COGGESHALL PARISH COUNCIL

** IMPORTANT NOTICE **

Welcome to Coggeshall

The historic village of Coggeshall, with a population approaching 5,000 is situated in North Essex on the old Roman military road between Colchester and St. Albans. The village was mentioned in the Domesday Survey and during the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries Coggeshall was one of the most industrialised places in the area, ranking alongside Colchester in importance in the wool trade. Today the emphasis is on small business, light industry and tourism.

A bus service operates between Colchester, Braintree and Chelmsford stopping in Coggeshall - View the Bus Timetable by clicking on this link. Many of the working population commute to London, using the mainline train service from Kelvedon. An excellent Community Bus Service, run entirely by volunteers, connects with trains both morning and evening and was, when first set up some 20 plus years ago, the first such scheme in Essex. At other times it serves the older members of the community, with transport to various clubs such as Coggeshall's Over-Sixties Club, routes around Coggeshall on certain days and to and from the market on a Thursday. For details of times follow this link to the Community Bus website.

Visiting Coggeshall

If you are a visitor seeking information about accommodation for your stay in Coggeshall please follow the link below to take you to details of hotels and 'Bed & Breakfasts' in the area around Coggeshall. Where to stay.

Coggeshall's local government is in the form of a Parish Council which has 13 councillors, a parish clerk and 5 council employees. The community is served by a retained Fire Service with a fire station on the outskirts of the town. In times of emergency (like the floods of 2001), Coggeshall's Emergency Team help those affected. It is made up of 3 volunteer team leaders and a list of about 200 volunteers who can offer many skills, and work closely with the other professional emergency services.

The community is served by a local surgery with two doctors and several specialist nurses and offers a variety of health services. The local chemist has a pharmacy that runs a prescription delivery service for the elderly and housebound. There are two dental practices, two chiropodists (one of whom runs a weekly clinic in conjunction with the senior citizen's welfare group) an osteopath and an optometrist. Contact numbers for these are on the Directory page. The Post Office has some banking facilities and there are cash machines in 3 of the shops. There is a good cross section of shops and services but the nearest petrol station is in Bradwell, about one and a half miles away.

There is a thriving Chamber of Trade and approximately one hundred and fifty shops and businesses, some of which are tucked away behind the doors of buildings that are centuries old. Excellent restaurants and ancient pubs provide plenty of choice for eating out. A list There is a large Garden Centre and a specialist nursery at one end of the village and, at the other end, a small light industrial estate, which also houses a large freight depot and businesses specialising in IT work.

Education & Sport for all

There are two schools - a primary school and a secondary school, which both serve the surrounding area as well as the village. There are facilities for adult education and recreational activities, as well as excellent pre-school facilities. The WEA (Workers Educational Association) hold regular courses throughout the year with subjects as diverse as Renaissance painting and Meteorology. The library in Coggeshall runs story-reading sessions for the younger members of the community and operate a book delivery service to the house-bound and elderly. There is a private nursery school and a parent-led group for the very young and there are all levels of the Scout/Guide movement in Coggeshall.

At the secondary school there is a Community Swimming Pool which was built with, and is still run by, local fund raising. There are opportunities for sport with a football and a cricket club (teams at both junior and senior levels), indoor bowling clubs and various water-based activities at the local pool. The secondary school offers gym and sporting facilities, including a badminton club, and there are others at the nearby Country Club on the Colne Road.

The Link Magazine

View the current copy of The Link magazine View it here.