Chelmsford, Essex

William Leech, Gun Maker 1796-1948, still trading

William Leech moved from St Martins in the Field, London to 20 Duke Street,  Chelmsford in 1794. There he started up his gun maker's shop. Later he moved to 3 &4 Tindale Street, Chelmesford. Percy Leech, the last family gun maker, trading under W Leech & Sons, sold the business about 1948. The new owners continued to trade from the shop... [more]

Researching John Austin, Born 1916 in Chelmsford

Does anyone have any details about a John Austin, born in Chelmsford early in 1916 to a mother with the surname Gigney? My wife is trying to research her family history and as a Gigney believes this lady may have been a relation, making Mr Austin possibly a relative.              
John Wells.

Bootmakers Shop

My great-grandfather was the bootmaker who worked from the shop in Moulsham Street in the late 1890s. His name was Leonard Orrin and he married Annie Caple in 1901. I believe the shop was owned by his father and mother, Thomas and Eliza. They lived at 123 Moulsham Street, Chelmsford.
He and Annie went on to have 11 children, one of... [more]

Trying to find ...

Hi everyone, I'm trying to find any pics of BAKERS CONFECTIONERY, that's the name of the shop, it was in Chelsmford somewhere, I am not sure about the date.

Old family

I have in my possesion a pocket watch, the final proceeds of a family will of which William Loveday was one of the executors. It was given to my grandfather, one Arthur Raven as a keepsake in clearing up the last few shillings of the bequest. In searching my family history I came to Chelmsford and found that the shop... [more]

Chelmsford Photographic Memories

The Shire Hall was built in 1789-91 by John Johnson, the County Surveyor. It is Chelmsford's most imposing public building. Over to the left are the studios of Frederick Spalding, the well-known photographer. His premises are capped with a lantern-like structure, to let in maximum light. He also traded in gifts and knick-knacks.

Essex Pocket Album

Chelmsford, the county town of Essex, was founded by the Romans and inhabited by the Saxons, but its growth was slow, not really developing until the 19th and 20th centuries. The centre around Tindal Square, dominated by the civilised Shire Hall built between 1789 and 1791, remains unspoiled.

Chelmsford Photographic Memories

The central feature here - the stone rotunda standing at Springfield Road corner - had previously marked the conduit-head in Tindal Square. A conduit was established there in the Middle Ages, possibly by Chelmsford's house of friars. It tapped the water from the Burgess Well (now under Fairfield Road car park) and released it in an open channel down the High Street.