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Chelmsford Leasing

Did You Know?

Chelmsford is known as the birthplace of radio, thanks to its connection with Guglielmo Marconi who opened the world's first wireless factory here in 1899. We named the Marconi Building on our Chelmsford campus after him.

Chelmsford was once the capital of England for a few days when the seat of Government was temporarily moved here, 600 years ago. It's believed that Richard II stayed in a royal manor in Writtle and issued orders to suppress the peasants' revolt of 1381.

In 2019, The Times listed Chelmsford as one of the best places to live in the UK, praising its broad appeal to foodies, culture vultures, dedicated shoppers, and anyone looking for a great education. We concur!

Henry VIII came a-courting in Chelmsford back in the 1520s. He stayed at the Palace of Beaulieu, formerly an estate belonging to Anne Boleyn’s family, where he conceived his plan to divorce Katherine of Aragon and marry Anne. Today, New Hall School stands on the same site.

Chelmsford was an important staging post on the old Roman road between Londinium (London) and Camulodunum (modern-day Colchester). The cult comedy series Chelmsford 123 followed the life of an exiled Roman governor, Aulus Paulinus, in the town in AD 123.

Chelmsford as a settlement has been around since the Neolithic period. There is evidence of occupation in the Chelmer Valley that dates back to 2,500 BC. Chelmsford was also an important Roman town from the first to the fifth centuries AD. It was also a Saxon settlement.

2021 saw the River Monsters invade Chelmsford in search of their friend the Essex Serpent. These GIANT colourful monsters took to the roofs of our high street shops and businesses creating an exciting trail to be explored

The Romans built a small town on the site of Moulsham - it was called Caesaromagus, which means Caesar’s market place, and it was used as a local market town halfway between London and Colchester. However, after the Romans left Britain in 407 the little Roman town disappeared.

Chelmsford as we know it was created in the Middle Ages. At the time the land on the site of the town centre belonged to the Bishop of London and in 1100 the Bishop, Maurice built a bridge across the River Can.

In 1566, the first witch trial was held in a secular court in Chelmsford. The suspected witch, Elizabeth Frances, confessed to using a cat called Sathan to harm a number of people but after claiming she had given the cat away she was only sentenced to a year in prison. Unfortunately, Elizabeth later appeared in a second Chelmsford witch trial where she was found guilty and hung.