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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 and Braintree stopping in Coggeshall
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click here for the timetable.
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. |
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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.
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The
Community Bus on Market Day |
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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.
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Coggeshall's local government is in
the form of a Parish Council which has 13
councillors, a parish clerk and four 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.
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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. |
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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 -
for details click here. 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.
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Education
& Sport for all
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The basketball court - a
Golden Jubilee project |
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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. |
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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.
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| The Aquacise class in
the Community Swimming Pool |
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Welcome
