Great Dunmow
Encyclopedia
Great Dunmow is an ancient market town
in the Uttlesford
district of Essex
, England
in which the great Shannon Gray, also known as Hazzah Potter, lives. It is situated on the north of the A120 road, approximately midway between Bishop's Stortford
and Braintree
, 6 miles east of London Stansted Airport
.
The second Halifax Rural Areas Quality of Life Survey ranked Uttlesford District as the 4th best place to live in the UK out of 114 rural authority areas surveyed (one in which the majority of residents live in towns or villages with populations of less than 10,000).
Originally the site of a Roman
settlement on Stane Street, the town thrived during the Middle Ages
. Many buildings survive from this period, including a sixteenth century town hall
. Dunmow means "Meadow on the Hill". The settlement was variously referred to as Dunmow Magna, Much Dunmow, or most commonly Great Dunmow.
Great Dunmow borders the former estate of Easton Lodge
, a country house belonging to the Maynard family. The most notable member, Frances Maynard, became the Countess of Warwick and later a mistress of King Edward VII. As the Prince of Wales he was reportedly a regular visitor to the Estate, travelling from London on the train to Easton Lodge railway station
. The initials "CW" are visible on a number of Victorian era properties in Great Dunmow. Known as Daisy Greville, Countess of Warwick
she was a generous philanthropist in the local community.
and the Roman roads which ran north-east to south-west from Sudbury
to London and north-west to southeast from Cambridge
to Chelmsford
. The main settlement area spread westwards from the road junction, with cemeteries on the outskirts. There was a second Roman settlement at Church End immediately to the north of present day Great Dunmow. The site likely included a rural Roman Temple.
Both Roman settlements were reoccupied during the Saxon period, at Great Dunmow in the seventh century and at Church End in the later Saxon period. The earliest medieval settlement appears to have been a continuation of the late Saxon settlement at Church End, where the parish church is located. The granting of a market charter may mark the time of the movement of the main focus of settlement from Church End to the High Street and market-place. The medieval and post-medieval development of Great Dunmow is reflected both in the surviving built heritage, which includes 167 Listed Buildings and the below-ground archaeology.
, a series of defences and concrete Pillboxes built to hinder an anticipated German invasion. Many of these still remain and are clearly visible along the Chelmer Valley, one being located on the west bank of the River Chelmer in meadows behind the Dourdan Pavilion and recreation ground.
Easton Lodge became RAF Great Dunmow
in World War II and for a time was home to squadrons from the US Air Force. The site of the former air field is now owned by Land Securities who hope to build a development including around 9,000 homes alongside significant supporting community, commercial and retail infrastructure, intending to call it Easton Park.
War time saw the tragic loss of the crew of two aircraft based at RAF Great Dunmow in aircraft crashes very close to the town.
21 November 1945 - Shorts Stirling LK276, crashed in fields close to the site of Tesco -
Immediately prior to the accident LK276 was towing a Horsa Glider into the airfield. The glider a Horsa P-F573 had been released and had landed safely and then the Stirling was being flown to the rope dropping area prior to the pilot requesting permission to land. The pilot was requested to hold off and circle the outer permitter of lights and shortly afterwards LK276 crashed having hit some willow trees before colliding with some cables - it then skidded along a bank and exploded at Puildings Farm. Subsequent investigations report that the aircraft was being followed at the time by a Luftwaffe night fighter which shot the Stirling down. Reports from people stationed at the base also confirmed this version. The official reason recorded for the crash - "accident due pilot error" - is now commonly believe to have been motivate by a desire to not alarm the population with reports of lone enemy aircraft stalking the night sky.
Airmen on board:
Benches dedicated to each of these airmen are located close to the crash site on Stortford Road, Waldgrooms, Great Dunmow Primary School, and Woodlands Park Walk.
20 March 1945 - Shorts Stirling LK116, crashed near Ford Farm, Braintree Road (B1256) - According to 'Stirlings in Action with the Airborne Forces' by Dennis Williams (Pen & Sword), LK116 was one of the last two allied aircraft to be shot down by intruders over the UK; the other was a Halifax of 1665 HCU at Tilstock, which was shot down on the same night. Stirling LK116 from RAF Great Dunmow was attacked by a Luftwaffe intruder during a supply dropping exercise to the former airfield at Great Sampford. Unfortunately the resulting fire caused LK116 to crash beside the Chelmer near Ford Farm in Dunmow. The flight engineer, Flight Sergeant Cramp, parachuted to safety and landed at Barnston, but sadly the rest of the crew, including an SAS liaison officer, were killed in the crash.
Airmen on board:
(63 minutes to London Liverpool Street) to the east and 9.2 miles from Bishop's Stortford railway station
(40 minutes to London Liverpool Street) to the west. Until 1952 the town was served by the Bishop's Stortford-Braintree Branch Line
a line between these stations, which opened to passengers on February 22, 1869 and closed on March 3, 1952. The line continued in use for freight trains and occasional excursions, closing in stages with the final section to Easton Lodge closing on February 17, 1972. It is now possible to walk or cycle to in either direction along the former track bed to Braintree Station, or to the edge of Bishop's Stortford.
As the crow-flies it is just under 6 miles from Stansted Airport and the nearby M11 motorway to the west.
The A120
from the M11
to Braintree
by-passes the town, the former route has now been re-designated the B1256.
of six local bachelor
s and six local maidens that they have never wished themselves un-wed for a year and a day. If successful the couple are paraded along the High Street and receive a flitch of bacon. The last flitch trials were held in the town in the summer of 2008, with the next scheduled for 2012. The custom is ancient, and is mentioned in the Wife of Bath's Prologue and Tale
in Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales
.
Several other pubs have closed - The Dunmow Inn, formerly the White Hart, (now demolished) once stood at the site now occupied by Jutland House on White Hart Way, where work started in December 2006. The development includes a new Library
which opened in June 2009 opposite the Co-op. The Royal Oak, which was at the junction of Stortford Road and Rosemary Lane, the building now being a private residence. The Kings Head which is on North Street, just opposite The Doctors Pond and still being refurbished. The White Horse which closed many years ago and was on the site of what is now the Square One restaurant
with the following town: Dourdan
in France
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
in the Uttlesford
Uttlesford
Uttlesford is a local government district in Essex, England. Its council is based in Saffron Walden.Its name is derived from the ancient Hundred of the same name....
district of Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in which the great Shannon Gray, also known as Hazzah Potter, lives. It is situated on the north of the A120 road, approximately midway between Bishop's Stortford
Bishop's Stortford
Bishop's Stortford is a historic market town and civil parish in the district of East Hertfordshire in the county of Hertfordshire in England. It is situated just west of the M11 motorway, on the county boundary with Essex and is the closest large town to London Stansted Airport and part of the...
and Braintree
Braintree
Braintree may refer to:* Braintree, Essex, a town in England** Braintree ** Braintree ** Braintree Town F.C., a football club in the town....
, 6 miles east of London Stansted Airport
London Stansted Airport
-Cargo:-Statistics:-Infrastructure:-Terminal and satellite buildings:Stansted is the newest passenger airport of all the main London airports. The terminal is an oblong glass building, and is separated in to three areas: Check-in concourse, arrivals and departures...
.
The second Halifax Rural Areas Quality of Life Survey ranked Uttlesford District as the 4th best place to live in the UK out of 114 rural authority areas surveyed (one in which the majority of residents live in towns or villages with populations of less than 10,000).
Originally the site of a Roman
Roman Britain
Roman Britain was the part of the island of Great Britain controlled by the Roman Empire from AD 43 until ca. AD 410.The Romans referred to the imperial province as Britannia, which eventually comprised all of the island of Great Britain south of the fluid frontier with Caledonia...
settlement on Stane Street, the town thrived during the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
. Many buildings survive from this period, including a sixteenth century town hall
City hall
In local government, a city hall, town hall or a municipal building or civic centre, is the chief administrative building of a city...
. Dunmow means "Meadow on the Hill". The settlement was variously referred to as Dunmow Magna, Much Dunmow, or most commonly Great Dunmow.
Great Dunmow borders the former estate of Easton Lodge
Easton Lodge
Easton Lodge was a Victorian Gothic style stately home to the west of Great Dunmow, Essex in England. Once famous for its weekend society gatherings frequented by the Prince of Wales , it was one of many country houses destroyed during the 20th century...
, a country house belonging to the Maynard family. The most notable member, Frances Maynard, became the Countess of Warwick and later a mistress of King Edward VII. As the Prince of Wales he was reportedly a regular visitor to the Estate, travelling from London on the train to Easton Lodge railway station
Easton Lodge railway station
Easton Lodge railway station was a station located to the west of Great Dunmow, Essex, near Easton Lodge. It closed in 1952, with the line being used for freight until it was closed in 1974.Former Services-External links:*...
. The initials "CW" are visible on a number of Victorian era properties in Great Dunmow. Known as Daisy Greville, Countess of Warwick
Daisy Greville, Countess of Warwick
Frances Evelyn "Daisy" Greville, Countess of Warwick was a society beauty, and mistress to King Edward VII.-Family:...
she was a generous philanthropist in the local community.
Roman Great Dunmow
A Roman small town developed on the junction between Stane StreetStane Street
There are several Roman Stane Streets - see also Stane Street Stane Street is the modern name given to an important long Roman road in England that linked London to the Roman town of Noviomagus Reginorum, or Regnentium, later renamed Chichester by the Saxons...
and the Roman roads which ran north-east to south-west from Sudbury
Sudbury, Suffolk
Sudbury is a small, ancient market town in the county of Suffolk, England, on the River Stour, from Colchester and from London.-Early history:...
to London and north-west to southeast from Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
to Chelmsford
Chelmsford
Chelmsford is the county town of Essex, England and the principal settlement of the borough of Chelmsford. It is located in the London commuter belt, approximately northeast of Charing Cross, London, and approximately the same distance from the once provincial Roman capital at Colchester...
. The main settlement area spread westwards from the road junction, with cemeteries on the outskirts. There was a second Roman settlement at Church End immediately to the north of present day Great Dunmow. The site likely included a rural Roman Temple.
The Domesday Book
Between the occupation by the Romans and the time of the Saxons, the town acquired its name – in AD951 it was named Dunemowe, and later Dommawe. In the Domesday Book, Dunmow had seven manors, some of which still exist, in name at least – including Bigods, Newton Hall, Merks Hall, Minchins and Shingle Hall. The earliest record of a church in the town is in 1045, and in 1197 Geoffrey de Dunmow was rector.Medieval Dunmow
In medieval times, Dunmow was a thriving commercial centre, with market charters granted in 1253 and two fairs held annually until the 19th century. Dunmow’s Corporation was granted in 1555 and confirmed in 1590.Both Roman settlements were reoccupied during the Saxon period, at Great Dunmow in the seventh century and at Church End in the later Saxon period. The earliest medieval settlement appears to have been a continuation of the late Saxon settlement at Church End, where the parish church is located. The granting of a market charter may mark the time of the movement of the main focus of settlement from Church End to the High Street and market-place. The medieval and post-medieval development of Great Dunmow is reflected both in the surviving built heritage, which includes 167 Listed Buildings and the below-ground archaeology.
World War II
Great Dunmow was located on the GHQ LineGHQ Line
The GHQ Line was a defence line built in the United Kingdom during World War II to contain an expected German invasion.The British Army had abandoned most of its equipment in France after the Dunkirk evacuation...
, a series of defences and concrete Pillboxes built to hinder an anticipated German invasion. Many of these still remain and are clearly visible along the Chelmer Valley, one being located on the west bank of the River Chelmer in meadows behind the Dourdan Pavilion and recreation ground.
Easton Lodge became RAF Great Dunmow
RAF Great Dunmow
RAF Station Great Dunmow is a former World War II airfield in Essex, England. The airfield is located approximately mi west of Great Dunmow, north of the A 120; about miles northeast of London...
in World War II and for a time was home to squadrons from the US Air Force. The site of the former air field is now owned by Land Securities who hope to build a development including around 9,000 homes alongside significant supporting community, commercial and retail infrastructure, intending to call it Easton Park.
War time saw the tragic loss of the crew of two aircraft based at RAF Great Dunmow in aircraft crashes very close to the town.
21 November 1945 - Shorts Stirling LK276, crashed in fields close to the site of Tesco -
Immediately prior to the accident LK276 was towing a Horsa Glider into the airfield. The glider a Horsa P-F573 had been released and had landed safely and then the Stirling was being flown to the rope dropping area prior to the pilot requesting permission to land. The pilot was requested to hold off and circle the outer permitter of lights and shortly afterwards LK276 crashed having hit some willow trees before colliding with some cables - it then skidded along a bank and exploded at Puildings Farm. Subsequent investigations report that the aircraft was being followed at the time by a Luftwaffe night fighter which shot the Stirling down. Reports from people stationed at the base also confirmed this version. The official reason recorded for the crash - "accident due pilot error" - is now commonly believe to have been motivate by a desire to not alarm the population with reports of lone enemy aircraft stalking the night sky.
Airmen on board:
- Pilot : F/O. James Ian Kidgell 410499 R.A.A.F. Age 23. Killed
- Pilot 2 (Instructor): F/O. William Walter D'arcy Brain 42365 R.N.Z.A.F. Age 26. Killed
- Nav: F/O. Ernest Douglas Woods 176742 R.A.F.V.R. Age 26. Killed
- Fl/Eng: Sgt. Hugh Holt 2209061 R.A.F.V.R. Age 20. Killed
- Air/Bmr: Fl/Sgt. Ronald David Payne 1391069 R.A.F.V.R. Age 21. Killed
- W/Op/Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Reginald Matthew Dauncey 1431216 R.A.F.V.R. Age 23. Killed
- Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Arthur George Reid 1800613 R.A.F.V.R. Age 33. Killed
Benches dedicated to each of these airmen are located close to the crash site on Stortford Road, Waldgrooms, Great Dunmow Primary School, and Woodlands Park Walk.
20 March 1945 - Shorts Stirling LK116, crashed near Ford Farm, Braintree Road (B1256) - According to 'Stirlings in Action with the Airborne Forces' by Dennis Williams (Pen & Sword), LK116 was one of the last two allied aircraft to be shot down by intruders over the UK; the other was a Halifax of 1665 HCU at Tilstock, which was shot down on the same night. Stirling LK116 from RAF Great Dunmow was attacked by a Luftwaffe intruder during a supply dropping exercise to the former airfield at Great Sampford. Unfortunately the resulting fire caused LK116 to crash beside the Chelmer near Ford Farm in Dunmow. The flight engineer, Flight Sergeant Cramp, parachuted to safety and landed at Barnston, but sadly the rest of the crew, including an SAS liaison officer, were killed in the crash.
Airmen on board:
- Squadron Leader George Whitty DFC RAFVR (pilot and OC A Flight, 620 Squadron)
- Warrant Officer John Williams RAFVR (navigator)
- Pilot Officer George Ames RAFVR (wireless operator)
- Warrant Officer Andrew Bell RCAF (air gunner)
- Flight Sergeant George Douglas RAFVR (bomb aimer)
- Captain George Slater, Parachute Regiment, Army Air Corps att. SAS (SAS Liaison Officer at RAF Great Dunmow)
Transport
Great Dunmow is 8.3 miles from Braintree railway stationBraintree railway station
Braintree railway station is owned by Network Rail and managed by train operating company National Express East Anglia. Most trains run direct to London Liverpool Street, joining the Great Eastern Main Line at Witham...
(63 minutes to London Liverpool Street) to the east and 9.2 miles from Bishop's Stortford railway station
Bishop's Stortford railway station
Bishop's Stortford railway station serves the town of Bishop's Stortford in Hertfordshire, England. The station, and all trains serving it, are operated by National Express East Anglia; this includes the 2 or 3tph Stansted Express service.-History:...
(40 minutes to London Liverpool Street) to the west. Until 1952 the town was served by the Bishop's Stortford-Braintree Branch Line
Bishop's Stortford-Braintree Branch Line
The Bishop's Stortford-Braintree Branch Line was a long line connecting the towns of Bishop's Stortford, Dunmow and Braintree.-History:Originally proposed to Eastern Counties Railway in 1859, the line from Bishop's Stortford, Dunmow and Braintree was eventually built by Great Eastern Railway who...
a line between these stations, which opened to passengers on February 22, 1869 and closed on March 3, 1952. The line continued in use for freight trains and occasional excursions, closing in stages with the final section to Easton Lodge closing on February 17, 1972. It is now possible to walk or cycle to in either direction along the former track bed to Braintree Station, or to the edge of Bishop's Stortford.
As the crow-flies it is just under 6 miles from Stansted Airport and the nearby M11 motorway to the west.
The A120
A120 road
The A120 is an important trunk road in southern England. It follows the course of Stane Street, a Roman road from Standon, Hertfordshire at its western terminus to Colchester...
from the M11
M11 motorway
The M11 motorway in England is a major road running approximately north from the North Circular Road in South Woodford in north-east London to the A14, north-west of Cambridge.-Route:...
to Braintree
Braintree, Essex
Braintree is a town of about 42,000 people and the principal settlement of the Braintree district of Essex in the East of England. It is northeast of Chelmsford and west of Colchester on the River Blackwater, A120 road and a branch of the Great Eastern Main Line.Braintree has grown contiguous...
by-passes the town, the former route has now been re-designated the B1256.
Flitch Trials
The town is well known for its four-yearly ritual of the "Flitch Trials", in which couples must convince a juryJury
A jury is a sworn body of people convened to render an impartial verdict officially submitted to them by a court, or to set a penalty or judgment. Modern juries tend to be found in courts to ascertain the guilt, or lack thereof, in a crime. In Anglophone jurisdictions, the verdict may be guilty,...
of six local bachelor
Bachelor
A bachelor is a man above the age of majority who has never been married . Unlike his female counterpart, the spinster, a bachelor may have had children...
s and six local maidens that they have never wished themselves un-wed for a year and a day. If successful the couple are paraded along the High Street and receive a flitch of bacon. The last flitch trials were held in the town in the summer of 2008, with the next scheduled for 2012. The custom is ancient, and is mentioned in the Wife of Bath's Prologue and Tale
The Wife of Bath's Prologue and Tale
"The Wife of Bath's Tale" and prologue are among the best-known of Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. They give insight into the role of women in the Late Middle Ages and are probably of interest to Chaucer himself, for the character is one of his most developed ones, with her prologue twice as...
in Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales
The Canterbury Tales
The Canterbury Tales is a collection of stories written in Middle English by Geoffrey Chaucer at the end of the 14th century. The tales are told as part of a story-telling contest by a group of pilgrims as they travel together on a journey from Southwark to the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket at...
.
Pubs and Bars
Dunmow's pubs and bars include: The Kicking Dickey, The Saracen's Head, The Boar's Head, The Cricketers, Traffic Bar & Grill, Dunmow Underground (Lennons), The Queen Victoria (also known as the Jalsa Ghar and Indian Restaurant),The Chequers, and The Angel and Harp (having recently reopened following extensive refurbishment).Several other pubs have closed - The Dunmow Inn, formerly the White Hart, (now demolished) once stood at the site now occupied by Jutland House on White Hart Way, where work started in December 2006. The development includes a new Library
Library
In a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...
which opened in June 2009 opposite the Co-op. The Royal Oak, which was at the junction of Stortford Road and Rosemary Lane, the building now being a private residence. The Kings Head which is on North Street, just opposite The Doctors Pond and still being refurbished. The White Horse which closed many years ago and was on the site of what is now the Square One restaurant
Art and venues
Though not planned for completion until October 2015, Dunmow is also the location of a unique living art installation. Known as Talliston, this twenty-five-year project is a journey to transform a three-bedroomed, ex-council house in Essex into thirteen distinct areas in different times and spaces. Ultimately it will be a small arts venue and installation, providing an intimate venue for music, theatre, talks and hire.Twin towns
Great Dunmow is twinnedTown twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
with the following town: Dourdan
Dourdan
Dourdan is a commune in the Essonne department in Île-de-France in northern France.It is located in the metropolitan area of Paris.-Géography:Dourdan is located on the river Orge in the western Essonne...
in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
Notable Residents of Great Dunmow
- Thomas Bowyer (1520? - 1556) - Protestant martyr who refused to renounce his faith and adopt Catholicism. As a punishment he was taken to Stratford in East London and burnt at the stake, aged 36.
- Anne LineAnne LineSaint Anne Line was an English martyr who was executed during the reign of Elizabeth I for harbouring a priest. She was born in 1567, the second daughter of Heigham, Esq., of Essex, a strict Calvinist, and was, together with her brother William, disinherited for converting to Catholicism...
(1567 – 27 February 1601) - Catholic martyr executed during the reign of Elizabeth I for harbouring a priest in The Clock House, The Causeway, where she was a housekeeper. - Lionel LukinLionel LukinLionel Lukin Lionel Lukin Lionel Lukin (18 May 1742 (Great Dunmow, Essex, England) - 16 February 1834 (Hythe, Kent, England) is considered by some to have been the inventor of the lifeboat (although see William Wouldhave for the competing claim)....
(18 May 1742 - 16 February 1834 - considered by some to have been the inventor of the unsinkable lifeboat, designs for which he tested on the Doctor's Pond. - Sir George Beaumont, 7th BaronetSir George Beaumont, 7th BaronetSir George Howland Beaumont, 7th Baronet was a British art patron and amateur painter. He played a crucial part in the creation of London's National Gallery by making the first bequest of paintings to that institution....
(6 November 1753 – 7 February 1827) - British art patron and amateur painter. Played a crucial part in the creation of London's National Gallery by making the first bequest of paintings. - Toke TownleyToke TownleyToke Antony Townley, born 6 November 1912 in Great Dunmow, died 27 September 1984 in Leeds, was an English actor.-Biography:His father was a vicar and he was christened John Townley, but his first name was then changed by his parents to the surname of an ancestor. After he left school he worked as...
born 6 November 1912 in Great Dunmow, died 27 September 1984 in Leeds, was an English actor. - Francis Arthur JeffersonFrancis Arthur JeffersonFrancis Arthur Jefferson VC was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces...
VCVCVC may refer to:* Vehicle code, a motor vehicle traffic legal system* Vanadium carbide, an inorganic compound* Vancouver Canucks, a NHL hockey team* Vanier College* Vassar College...
(18 August 1921 - 4 September 1982) was stationed in Dunmow after WW2 and was married in the village.