Southchurch
| Southchurch | |
|---|---|
 Southchurch
|
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| Southchurch shown within Essex | |
| Population | 9,710 (2011) |
| OS grid reference | TQ893859 |
| Unitary authority | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | SOUTHEND-ON-SEA |
| Postcode district | SS2 |
| Dialling code | 01702 |
| Police | Essex |
| Fire | Essex |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| EU Parliament | East of England |
| UK Parliament | |
Southchurch is now part of Southend-on-Sea in Essex, England. However, it was an independent parish until 1897 and has a documented history going back to the ninth century AD.
In 824 AD, one Leofstan (after whom Lifstan Way in Southchurch is named) is recorded as presenting the manor of Southchurch (Sudcerca in Latin) to the monks of Canterbury. This shows that the church from which the manor takes its name was already in existence. Southchurch takes its name from a Saxon church which was south of a pre-Norman minster, probably situated at Wakering.
The housing stock mainly dates from the first half of the twentieth century, when Southchurch developed from its original village into the residential district of Southend which it has now become.
Southchurch Road is the main road that runs from west to east through Southchurch. It starts at its junction with the northern end of Southend's pedestrianised High Street. It becomes part of the A13 when it passes Porter's Grange, Southend's Mayoral residence. As it enters Southchurch the number of shops gradually increase, creating a thriving retail area which continues right to the end of Southchurch Road. The A13 continues eastward along the wide, leafy, dual-carriageway - originally a tramway - which is Southchurch Boulevard until you get to Thorpe Hall Avenue beyond which is Thorpe Bay. The northern side of the Boulevard is mostly housing, the southern side is a mixture of housing situated between, from west to east, the 'Old Walnut Tree' public house (up to 2014 this was called the 'White Horse'), Southchurch parish church (Holy Trinity), Southend High School for Girls and Futures Community College. Other west-east roads south of the A13 are Southend sea front (Marine Parade/B1016 (part only)), Woodgrange Drive (entire length both east and west of Lifstan Way), Colbert Avenue, Wyatts Drive, Shaftesbury Avenue and Ambleside Drive. North of the A13 the main west-east roads are North Avenue, Central Avenue and South Avenue.
The main north-south roads are Southchurch Avenue, Lifstan Way and Thorpe Hall Avenue. Lifstan Way runs directly down to the seafront with Southchurch Park to the west which includes a cricket ground and athletics ground, children's playground, an ornamental lake, and a refreshment pavilion, and Southchurch Park East to the other side. The main park also contains a bowling green, tennis courts and the home ground of Southend Manor Youth Football Club. At the north-western corner of the Park is Southchurch Park United Reformed Church. Nearby, to the east, are Thorpe Greenways Infant and Junior Schools.
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Wikipedia