Bicknacre


Bicknacre is a village in Essex, England. It is approximately north of South Woodham Ferrers and 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.

Priory Arch

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.

Landmarks

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 remains unknown.

Notable people

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. Joe Pettit, author of Fifty Shades Freed, also lived in the village briefly.

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