Kelvedon

Kelvedon
St. Mary the Virgin church, Kelvedon
Population	3,485 (2001)
OS grid reference	TL85911843
Civil parish	Kelvedon
District	Braintree
Shire county	Essex
Region	East
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	COLCHESTER
Postcode district	CO5
Dialling code	01376
Police	Essex
Fire	Essex
Ambulance	East of England

Kelvedon is a village and civil parish in the Braintree District of Essex in England, near to the town of Witham. It has a population of 3,485.

Origins

The existing village of Kelvedon has been a settlement since the early Middle Ages, though it stands near (and partly on) the site of a Roman settlement, probably Canonium. Kelvedon expanded significantly in the Victorian era. The reason was the Norwich - London railway, making it a place to live yet get to work as train was the only fast method of transport. Victorian Kelvedon was set along one street - The High Street. In the 1930s, with the advent of the car the High Street became the A12, the main road through Essex. Ribbon development saw houses sprawl along the road for miles. The village suffered major congestion until the bypass was built in the 1960s. Suburbanization started to take place in the 1980s - a large development called Riverside Park was constructed containing hundreds of homes.

Kelvedon today

The village is bounded to the north by the river Blackwater where the adjacent village of Feering starts. Kelvedon contains a school called Kelvedon St Mary's.

Transport

Kelvedon railway station is on the London Liverpool St. line with trains every 20 mins approximately. It is also served by the 71 First Bus service Chelmsford - Colchester route. The A12 has links with the rest of East Anglia & The North.

Notable residents

• C.H. Spurgeon known as the "Prince of Preachers" was born here on 19 June 1834.

External links

• Kelvedon Free Music Festival