Southchurch
Encyclopedia
Southchurch is now part of Southend-on-Sea
in Essex
, England
. However, it was an independent parish until 1894 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 Southchurch. 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 nave of the old church was retained as the south aisle of the present parish church, when it was substantially expanded in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
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 east to west 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 to Thorpe Bay
along the wide, leafy, dual-carriageway - originally a tramway - which is Southchurch Boulevard. The northern side of the Boulevard is mostly housing, the southern side is a mixture of housing situated between, from west to east, the White Horse public house, Southchurch parish church (Holy Trinity), Southend High School for Girls
and Futures Community College
.
The main north-south roads are Hamstel Road and Lifstan Way, which meet at the crossroads with Southchurch Road and Southchurch Boulevard. Lifstan Way runs directly down to the seafront passing through Southchurch Park which includes a cricket ground
and athletics ground, children's playground, an ornamental lake, and a refreshment pavilion. The 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. The parish church of Christ Church (Church of England) is in Colbert Avenue, just to the east of Southchurch Park East. Its parish was carved out of that of Holy Trinity in 1922 with a boundary along the railway line. It began as a mission church, originally in Elizabeth Road which runs from the seafront to Southchurch Park.
Southchurch is served by a railway station originally called Southend East but in 2004 the station signs were changed, following a campaign by local residents, traders and some local councillors, and they now read "Southend East for Southchurch Village".
To the south of the station is Southchurch Hall, a thirteenth-century moated manor house now open to the public as a museum, which stands in a small park, Southchurch Hall Gardens.
The economic activity of residents aged 16–74 was 32.6% in full-time employment, 12.6% in part-time employment, 8.9% self-employed, 2.8% unemployed, 2% students with jobs, 3.4% students without jobs, 20.4% retired, 9.5% looking after home or family, 4.8% permanently sick or disabled and 3% economically inactive for other reasons. The industry of employment of residents was 15.6% retail, 9.5% manufacturing, 7.9% construction, 13.9% real estate, 10% health and social work, 6.7% education, 6.4% transport and communications, 6.2% public administration, 3% hotels and restaurants, 13.9% finance, 0.8% agriculture and 6.1% other. Compared with national figures, the ward had a relatively high proportion of workers in finance and construction. Of the ward's residents aged 16–74, 12.3% had a higher education
qualification or the equivalent, compared with 19.9% nationwide. According to Office for National Statistics
estimates, during the period of April 2004 to March 2005 the average gross weekly income of households was £560, compared with an average of £650 in South East England
.
Southend-on-Sea
Southend-on-Sea is a unitary authority area, town, and seaside resort in Essex, England. The district has Borough status, and comprises the towns of Chalkwell, Eastwood, Leigh-on-Sea, North Shoebury, Prittlewell, Shoeburyness, Southchurch, Thorpe Bay, and Westcliff-on-Sea. The district is situated...
in 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...
. However, it was an independent parish until 1894 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 Southchurch. 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
Great Wakering
Great Wakering is a village in Essex, England. The nearest large town is Southend which is approximately four miles to the west of the village...
. The nave of the old church was retained as the south aisle of the present parish church, when it was substantially expanded in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
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 east to west 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 to Thorpe Bay
Thorpe Bay
Thorpe Bay is an affluent area within the Borough of Southend-on-Sea in Essex, England, situated on the Thames Estuary.Thorpe Bay is situated within the Southend ward of Thorpe. It is around 4 miles to the east of Southend. Originally the area was called Thorpe, but was renamed Thorpe Bay after its...
along the wide, leafy, dual-carriageway - originally a tramway - which is Southchurch Boulevard. The northern side of the Boulevard is mostly housing, the southern side is a mixture of housing situated between, from west to east, the White Horse public house, Southchurch parish church (Holy Trinity), Southend High School for Girls
Southend High School for Girls
Southend High School for Girls is a grammar school situated on Southchurch Boulevard in the east of Southend-on-Sea, England. It has students from the ages 11 through to 18 years old. The current headteacher is Mrs A.D. Clewlow.-Academics:...
and Futures Community College
Futures Community College
Futures Community College is a Secondary school in Southchurch Boulevard, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, England. It was formerly called Thorpe Bay High School. Futures is based next to Southend High School for Girls...
.
The main north-south roads are Hamstel Road and Lifstan Way, which meet at the crossroads with Southchurch Road and Southchurch Boulevard. Lifstan Way runs directly down to the seafront passing through Southchurch Park which includes a cricket ground
Southchurch Park
Southchurch Park is a cricket ground in Southend, Essex, England. The first recorded match on the ground was in 1906, when Essex played their inaugural first-class match there, beating Leicestershire by five wickets...
and athletics ground, children's playground, an ornamental lake, and a refreshment pavilion. The 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. The parish church of Christ Church (Church of England) is in Colbert Avenue, just to the east of Southchurch Park East. Its parish was carved out of that of Holy Trinity in 1922 with a boundary along the railway line. It began as a mission church, originally in Elizabeth Road which runs from the seafront to Southchurch Park.
Southchurch is served by a railway station originally called Southend East but in 2004 the station signs were changed, following a campaign by local residents, traders and some local councillors, and they now read "Southend East for Southchurch Village".
To the south of the station is Southchurch Hall, a thirteenth-century moated manor house now open to the public as a museum, which stands in a small park, Southchurch Hall Gardens.
Demography
As of the 2001 UK census, the Southchurch electoral ward had a population of 9,467. The ethnicity was 96.3% white, 0.7% mixed race, 2.6% Asian, 0.3% black and 0.1% other. The place of birth of residents was 94.9% United Kingdom, 0.6% Republic of Ireland, 0.9% other Western European countries, and 3.6% elsewhere. Religion was recorded as 68.9% Christian, 0.2% Buddhist, 0.9% Hindu, 0.2% Sikh, 2.1% Jewish, and 1% Muslim. 17.3% were recorded as having no religion, 0.3% had an alternative religion and 9.2% did not state their religion.The economic activity of residents aged 16–74 was 32.6% in full-time employment, 12.6% in part-time employment, 8.9% self-employed, 2.8% unemployed, 2% students with jobs, 3.4% students without jobs, 20.4% retired, 9.5% looking after home or family, 4.8% permanently sick or disabled and 3% economically inactive for other reasons. The industry of employment of residents was 15.6% retail, 9.5% manufacturing, 7.9% construction, 13.9% real estate, 10% health and social work, 6.7% education, 6.4% transport and communications, 6.2% public administration, 3% hotels and restaurants, 13.9% finance, 0.8% agriculture and 6.1% other. Compared with national figures, the ward had a relatively high proportion of workers in finance and construction. Of the ward's residents aged 16–74, 12.3% had a higher education
Higher education
Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
qualification or the equivalent, compared with 19.9% nationwide. According to Office for National Statistics
Office for National Statistics
The Office for National Statistics is the executive office of the UK Statistics Authority, a non-ministerial department which reports directly to the Parliament of the United Kingdom.- Overview :...
estimates, during the period of April 2004 to March 2005 the average gross weekly income of households was £560, compared with an average of £650 in South East England
South East England
South East England is one of the nine official regions of England, designated in 1994 and adopted for statistical purposes in 1999. It consists of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, Surrey and West Sussex...
.