to the former occupant.

Hoffmann Ball bearings was a major employer in Chelmsford in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. They produced ball bearings which were used for early transatlantic flight.{{Cite web|url=http://www.hoffmannbearings.co.uk/history-of-hoffmann-bearings.html|title=History of Hoffmann Bearings – All Hoffmann Bearings or Replacement Hoffmann Bearings Available|website=hoffmannbearings.co.uk|access-date=21 April 2017}}

They opened a second factory at Stonehouse, Gloucestershire in the 1930s,{{Cite web |last=SoGlos |date=24 March 2021 |title=Potential buyers may already have former Spitfire parts factory in Gloucestershire in their sites |url=https://www.soglos.com/news/business/potential-buyers-may-already-have-former-spitfire-parts-factory-in-gloucestershire-in-their-sites/16070/ |access-date=8 March 2023 |website=soglos.com}}{{Cite web |title=Stroud History Website |url=http://www.stroud-history.org.uk/print.php?type=A&item_id=115 |access-date=8 March 2023 |website=stroud-history.org.uk}} alongside the Stroudwater Navigation.{{Cite web |title=Cotswold Canals in Pictures |url=https://www.cotswoldcanals.net/hoffmans-dam |access-date=8 March 2023 |website=cotswoldcanals.net}}

The firm became Ransome Hoffmann and Pollard (R.H.P.) after Hoffman's amalgamation with Ransome & Marles and Pollard Ball and Roller Bearing Company in 1969.The Times, Tuesday, 14 October 1969; pg. 19; Issue 57690

The R.H.P. brand, intellectual property rights and company assets were absorbed into the Japanese NSK Ltd. bearing company in early 1990 trading as NSK-RHP Ltd. at its UK base in Newark on Trent with the historic R.H.P. name finally disappearing in 2001.{{Citation needed|date=April 2017}}

Most of the former Hoffman New Street factory was demolished during the summer of 1990 and the site is now occupied by the sprawling Rivermead Campus of the Anglia Ruskin University.

The only connection to the company name in Chelmsford today is the RHP Bowls club located on part of the old Hoffmans Social Club site at Canterbury Way and Hoffmans Way at the corner of the old factory site at New Street and Rectory Lane.

{{Main|English Electric Valve Company}}

The Waterhouse Lane–based company began in the early 1940s as a part of the Marconi group, manufacturing magnetrons for defence radar systems. The company was first registered as a separate company in Chelmsford, Essex in 1947 under Simeon Serge Aisenstein.[http://www.firedirect.net/Profiles/0802_e2v/0802_001.htm Fire Direct company profile] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090923162457/http://www.firedirect.net/Profiles/0802_e2v/0802_001.htm |date=23 September 2009 }}. Retrieved 19 October 2010 Its initial name was the Phoenix Dynamo Co Ltd, though it immediately changed its name to English Electric Valve Company Ltd.

In 1959 Bob Coulson established Traveling-wave tube and Microwave tube sections and they were producing ceramic hydrogen thyratrons as well. By this time EEV was the largest hi-tech manufacturing company in the UK.[http://www.refrigeration-uk.com/english-electric.asp Hawkes Refrigeration website] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060816010059/http://www.refrigeration-uk.com/english-electric.asp |date=16 August 2006 }}. Retrieved 2 July 2008 A year later they won an EMMY award for outstanding contribution to Electronics Technology in developing the 4½" orthicon tube.

In 1961 they acquired Associated Electrical Industries Valve business based in Lincoln. Sir Charles Oatley was a director of the company from 1966 to 1985.[https://archive.today/20120714232343/http://janus.lib.cam.ac.uk/db/node.xsp?id=EAD/GBR/0014/OATL The Papers of Sir Charles Oatley] accessed 2 July 2008 In 1962, EEV opened its first office in America in Buffalo, NY. In the 1970s EEV collaborated with QinetiQ in the development of the pyroelectric vidicon, the first thermal imaging detector.Engineering Technology, volume 5, No 9; November 2002 The company has received 13 Queen's Awards for Technology in its history, most recently in 2006 for low light imaging devices and in 2004 for thyratrons for cancer radiotherapy treatment. In 1972, they opened an office in Paris and in 1977 they opened another in New York; this time in Elmsford.

Keith Attwood, e2v's CEO joined in 1999, as MD of EEV, after a short period as Marconi Applied technologies, the company was renamed to e2v technologies in 2002 as part of a management buy out supported by 3i following the collapse of the Marconi group. Following further growth under 3i, in 2004 the company floated on the London Stock Exchange.

In 2017, e2v was acquired by US company Teledyne Technologies and changed its name to Teledyne e2v, 70 years after its registration as a Chelmsford-based company. As of 2022, Teledyne e2v continues its operations at the Waterhouse Lane site.

File:Britvicbuilding.jpg headquarters]]

{{Main|Britvic}}

The Britvic soft drink company began life as the British Vitamin Company in 1948. The origins of the company can be traced back to a chemist's shop in Tindal Street where flavoured waters were on sale as early as the mid-19th century.

The company was acquired by Showerings of Shepton Mallet, and subsequently a division of Allied Breweries from 1968, The British Vitamin Company changed its name to Britvic in 1971.{{cite web|title=About Us – History|url=http://www.britvic.co.uk/en/About-Us/History.aspx|publisher=Britvic UK PLC|access-date=29 March 2013}}

In 1986 it merged with Canada Dry Rawlings and acquired the R. White's Lemonade brand. It acquired Tango from Beechams in 1987 and since that year it has owned the UK franchise for Pepsi and 7 Up. In 1995 it bought Robinson's from Reckitt & Colman.{{Cite web|url=https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/close-up-client-week-chief-sets-robinsons-enigma/24805|title=CLOSE-UP: CLIENT OF THE WEEK; Chief sets Robinsons enigma|last=Hood|first=Margaret|date=17 May 1996|website=Campaign|access-date=6 February 2019}}

In December 2005 the Company underwent an initial public offering (IPO) allowing its main shareholders (InterContinental Hotels Group, Whitbread, Pernod Ricard) to realise their investments.

In May 2007 the company went on to buy the soft drinks and distribution businesses of Ireland's Cantrell & Cochrane (C&C) for £169.5m.[https://www.cnbc.com/2007/05/14/britvic-agrees-to-buy-ccs-softdrinks-division.html Britvic Agrees to Buy C&C's Soft-Drinks Division] CNBC, 14 May 2007

On 14 November 2012 the Company agreed to merge with Scotland's A.G. Barr, producer of Scottish soft drinks Irn-Bru, Tizer and D'n'B, to create one of Europe's largest soft drinks companies.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-20322017 AG Barr and Britvic agree to merger] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160729203326/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-20322017 |date=29 July 2016 }} BBC, 14 November 2012 However the merger was put into serious doubt{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/britvic-merger-idUSL5N0BDD4820130213 |title=UPDATE 1-Britvic merger with A.G. Barr under threat |work=Reuters|date=13 February 2013 |access-date=23 March 2013 |archive-date=17 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017005014/http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/13/britvic-merger-idUSL5N0BDD4820130213 |url-status=live }}{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/9868934/AG-Barr-and-Britvic-merger-thwarted-by-the-Office-of-Fair-Trading.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/9868934/AG-Barr-and-Britvic-merger-thwarted-by-the-Office-of-Fair-Trading.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=AG Barr and Britvic merger thwarted by the Office of Fair Trading |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date= 13 February 2013|access-date=23 March 2013 |location=London |first=Graham |last=Ruddick}}{{cbignore}} after the Office of Fair Trading referred the merger to the Competition Commission.{{cite web|url=http://www.oft.gov.uk/news-and-updates/press/2013/14-13 |title=OFT refers soft drinks merger to Competition Commission – The Office of Fair Trading |publisher=Government of the United Kingdom |date=13 February 2013 |access-date=23 March 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130308203044/http://www.oft.gov.uk/news-and-updates/press/2013/14-13 |archive-date=8 March 2013 }}

The Britvic UK headquarters at Britvic House in Broomfield Road closed in March 2012. It relocated to Hemel Hempstead to facilitate better transport links for its staff.{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-14123356 |publisher=BBC News | title=Britvic plans to move UK headquarters out of Chelmsford | date=12 July 2011}}

On 14 March 2014 the Britvic Westway factory closed for good thus ending the company's 150-year association with the city.{{cite web|url=http://www.essexchronicle.co.uk/Big-business-names-Chelmsford-lost-Britvic-joins/story-20812851-detail/story.html|title=Big business names that Chelmsford has lost... as Britvic joins the list|work=Essex Chronicle|access-date=16 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140316081830/http://www.essexchronicle.co.uk/Big-business-names-Chelmsford-lost-Britvic-joins/story-20812851-detail/story.html|archive-date=16 March 2014|url-status=dead}}

{{anchor|Beaulieu Park railway station}}

File:Chelmsfordstation2008.JPG

The Eastern Counties Railway arrived in Chelmsford in 1842. Owing to the geography of the city, three viaducts were constructed: the longest of which has 18-arches through Central Park; the station is at the end of the second viaduct; and the third is at the River Chelmer, Springfield. The current station dates from around 1885.

Greater Anglia operates all services at Chelmsford railway station:{{Cite web |work=Greater Anglia |title=Timetables |date=2 June 2024 |access-date=28 August 2024 |url= https://www.greateranglia.co.uk/timetables |quote=}}

• Southbound services operate to London Liverpool Street, via {{rws|Shenfield}} and {{rws|Stratford}}
• Northbound services run to Colchester, Ipswich, Clacton-on-Sea, Harwich, Braintree and Norwich, via the Great Eastern Main Line.

Around 14,000 commuters each day travel to Liverpool Street by train, making Chelmsford one of the busiest non-terminus stations outside London.

The current bus terminal in Duke Street is the focal point of services in the city. It replaced the ageing 1930s bus station in March 2007 with shops, apartments and a covered roof for passengers.

Routes are operated by the following companies:{{Cite web|title=Stops in Chelmsford |url=https://www.bustimes.org/localities/chelmsford |website=Bustimes.org |access-date=28 August 2024}}

• First Essex is the primary operator, running many routes around the city and beyond including to Basildon, Billericay, Braintree, Colchester, Maldon and Southend. It also operates the X10/X30 Essex Airlink to Stansted Airport. There are a variety of school buses serving the city and surrounding areas.
• Arriva Colchester operates a single service, the 59 route, to Harlow, via Roxwell, The Rodings, Hatfield Heath and Old Harlow.
• Other bus companies serve the area including Stephensons of Essex and Hedingham & Chambers.

Outside of peak times, many of these services are run under contract to Essex County Council.

Essex County Council's Highways and Transportation Department have considered constructing a Bus Rapid Transit System to be built serving the Beaulieu Park/Springfield Area because of the increasing demand for Rapid Transit Plans in Ipswich, Colchester and Southend.

Chelmsford has a park & ride service at nearby Sandon, just off junction 18 of the A12; it runs Monday to Saturday, with a capacity of 1,200 cars. Opened in March 2006, it has proved highly successful and is used widely.{{cite web|url=http://www.essexhighways.org/Public-Transport/Park-and-Ride/Chelmsford-Park-and-Ride/Sandon-park-and-ride.aspx |title=Sandon Park and Ride | Essex County Council |access-date=20 April 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019133301/http://www.essexhighways.org/Public-Transport/Park-and-Ride/Chelmsford-Park-and-Ride/Sandon-park-and-ride.aspx |archive-date=19 October 2013}}

A second service, known as the Chelmer Valley Park and Ride, was opened on the A130/A131 to the north of the city near Little Waltham in April 2011.{{cite web |url=http://www.anglia.ac.uk/ruskin/en/home/news/park_and_ride_open.html |title=Chelmer Valley Park and Ride is now open – News – Anglia Ruskin University |website=anglia.ac.uk |access-date=14 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110408153232/http://www.anglia.ac.uk/ruskin/en/home/news/park_and_ride_open.html |archive-date=8 April 2011 |url-status=dead}}

{{original research|section|date=January 2012}}

The A12 trunk road, which connects east London and Lowestoft, was originally built by the Romans to connect London and Colchester.{{cite web |url=http://www.essexcc.gov.uk/vip8/ecc/ECCWebsite/dis/cha.jsp?channelOid=114620 |title=Essex County Council |publisher=Government of the United Kingdom |access-date=21 April 2012 }}{{Dead link|date=June 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} It used to run through the city, until the £34.8m nine-mile (14 km) bypass around the east opened in November 1986. Despite being notorious for frequent congestion, poor road surfaces, potholes and accidents, many people move to Chelmsford for it being so well connected by road and rail.

The A414 trunk road between Hemel Hempstead and Maldon is a main road into the city, just off the A12, and links the city to junction 7 of the [M11] motorway in the west, near Harlow.

The A130 provides a link to the A127 and A13, while the A131 passes through smaller towns and villages. The nearest motorway is the M25 London Orbital at J11 of the A12, 14 miles away, near Brentwood.

In the south-west of the city centre, the A138 meets the A414 at the Army and Navy roundabout which is notorious for its traffic congestion:

• Traffic lights were tried to improve matters in the early 2000s, but that scheme was abandoned after a short while; however, some of the lights were recommissioned for early morning and evening part-time use in 2009.
• The recently-built bus lane on the A1114 Great Baddow bypass, and priority to traffic using it, has meant traffic queues approaching the roundabout can now be over {{convert|1|mi|km|abbr=on}} long during peak periods.
• The roundabout is known as the Army and Navy even though the public house and music venue from which the junction got its name has long been demolished.
• Until 2019, the junction had an unusual bi-directional flyover (in a similar manner to the Hogarth Roundabout in Chiswick); it was open for city-bound traffic westerly until 2.30 pm each day and then easterly out of the city after 2.30 pm. The Army and Navy roundabout flyover was condemned as unsafe and was permanently closed in September 2019 by Essex County Council with demolition works taking place in February/March 2020.{{Cite web |url=https://www.essexhighways.org/highway-schemes/a1060-a1114-army-and-navy-flyover-chelmsford.aspx |title=A1060 / A1114 Army and Navy Flyover Chelmsford | Essex County Council |access-date=1 March 2020 |archive-date=1 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200301052402/https://www.essexhighways.org/highway-schemes/a1060-a1114-army-and-navy-flyover-chelmsford.aspx |url-status=dead }}
• Construction of the £32 million replacement A138 Chelmer Viaduct road, which connects Chelmer Village Way roundabout to the Army and Navy roundabout, began in February 2015.{{cite web|url=http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/road-projects/a138-chelmsford-replacement-of-chelmer-viaduct/|title=A138 Chelmsford – Replacement of Chelmer Viaduct|publisher=Government of the United Kingdom|access-date=19 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161004201001/http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/road-projects/a138-chelmsford-replacement-of-chelmer-viaduct|archive-date=4 October 2016|url-status=dead}} The new bridge replaced the previous structure, built in 1932, which was demolished in 2016.
• On 15 January 2024, final plans were announced for the £81m Army and Navy sustainable transport package by Essex County Council including a so-called 'hamburger' roundabout due for completion by 2028.{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-67984569 | title=Army and Navy roundabout: Final plans revealed to residents | publisher=BBC News | date=15 January 2024 }}

Since 2 September 2013, to save money and reduce carbon emissions, many streets lights in the Chelmsford district switched over to Essex County Council's part-night street lighting scheme. This involves most street lights being switched off between 1:00 am and 5:00 am{{cite web|url=http://www.essexchronicle.co.uk/Streetlights-partially-turned-night/story-26221541-detail/story.html|title=Streetlights in Essex to be partially turned back on at night|work=Essex Chronicle|access-date=4 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150731005534/http://www.essexchronicle.co.uk/Streetlights-partially-turned-night/story-26221541-detail/story.html|archive-date=31 July 2015|url-status=dead}} (Tuesday to Sunday) with exceptions such as the city centre area, key road junctions, some pedestrian crossings and known accident sites;{{cite web|url=http://www.essexhighways.org/Transport-and-Roads/Roads-and-Pavements/Street-lighting/Part-night-lighting.aspx|title=Part night lighting – Essex County Council|work=essexhighways.org}} on Monday mornings, the switch off is from midnight to 5:00 am.

Chelmsford is 25 to 30 minutes by road from Stansted Airport (via A130/A120); London Heathrow, London Gatwick, London City, Luton and Southend airports are all within reach by rail.

File:Chelmsford North East Bypass.png

Proposals for a bypass of Chelmsford connecting the A12 interchange at Boreham (junction 19) and the A131 were put forward for public consultation by Essex County Council in 2006; the preferred route was announced in March 2007. It comprises the creation of {{convert|7.9|km|mi|frac=16|abbr=on}} of two-lane dual carriageway and junctions connecting to the A12 and A131, it will sever 10 footpaths/bridleways and involve almost entirely greenfield construction.{{cite web

|url=http://www.essexcc.gov.uk/vip8/ecc/ECCWebsite/content/binaries/documents/Cabinet_Report_Chelmsford_N_E_Bypass_FINAL_VERSION.15-02-07.doc

|title=Cabinet Report Chelmsford NE Bypass

|publisher=Essex County Council

|access-date=18 November 2008

}}{{Dead link|date=July 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} The scheme was estimated to cost £138 million in March 2007 but was increased to an estimated range of £229 – £262 million in February 2008.{{cite web

|url=http://www.essexcc.gov.uk/vip8/ecc/ECCWebsite/content/binaries/documents/Chelmsford_North_East_Bypass/Chelmsford_NE_Bypass_consultation_Jan_2008_-_Board_9.pdf

|title=Chelmsford NE Bypass consultation January 2008 – Board 9 |publisher=Essex County Council |access-date=18 November 2008}}{{Dead link|date=June 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} The scheme still requires funding and planning permission with applications timetabled for 2009–2011, a public inquiry timetabled for 2012 and with an estimated construction start date of 2014–2016.{{cite web

|url=http://www.essexcc.gov.uk/vip8/ecc/ECCWebsite/content/binaries/documents/Chelmsford_North_East_Bypass/Chelmsford_NE_Bypass_consultation_Jan_2008_-_Board_11.pdf

|title=When will the bypass happen?

|publisher=Essex County Council

|access-date=18 November 2008

}}{{Dead link|date=June 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} The Chelmsford North Action Group (NAG) objects to this scheme, stating that Chelmsford was to "be engulfed by huge motorways connecting the Channel Ports, via a new Lower Thames Crossing, A130, on to Stansted, M11 and A14".{{Cite web|url=http://a130-chelmsford.blogspot.com/|title=Chelmsford North Action Group (NAG)}}

A second railway station, to be called Beaulieu Park, has been proposed to serve the new Beaulieu housing developments to the north-east of Chelmsford.[http://www.chelmsford.gov.uk/beaulieustation Chelmsford City Council – North Chelmsford: Beaulieu Park Station] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160104205205/http://www.chelmsford.gov.uk/beaulieustation |date=4 January 2016 }} (Accessed 9 June 2014)[http://www.essexchronicle.co.uk/Developers-pound-70m-infrastructure-deal/story-20799528-detail/story.html Essex Chronicle, 17 March 2014 – New homes plan for Chelmsford will see £70m boost to city] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140712183932/http://www.essexchronicle.co.uk/Developers-pound-70m-infrastructure-deal/story-20799528-detail/story.html |date=12 July 2014 }} (Accessed 9 June 2014) Work began in January 2023 and the station is set to open in late 2025.{{Cite web |date=21 December 2023 |title=Work at new Beaulieu Park station hit 'critical milestone' |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c6p17p36838o |access-date=4 January 2024 |publisher=BBC News}}

A major new development on the Duke Street site of the old 1930s bus station was completed in 2007, which contains a new smaller bus station, shops and luxury apartments. The lower level apartments of this development and the bus station area is known as Marconi Plaza, while the upper level apartments are known as the Kings Tower. The new bus station and shops were opened in January 2007, while the rest of the development was ready in September 2007.

A new housing development site near Beaulieu Park, towards the north of the city, is currently under construction; it will be an urban village containing around 3,500 homes.

The public house The Army and Navy, from which the roundabout gets its name, was demolished in March 2007. It was replaced by a Travelodge hotel, a Frankie & Benny's restaurant, a bed store and private apartments. Building work started at the site in October 2007 and the project was completed in December 2008.

Recently, plans were revealed for Waterside, a large development of shops, bars and restaurants on the banks of the River Chelmer on derelict land near the Essex Records Office, at the end of Wharf Road. If this development goes ahead, High Bridge Road, which connects Parkway and Springfield Road, would be demolished along with the adjacent gasometers and a new central link road would be built.

The former Anglia Ruskin University central campus, off Park Road, was demolished in January/February 2010; it has been redeveloped by social housing provider Genesis as a mixed use development of housing for social rent, alongside other new housing for private sale and several retail units, new squares, streets and plazas. The new development has been given the name City Park West.

High Chelmer shopping centre underwent a refit during 2008/2009 with new flooring, lighting with a new front entrance and a rebounded logo. Further work is being carried out in the shopping centre; an old portion was demolished in spring 2011 and the work was completed in early 2012.

In January 2011, John Lewis announced, together with development partner Aquila House Holdings, that it was to anchor a brand new {{convert|119000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} department store as part of a {{convert|300000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} retail development at Bond Street. The site opened in September 2016.

File:Parkside Court.jpg

File:Great Baddow, Chain Home Tower.jpg

File:hylands house.jpg

File:rivercan.jpg in the city centre with part of the 1960s flood prevention scheme clearly visible]]

Hylands House and Park, just to the west of the city, are a country house and parkland which were saved from dereliction after being purchased by the local council in 1966, after the death of the last private owner, and is now open to the public. Dating from 1730, the house was much damaged by fire and vandalism by the time of the sale, but has since been completely restored by Chelmsford City Council and is now available for weddings and other private hires including conferences. The {{convert|574|acre|ha|abbr=off}} park was landscaped by Humphry Repton has hosted a wide range of community events, including the annual music festival V Festival. The 21st World Scout Jamboree 2007 was held at Hylands Park from 27 July to 8 August 2007. Within the grounds which comprise woodland, rolling grassland and lakes is a large children's play area with adjoining car parking.

Chelmsford Museum in Oaklands Park, off Moulsham Street, is a local history and industrial heritage museum which incorporates the Essex Regiment Museum. A major £5 million extension and redevelopment scheme opened in January 2010 and the museum now includes exhibits and interactive displays focusing on Crompton, Marconi, and Hoffmann, as well as illustrating the development of the town and city from prehistory up to modern times.{{cite web |url=http://www.chelmsford.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=18250 |title=New Chelmsford Museum draws in the crowds |website=Chelmsford City Council |access-date=17 September 2010 |archive-date=15 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615105500/http://www.chelmsford.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=18250 |url-status=dead }} Further development in 2019 upgraded the museum to include new visitor facilities as well as new exhibits from the Saxon burial site at Broomfield. A second site at Sandford Mill – Chelmsford's former waterworks – displays further exhibits from Chelmsford's telecommunications, electrical engineering and rolling bearings industries.{{cite web|url=http://www.chelmsford.gov.uk/sandfordmill |title=Sandford Mill |website=Chelmsford City Council |access-date=17 September 2010}}

The Shire Hall is situated at the top of the High Street. Opened in July 1791 and built by local architect and Essex county surveyor John Johnson, it features a Portland stone façade. One of the oldest and most prominent buildings in Chelmsford, it was built as a courthouse and there has been a court on the site since at least 1199. However this finally came to an end on 2 April 2012 with the opening of a new magistrates' court a short distance away in New Street.{{cite web |url=http://www.thisistotalessex.co.uk/Shire-Hall-shuts-loses-court-role/story-15725118-detail/story.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120913204752/http://www.thisistotalessex.co.uk/Shire-Hall-shuts-loses-court-role/story-15725118-detail/story.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 September 2012 |title=Shire Hall shuts as it loses its court role |website=This is Essex |date=5 April 2012 |access-date=21 April 2012 }}

Chelmsford Cathedral, which is located directly behind the Shire Hall, is one of the oldest buildings in the city. Originally called "St Mary's Church", it became a cathedral when the Diocese of Chelmsford for the Bishop of Chelmsford was created in 1914. It is officially the second smallest in England behind Derby Cathedral.{{Cite web|url=http://visitessex.com/chelmsford/thedms.aspx?dms=13&venue=0144881|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111011191743/http://visitessex.com/chelmsford/thedms.aspx?dms=13&venue=0144881|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 October 2011|title=Visit Chelmsford for a day out or a short break and discover the delights of the only Essex city.}}

Chelmsford Prison is a male prison and Young Offenders Institution, constructed in 1830. The 1979 film special of the TV series Porridge with Ronnie Barker was filmed largely on location at Chelmsford Prison, while it was closed for repairs after a fire.

The 1842 constructed, 18-arch Victorian railway viaduct (that spans the River Can in Central Park) is one of three railway viaducts in the city that carry the Great Eastern Main Line. The viaduct was constructed by the Eastern Counties Railway and opened for passenger traffic on 29 March 1843.Essex Chronicle Archive 24 March 1843, Essex Record Office

Chelmsford's two tallest buildings are:

• Parkside Court, built in 1962 as Melbourne Court in Melbourne Avenue, sometimes locally known as "Melbourne flats", and
• the 13-floor "Kings Tower" in Duke Street, completed in 2007.

They share the same height of {{convert|141.04|ft|m}}.

The tallest structure by far in the borough is the former Chain Home radar tower in Great Baddow which rises to {{convert|360|ft|m|abbr=on}}. The tower was constructed in 1937 and originally stood at the village of Canewdon's former RAF base (1936–1970).{{Cite web|url=http://www.rochforddistricthistory.org.uk/page/chain_home_raf_canewdon|title=A history of one of the first radar stations | Chain Home, RAF Canewdon | Canewdon | ... by Places | Rochford District Community Archive|first=Community|last=Sites (www.communitysites.co.uk)|website=rochforddistricthistory.org.uk}} However, in 1956 it was relocated to Great Baddow.{{Cite web|url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1456445|title=Chain Home tower at Great Baddow, Great Baddow – 1456445 | Historic England|website=historicengland.org.uk}} It is the only Chain Home tower still in its original unmodified form in the United Kingdom and is a highly visible landmark throughout the surrounding area. The tower was finally given Grade II listed building status in October 2019 by Historic England.

From over 600,000 years ago, during the Pleistocene ice age, until the Anglian Stage around 478,000 to 424,000 years ago, the early River Thames flowed through the area where Chelmsford now stands, from Harlow to Colchester, before crossing what is now the North Sea to become a tributary of the Rhine. Consequently, gravel deposits are frequently found in the area and current and former gravel pits in the district are common.

Chelmsford has two rivers, the River Can and the River Chelmer. Although often confused to be the same river in the city centre, they are quite separate until they join towards the east of the city to form the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation which heads out towards Maldon before flowing into tidal waters at the Blackwater Estuary. In the other direction, the Chelmer comes from the north from its source near Thaxted while the Can comes from the West from Writtle where it separates from the River Wid.

Until the 1960s, these rivers were extremely prone to flooding the city centre area including two disastrous floods in August 1888 (known locally as 'The Great Flood') and in September 1958 (which also badly affected nearby Wickford) causing widespread damage. Flood prevention schemes in the 1960s on both rivers have largely prevented any further incidents here although the natural floodplains to the north and east such as The 'Baddow Meads' and The 'Chelmer Valley' continue to see flooding after prolonged heavy rainfall.

As with most of the UK, Chelmsford has a temperate oceanic climate (Cfb in the Köppen climate classification), however due to its proximity to continental Europe, Chelmsford enjoys warm summers and cool but not cold winters, with a relatively narrow annual temperature range and few extremes of temperature. Being in the southeast of England, the city enjoys a warmer climate than most of the United Kingdom and is one of the driest areas in the country. The nearest met office weather station is in Writtle, {{convert|2|mi|km|abbr=off|0}} west of the city centre.

The record highest temperature recorded in Chelmsford was {{convert|39.1|C|F}} on 19 July 2022{{cite web | url=https://www.chelmervillage-weather.co.uk/FreshWDLmaster.html | title=FreshWDL }} beating the previous record of {{convert|37.7|C|F}} which was set on 25 July 2019.

The coldest temperature recorded in Chelmsford was {{convert|-20.6|C|F}} on 29 January 1947. A low of {{convert|-18.0|C|F}} was recorded during December 1981, and more recently the temperature fell to {{convert|-13.0|C|F}} on 20 December 2010. Frost is common, occurring on an average of 53 nights of the year.

Rainfall averages 591.8 mm a year, with daily totals of over 1 mm falling on 108.1 days of the year. Thunderstorms are rare and mostly occur during July and August. All averages refer to the 30-year observation period 1981–2010.

Chelmsford was struck by a F1 tornado on 23 November 1981 as part of the record-breaking nationwide United Kingdom tornado outbreak on that day causing some damage in the city centre.{{cite web|url=http://www.eswd.eu/cgi-bin/eswd.cgi|title=European Severe Weather Database|website=eswd.eu}}

{{Weather box

|location = Writtle,{{efn|Weather station is located {{convert|2|mi|0|abbr=out}} from the Chelmsford city centre.}} elevation: {{convert|32|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}, 1981–2010 normals, extremes 1960–present

| collapsed =

| metric first = y

| single line = y

| Jan record high C = 15.1

| Feb record high C = 18.4

| Mar record high C = 22.8

| Apr record high C = 27.0

| May record high C = 30.0

| Jun record high C = 33.6

| Jul record high C = 39.1

| Aug record high C = 35.7

| Sep record high C = 32.1

| Oct record high C = 28.6

| Nov record high C = 18.5

| Dec record high C = 16.6

| Jan high C = 7.4

| Feb high C = 7.7

| Mar high C = 10.7

| Apr high C = 13.6

| May high C = 17.0

| Jun high C = 20.2

| Jul high C = 22.9

| Aug high C = 22.7

| Sep high C = 19.3

| Oct high C = 15.0

| Nov high C = 10.5

| Dec high C = 7.7

| year high C = 14.6

| Jan mean C = 4.5

| Feb mean C = 4.4

| Mar mean C = 6.7

| Apr mean C = 8.7

| May mean C = 11.9

| Jun mean C = 15.0

| Jul mean C = 17.5

| Aug mean C = 17.3

| Sep mean C = 14.5

| Oct mean C = 11.1

| Nov mean C = 7.2

| Dec mean C = 4.8

| year mean C = 10.3

| Jan low C = 1.5

| Feb low C = 1.0

| Mar low C = 2.7

| Apr low C = 3.8

| May low C = 6.8

| Jun low C = 9.8

| Jul low C = 12.0

| Aug low C = 11.8

| Sep low C = 9.7

| Oct low C = 7.1

| Nov low C = 3.9

| Dec low C = 1.8

| year low C = 6.0

| Jan record low C = -20.6

| Feb record low C = -13.3

| Mar record low C = -11.1

| Apr record low C = -6.1

| May record low C = -2.8

| Jun record low C = -1.7

| Jul record low C = 2.2

| Aug record low C = 0.6

| Sep record low C = -1.1

| Oct record low C = -6.7

| Nov record low C = -8.1

| Dec record low C = -18.0

| precipitation colour = green

| Jan precipitation mm = 53.2

| Feb precipitation mm = 39.2

| Mar precipitation mm = 40.2

| Apr precipitation mm = 41.6

| May precipitation mm = 48.7

| Jun precipitation mm = 49.9

| Jul precipitation mm = 44.3

| Aug precipitation mm = 51.7

| Sep precipitation mm = 48.6

| Oct precipitation mm = 64.1

| Nov precipitation mm = 58.0

| Dec precipitation mm = 52.3

| year precipitation mm = 591.8

| unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm

| Jan precipitation days = 10.8

| Feb precipitation days = 8.6

| Mar precipitation days = 9.2

| Apr precipitation days = 9.2

| May precipitation days = 8.7

| Jun precipitation days = 8.5

| Jul precipitation days = 7.3

| Aug precipitation days = 7.7

| Sep precipitation days = 7.8

| Oct precipitation days = 10.1

| Nov precipitation days = 9.9

| Dec precipitation days = 10.2

| year precipitation days = 108.1

| Jan sun = 58.0

| Feb sun = 76.1

| Mar sun = 112.4

| Apr sun = 165.7

| May sun = 196.6

| Jun sun = 198.2

| Jul sun = 209.9

| Aug sun = 204.0

| Sep sun = 147.4

| Oct sun = 113.9

| Nov sun = 68.7

| Dec sun = 47.4

| year sun = 1598.2

| source 1 = Met Office{{cite web |url=https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/research/climate/maps-and-data/uk-climate-averages/u10q3cdwd|title= Writtle 1981–2010 averages |access-date=22 December 2020|publisher=Met Office}}

| source 2 = KNMI{{cite web| url = https://eca.knmi.nl//download/millennium/millennium.php| title = Indices Data – Writtle STAID 1845| access-date = 22 December 2020| publisher = KNMI| archive-date = 9 July 2018| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180709010608/https://eca.knmi.nl//download/millennium/millennium.php| url-status = dead}}

}}

Chelmsford has a wide range of educational institutions. Higher education in the city is provided at one campus of Anglia Ruskin University (formerly called Anglia Polytechnic) and Writtle University College. Chelmsford College is the main provider of further education in the city. Sixth form colleges are attached to many of the secondary schools listed below.

Secondary school educational establishments in Chelmsford include:

• The Boswells School
• The Beaulieu Park School
• Chelmer Valley High School
• Columbus School and College
• Chelmsford County High School for Girls
• Great Baddow High School
• Hylands School
• King Edward VI Grammar School
• Moulsham High School
• New Hall School
• The Sandon School
• St John Payne Catholic School
• St Peter's College (closed in August 2011 and formerly known as Rainsford High School).{{cite web|author=pdent-jones|title=EXCLUSIVE: St Peter's College in Chelmsford to shut|url=http://www.thisistotalessex.co.uk/chelmsford/EXCLUSIVE-St-Peter-s-School-Chelmsford-shut/article-730133-detail/article.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120917130034/http://www.thisistotalessex.co.uk/chelmsford/EXCLUSIVE-St-Peter-s-School-Chelmsford-shut/article-730133-detail/article.html|archive-date=17 September 2012|access-date=17 September 2010|publisher=Thisistotalessex.co.uk}}
• Thriftwood School and College

Chelmsford includes many primary schools, including The Bishop's C of E & R C Primary School, one of the few joint Anglican and Roman Catholic primary schools in the country{{cite web|title=About us|url=http://www.bishops.essex.sch.uk/About%20Us.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150703171220/http://www.bishops.essex.sch.uk/About%20Us.htm|archive-date=3 July 2015|access-date=31 July 2015|publisher=The Bishops' C of E & R C Primary School}}

Chelmsford is often referred to as the Birthplace of Radio.

• City Sound Radio is a community radio station which started broadcasting online and on digital services in September 2023, delivering local news, topics, popular music, and a haven for unsigned musicians with session and broadcast performance facilities. It was created to provide more provincial representation at a time where national broadcasters had started to curtail their local obligations. citysound.radio
• Chelmsford Community Radio (CCR) broadcasts to the city on 104.4FM. It started out in 2013 as an internet only station and was granted an FM Licence in 2015. The FM frequency launched in 2017. The station offers a wide range of shows catering for many different tastes as well as offering a platform for many local bands, charities, community groups and businesses. www.chelmsfordcommunityradio.com
• Chelmsford was home to local radio station Chelmsford Radio. The station moved to studios in Southend-on-Sea having vacated its Heybridge premises on 12 January 2009. The station was originally situated in Chelmsford city centre in Cater House until November 2006. This station was previously known as Dream 107.7 until February, and before that, 107.7 Chelmer FM up to 2002. The station began broadcasting on 18 October 1998. It is the local station for mid-Essex. Adventure Radio have owned this station since 2008, where it was purchased from Tindle Radio Ltd. As of 19 February 2015, Chelmsford and Southend Radio re-branded and merged to form Radio Essex.Southend Radio
• Chelmsford has a local opt-out of Heart. Heart Essex (previously Essex FM up to June 2009) has been on air since 12 September 1981 and has been owned by Global Radio since 2007. It moved to studios in Glebe Road in late 2004, having previously been based in Southend-on-Sea. In May 2009, the station was rebranded to The Heart of Essex, Essex FM. In June 2009, the popular Essex FM née Essex Radio name brand was dropped after 28 years. On 3 June 2019 Heart Essex was closed as part of wider changes to the Heart network. It was replaced by Heart East with programs coming from studios in London and Milton Keynes. The Chelmsford studio was closed.{{Cite web|url=https://www.essexlive.news/news/essex-news/listeners-boycott-heart-essex-after-2946391|title=Listeners boycott Heart Essex after presenters Martin and Su leave|last=Finnegan|first=Sophie|date=6 June 2019|website=essexlive|access-date=7 June 2019}}
• BBC Essex has been on air since 5 November 1986 and its studios are based in New London Road.
• There is a local Award-winning, Hospital Radio Station based out of Broomfield Hospital, known as Hospital Radio Chelmsford, the station has been running since 1964 and is supported by volunteers. The station broadcasts 24 hours for patients at the hospital but can also be listened to online and via the app. www.hrc.org.uk {{citation needed|date=October 2022}}

Until their closure in the mid-2000s Anglia Television/ITV Anglia had offices located in Chelmsford city centre. Chelmsford is served by London and East Anglia regional variations of the BBC and ITV1. Television signals are received from either the Crystal Palace or Sudbury TV transmitters.

Chelmsford has its own Film Festival which was initially set up in 2017 by a few filmmakers and business owners who live in the Chelmsford area. This takes place predominantly at the Everyman Cinema in Chelmsford.

Publications based in Chelmsford include:

• the Essex Chronicle, which was founded as the Chelmsford Chronicle in 1764. The weekly Essex Chronicle newspaper is the longest in continuous publication in the country.{{Citation needed|date=December 2007}} Until the closure of the printing plant in 2002, the paper was printed in the town. It is now printed on presses by the Reach plc Group which now owns the paper.
• Chelmsford Weekly News was a free local paper which ceased production in June 2017.
• a popular publication is the free "Edge" magazine, a primarily volunteer effort aimed at older Chelmsfordians.
• The Face of Chelmsford is a monthly magazine delivered to 12,500 homes in Chelmsford that has now become a digital publication updated daily.
• City Life is a newspaper produced by Chelmsford City Council that is distributed throughout the area.

In May 2022, Chelmsford hosted its first street art festival, Concrete Canvas. The festival saw around 30 murals created in the cities Business Improvement District (BID). The artworks were created by a mix of local and internationally renowned street artists. They range from large pieces, installed on the walls of local businesses to smaller pieces on bollards and Openreach cabinets. The festival was supported by Chelmsford Council and [http://www.chelmsfordforyou.co.uk/concretecanvas Chelmsford For You].

Concrete Canvas continued in May 2023, an additional 43 artworks were added to the street art trail including work by local artists and international names such as DFace and Shephard Fairey.

Chelmsford Cathedral is the second smallest cathedral in England after Derby Cathedral.{{cite web|title=Cathedrals in the East of England: Chelmsford Cathedral|url=http://www.easterncathedrals.org.uk/chelmsford.html|access-date=8 August 2012|archive-date=13 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121213204618/http://www.easterncathedrals.org.uk/chelmsford.html|url-status=dead}} It was built in the 15th and early 16th centuries, when it was the parish church of the prosperous medieval town. The Diocese of Chelmsford was established in 1914 from part of the Diocese of St Albans. It covers all of Essex and much of East London.

Chelmsford is situated in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brentwood and the two dioceses are now uniquely (at least within England) conterminous. With the coming of the Reformation the Catholic community of Chelmsford was subjected to the anti-Catholic laws and Chelmsford was the site of the death of a Catholic martyr, Saint John Payne. In the 19th century, native Catholics resurfaced and immigrants helped to build up the Catholic community. There are now three Catholic churches within Chelmsford along with a Norbertine canonry situated on New London Road; St. Philip's Priory and one of the largest Catholic private boarding schools in the country, New Hall School.

Other denominations are represented, the Baptists, Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh-day Adventist Church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Presbyterians, the Quakers, and the United Reformed Church all have places of worship within the city. The Jehovah's Witnesses' Bethel, or UK supervisory office, is based in Chelmsford.Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, [https://www.jw.org/en/jehovahs-witnesses/bethel-tours/britain/ Bethel Tours], accessed 26 August 2022

For the local Muslim community, the majority of whom are Bengali and Pakistani, the Main Jamia Masjid mosque is located on Moulsham Street at the junction with Parkway.{{cite web|url=http://chelmsfordmosque.co.uk/contact-us/ |title=Chelmsford Mosque contact details|access-date=9 October 2021 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.chelmsfordmosque.co.uk/index.php/news/115-vacancy-for-imam-at-chelmsford-masjid|title=Vacancy For Imam at Chelmsford Masjid|author=Chelmsfod Mosque|access-date=5 April 2016|archive-date=5 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160505041944/http://www.chelmsfordmosque.co.uk/index.php/news/115-vacancy-for-imam-at-chelmsford-masjid|url-status=dead}}

Essex County Cricket Club is one of the 18 first-class county clubs that make up the English domestic cricket structure, representing the county of Essex. The club is based at the County Ground in New Writtle Street close to the city centre.

Chelmsford City Football Club plays in the National League South. The club's home ground is at the Chelmsford Sport and Athletics Centre, Melbourne Park, which it shares with Chelmsford Athletic Club. Chelmsford is one of the largest settlements in England without a Football League team. The city is home to the Chelmsford Sunday League, of which there are five divisions consisting of teams from around the area. The former ground of the club{{which|date=December 2019}} the New Writtle Street Stadium hosted greyhound racing which was one of two venues to do so. The other was at Springfield on local farmland on Pump Lane corner which took place during April 1949.{{clarify|date=December 2019}} The racing at both was independent (not affiliated to the sports governing body the National Greyhound Racing Club) and they were known as flapping tracks, which was the nickname given to independent tracks.{{cite book|last=Barnes|first=Julia|title=Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File, page 413|year=1988|publisher=Ringpress Books|isbn=0-948955-15-5}}{{cite web|url=https://greyhoundracingtimes.co.uk/?s=chelmsford|title=Chelmsford|work=Greyhound Racing Times}}

The Chelmsford Rugby Football Club was established in 1920 and for the last 40 years has been playing rugby at Coronation Park in Timpsons Lane. As of 2016 the club has over 300 members and fields up to five senior teams each week. The club as of 2016 plays in the London 1 North league, the sixth tier of English rugby. In addition to the senior teams, there are 150 youth members providing teams from under 6's to under 17's. Chelmsford Hockey Club is a men's and ladies' field hockey club based in the city. It fields eight men's teams and five ladies' teams every weekend.{{citation needed|date=July 2016}} The Ladies' 1st XI compete in the English Hockey League Conference East as of July 2016.

Chelmsford Swimming Club has been running for over 100 years and is located in the Riverside Ice and Leisure building in Chelmsford.{{cite news|title=Metropolitan Districts|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article19496904|access-date=16 May 2015|publisher=The Brisbane Courier|date=13 November 1906|quote=The Chelmsford Swimming Club held a carnival in the Manly Baths.}} Based in the same building are the Chelmsford Chieftains, an ice hockey team that plays in the English National Ice Hockey League. The club promotes the use of junior players and local players from the Chelmsford and Essex area.

Horse racing has been run at two separate venues using the name Chelmsford, neither actually in the city centre itself. The sport originally took place at Chelmsford Racecourse, at Galleywood, from the 18th century until its closure in 1935.{{cite web|last1=Hawkins|first1=Ted|title=Galloping Galleywood|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/essex/content/articles/2008/04/24/galleywood_race_course_feature.shtml|publisher=BBC|access-date=2 March 2015}} A new racecourse was established at Great Leighs in 2008 and subsequently changed its name to Chelmsford City Racecourse.{{cite web|title=Racing back at 'Great Leighs'|url=http://www.racehorseowners.net/en/news/index.cfm/2015fixtures|website=racehorseowners.net|access-date=2 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402090342/http://www.racehorseowners.net/en/news/index.cfm/2015fixtures|archive-date=2 April 2015|url-status=dead}}

Since 2014 the city has held a marathon. Starting and ending in the city centre, the marathon takes in the city itself and the surrounding environs. The 2014 edition had over 1000 participants.{{cite web|url=http://www.essexchronicle.co.uk/Chelmsford-marathon-2015-start-Shire-Hall/story-26236352-detail/story.html|title=Chelmsford marathon 2015 will start from Shire Hall|access-date=21 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150730170612/http://www.essexchronicle.co.uk/Chelmsford-marathon-2015-start-Shire-Hall/story-26236352-detail/story.html|archive-date=30 July 2015|url-status=dead}}

The Chelmsford campus of Anglia Ruskin University has many sports teams and facilities.

File:tindal.jpg, Tindal Square Chelmsford.]]

• Bon Harris (born 1965), of electronic music group Nitzer Ebb.{{cite web |title=nitzer-ebb.com ::: the official Nitzer Ebb Website – Archive: News 2009 |url=http://www.nitzer-ebb.de/ebbdotcom/newsenglish_archiv_2009.html |date=12 August 2009 |access-date=8 December 2021 |website=nitzer-ebb.de |archive-date=10 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220810141751/http://www.nitzer-ebb.de/ebbdotcom/newsenglish_archiv_2009.html |url-status=dead }}
• Harry Judd (born 1985), drummer, McFly.{{cite web |date=27 October 2007 |title=Girls line up to meet McFly in Leigh (From Echo) |url=http://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/1790431.girls_line_up_to_meet_mcfly_in_leigh/ |access-date=30 August 2009 |publisher=Echo-news.co.uk}}
• Hazell Dean (born 1952), singer.{{citation needed|date=March 2024}}
• Reg Webb (born 1947), musician.{{cite web | url=https://www.gazette-news.co.uk/leisure/theatre/15793902.charming-gigs-all-set-to-light-up-arts-centre/ | title=Charming gigs all set to light up arts centre | date=27 December 2017 }}
• Sarah Cracknell (born 1965), singer, Saint Etienne.{{cite web |date=17 July 2009|title=Saint Etienne – news, pictures, reviews, biography, videos, best songs, discography, books, DVDs, concerts, gossip, pictures and tour dates |url=https://www.nme.com/artists/saint-etienne |access-date=30 August 2009 |work=NME |location=UK}}
• Brothers Tom Jenkinson (born 1975) and Andy Jenkinson (born 1979), electronic musicians.

• Angela Addison (born 1999), professional footballer.{{Cite web |title=England – A. Addison – Profile with news, career statistics and history – Soccerway |url=https://uk.soccerway.com/players/angela-addison/565090/ |access-date=2 February 2024 |website=uk.soccerway.com}}
• Oliver Bearman (born 2005), racing driver.
• Tom Bury (born 1958), first-class cricketer.
• Liam Chilvers (born 1981), professional footballer.{{cite web |last=Dewhurst |first=Tony |url=http://www.lep.co.uk/pnenews/Big-Interview-Liam-Chilvers.4303951.jp |title=Big Interview: Liam Chilvers – Lancashire Evening Post |publisher=Lep.co.uk |access-date=30 August 2009 |archive-date=7 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081007142558/http://www.lep.co.uk/pnenews/Big-Interview-Liam-Chilvers.4303951.jp |url-status=dead }}
• Noah Chilvers (born 2001), professional footballer.
• Peter Collins (born 1948), professional footballer.{{citation needed|date=March 2024}}
• Sam Cook (born 1997), cricketer.
• Darren Eales (born 1972), chief executive officer of Premier League football club Newcastle United.
• Nathan French (born 1990), Olympic volleyball player.
• James Gibson (born 1980), swimmer.{{cite web |url=http://www.sportcentric.com/vsite/vcontent/page/custom/0,8510,5157-182674-199892-43108-270651-custom-item,00.html |title=British Swimming & The ASA : James Gibson MBE |publisher=Sportcentric.com |date=6 February 1980 |access-date=30 August 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080908052930/http://www.sportcentric.com/vsite/vcontent/page/custom/0,8510,5157-182674-199892-43108-270651-custom-item,00.html |archive-date=8 September 2008 |url-status=dead }}
• Greg Halford (born 1984), professional footballer.{{cite web |url=https://www.expressandstar.com/2009/07/15/halford-happy-to-be-mr-versatile/ |title=Halford happy to be Mr Versatile : Express & Star |work=Express & Star |date=15 July 2009 |access-date=30 August 2009 |archive-date=19 July 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090719083306/http://www.expressandstar.com/2009/07/15/halford-happy-to-be-mr-versatile/ |url-status=dead }}
• James Harper (born 1980), professional footballer.{{Cite news|date=27 April 2006|title=Article: Harper snubs Ghana. | AccessMyLibrary – Promoting library advocacy|publisher=AccessMyLibrary|url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-15051750_ITM|access-date=30 August 2009}}
• Cameron James (born 1998), professional footballer.
• Gus Kenworthy (born 1991), freestyle skier.
• James Key (born 1972) F1 designer and engineer.{{cite news|url=https://www.gazzetta.it/Formula-1/07-06-2023/f1-alfa-romeo-james-key-nuovo-direttore-tecnico.shtml|title=F1, James Key sarà nuovo direttore tecnico Alfa Romeo dal 1 settembre|newspaper=La Gazetta Dello Sport|date=7 June 2023}}
• Malcolm O'Kelly (born 1974), Irish rugby union player.{{Cite news|last=Thornley|first=Gerry|date=12 May 2010|title=Walking tall after so many highs|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/walking-tall-after-so-many-highs-1.664017|access-date=6 February 2019|newspaper=The Irish Times}}
• Nick Prowting (born 1985), cricketer.{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/64/64144/First-Class_Matches.html|title=First-Class Matches played by Nicholas Prowting|publisher=CricketArchive|access-date=19 August 2011}}
• Nigel Spink (born 1958), professional footballer.{{cite web|last=Swindells|first=Matt|title=Spink's been there, done that|url=http://www.wigantoday.net/latics/Spink39s-been-there-done-that.3780094.jp|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130222113115/http://www.wigantoday.net/latics/Spink39s-been-there-done-that.3780094.jp|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 February 2013|access-date=30 August 2009|work=Wigan Today}}
• Richard Westbrook (born 1975), racing driver.

• Tom Payne (born 1982), actor.{{cite news|last=Rampton|first=James|date=25 April 2009|title=On set – Best: His Mother's Son|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|location=London|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/5187959/On-set---Best-His-Mothers-Son.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090429121142/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/5187959/On-set---Best-His-Mothers-Son.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 April 2009|access-date=30 August 2009}}
• Mike Edmonds (born 1944), actor.
• Joe Thomas (born 1983), actor.
• Carole Lesley (1935–1974), actress.

• Sir Grayson Perry (born 1960), contemporary artist, broadcaster and cross-dresser.{{cite news|date=8 December 2003|title=Profile: Turner winner Grayson Perry|publisher=BBC News|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/3299335.stm|access-date=30 August 2009}}
• Richard Spare (born 1951), artist.{{cite web|title=Richard Spare – ArtPress Publishing|url=http://www.art-press.co.uk/collections/richard-spare|website=art-press.co.uk}}
• Cheryl Hole (born 1993), drag queen.{{Cite web |last=Alao |first=Lola Christina |date=16 August 2023 |title=Who is Cheryl Hole? Celebrity MasterChef 2023 contestant and Drag Race UK star |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/showbiz/who-cheryl-hole-celebrity-masterchef-2023-contestant-drag-race-uk-b1101100.html |access-date=26 September 2023 |website=Evening Standard|location=London}}

• Chris Gannon (born 1980), renewable energy pioneer.
• Florence Attridge (1901–1975), involved in making secret radio sets used by the resistance during the war.{{Cite web|date=11 December 2020|title=Blue plaque unveiled in Chelmsford for 'heroine of World War II'|url=https://www.inyourarea.co.uk/news/blue-plaque-unveiled-in-chelmsford-for-heroine-of-world-war-ii/|access-date=12 December 2020|website=InYourArea.co.uk}}
• George Clift King (1848–1935), former mayor of Calgary, Canada.{{cite web|title=City of Calgary Archives|url=http://www.calgary.ca/DocGallery/BU/cityclerks/k.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610225228/http://www.calgary.ca/DocGallery/BU/cityclerks/k.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 June 2011|publisher=City of Calgary|access-date=6 October 2009}}
• Anne Knight (1786–1862), anti-slavery and feminist activist.{{cite web|title=Key historical individuals|url=http://www.understandingslavery.com/teachingslavetrade/introduction/keyhistorical/?page=4|publisher=Understanding Slavery|access-date=6 October 2009 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080701125330/http://www.understandingslavery.com/teachingslavetrade/introduction/keyhistorical/?page=4 |archive-date = 1 July 2008}}
• Sarah Perry (born 1979), writer.sarahperry.moonfruit.com
• Joseph Strutt (1749–1802), engraver and antiquary.{{cite web|url=http://chestofbooks.com/reference/American-Cyclopaedia-6/Joseph-Strutt.html |title=Joseph Strutt |publisher=Chestofbooks.com |access-date=17 September 2010}}
• Sir Nicholas Conyngham Tindal (1776–1846), lawyer and judge.{{Cite news|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000225/18460710/013/0002|title=Death of Lord Chief Justice Tindal|date=10 July 1846|work=The Chelmsford Chronicle|access-date=16 February 2019|issue=3942|page=2|via=British Newspaper Archive}}
• Jon Morter (born 1974), campaigner.
• Ronald Skirth (1897–1977), World War I veteran.{{cite web|url=http://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?cite=YhhgGrK2Ik3HevTTQZSkzQ&scan=1|title=Index entry—Births March 1898—Skirth John Ronald, Chelmsford 4a 571|access-date=22 September 2010|work=FreeBMD|publisher=Office for National Statistics}}
• Sir Walter Mildmay (1523–1589), Chancellor of the Exchequer of England under Elizabeth I.{{cite web|url=http://www.geni.com/people/Sir-Walter-Mildmay/6000000007606840010|title=Walter Mildmay, MP (c.1521 – 1589) – Genealogy|work=geni_family_tree|date=28 April 2022 }}
• J. A. Baker (1926–1987), writer and naturalist.{{citation needed|date=March 2024}}
• Steve Blame (born 1959), VJ on MTV.{{citation needed|date=March 2024}}
• Ed Woodward (born 1971), former Chief executive officer of Manchester United football club.{{Cite web|url=https://ir.manutd.com/corporate-governance/management.aspx|title=Management|website=ir.manutd.com}}
• The Lord Dannatt (born 1950), British Army officer, politician.
• Philemon Holland (1552–1637), translator.{{Cite ODNB|url=https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-13535|title=Holland, Philemon (1552–1637)|last=Considine|first=John|date=23 September 2004|doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/13535|access-date=6 February 2019}}

Chelmsford's official twin towns are:{{cite web|url=http://www.chelmsfordtowntwinning.org.uk/ChelmsfordTownTwinningAssociationHome.aspx|title=Chelmsford Town Twinning Association|access-date=14 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130517111507/http://chelmsfordtowntwinning.org.uk/ChelmsfordTownTwinningAssociationHome.aspx|archive-date=17 May 2013|url-status=dead}}{{cite web |url=http://www.chelmsford.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=8406 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060509034706/http://www.chelmsford.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=8406 |url-status=dead |archive-date=9 May 2006 |title=Chelmsford Borough Council – Twin Towns |publisher=Government of the United Kingdom |access-date=17 September 2010 }}

• Annonay, Ardèche, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France
• Backnang, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

The city has a sister city:

• Wuxi, China{{cite news|url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/m/jiangsu/wuxi/2015-01/19/content_19346945.htm |title=Chelmsford – China Daily|newspaper=China Daily |access-date=9 May 2016}}

{{notelist}}

{{reflist}}

• John Alec Baker: The Peregrine, The Hill of Summer and Diaries (Collins, 2011)

• Foreman, Stephen: Hylands – the story of an Essex country house and its owners (Ian Henry Publications, 1999)
• Lee, Janet Olivia: Chelmsford – Birthplace of Radio (Chelmsford Borough Council, 2001)
• Lowen, Ceri: Hylands House – a brief history and guide (Chelmsford Borough Council, 2005)
• Wander, Tim: 2MT Writtle – The birth of British Broadcasting (Capella Publications, 1988)
• Weller-Lewis, Hugh: Chelmsford Borough Guide (Macmillan, 1995)
• Wickenden, Nick: A Celebration of Chelmsford (Chelmsford Borough Council, 1999)
• A town, its people and its past (Chelmsford Record Office, 1988)
• Grieve, Hilda: The Sleepers and the Shadows Volume 2 Chelmsford: a town, its people and its past (Chelmsford Record Office, 1994)
• Begent, Andrew: Chelmsford at War (Ian Henry Publications Ltd, 1999)
• Torry, Gilbert: Chelmsford through the ages (East Anglian Magazine Ltd, 1977)

{{Commons category}}

{{Wikivoyage|Chelmsford (England)}}

• [http://www.chelmsford.gov.uk/ Chelmsford City Council]

{{Essex}}

{{London commuter belt}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:County towns in England

Category:Archaeological sites in Essex

Category:City of Chelmsford

Category:Towns in Essex

Category:Former national capitals

Category:Unparished areas in Essex

Category:Former civil parishes in Essex

Category:Cities in the East of England