Bicknacre | |
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Bicknacre Village Sign |
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Bicknacre shown within Essex | |
OS grid reference | TL788029 |
District | |
Shire county | |
Region | |
Country | England |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | CHELMSFORD |
Postcode district | CM3 |
Dialling code | 01245 |
Police | Essex |
Fire | Essex |
Ambulance | East of England |
EU Parliament | East of England |
UK Parliament | |
Bicknacre is a village in Essex, England. It is approximately 6.5 km (4.0 mi) north of South Woodham Ferrers and 9.2 km (5.7 mi) southeast of the city of Chelmsford. The village is in the borough of Chelmsford and in the parliamentary constituency of Maldon & East Chelmsford. It has a population of approximately 4,500 people.
There was a hermitage on this site until around the end of 1154, when it was converted into a priory for the Black Canons, an order of Augustinian Canons. It was known as Wodeham Priory until 1235 when the name Bicknacre first occurs.
The arch is all that remains of the 12th century Bicknacre Priory. It comprises the west arch of the crossing of the church with attached fragments of the nave and north transept. The Arch and the surrounding fields, known as Priory Fields, are looked after by a voluntary group, called Friends of Priory Fields.
The St Giles Home for British Lepers no longer exists, but St. Giles Churchyard, which is marked as an Essex Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve is in Moor Hall Lane. It is rumoured that the church is haunted by a man buried in the graveyard his name at the moment is unknown.
Notable people from the village include; Richard Robarts, a former Formula One driver, and the artist Daniel West. The artist Grayson Perry lived in the village for part of his childhood. James Graham from the finals of X Factor also winning Bicknacre Priory Primary talent show 2007. Danica Brazier, resident and former pupil of Bicknacre Priory Primary School currently plays International Water Polo for Great Britain (U17's).
Bicknacre Village Sign
The White Swan Public House
Shops at Bicknacre