|
|
| Parents |
> United Kingdom > England > East of England > East of England
|
|
| Established | February 28, 1974 |
| Disbanded | Still Active |
| Contributor | RP |
| Last Modified | RBH October 07, 2021 01:04am |
| Description |
This seat is just outside Greater London and shares a sizeable border with Upminster. Most of the seat comes within the Borough of Brentwood, although Ongar is part of the Epping Forest District. Brentwood, the largest town in the constituency, is 19 miles from London and many of its inhabitants commute on the train to Liverpool Street. A settlement was first recorded here in 1177 as Burnt Wood, since houses had sprung up from a clearing in a forest, where there had been a fire. It is said that around this time, many pilgrims used to pass through on their way to visit the tomb of Thomas Becket in Canterbury, and so a chapel was built and dedicated to St. Thomas of Canterbury - the ruins of it remain today in Brentwood High Street. The second half of the constituency name is taken from the small town of Chipping Ongar, which is in the northern half of the constituency, and lies within the area covered by Epping Forest Council. The town takes its name from two old English words meaning 'market' and 'grazing land'. It became known as Castle Ongar in the 12th Century because of its 'Motte and Bailey' castle, the remains of which still survive. Nearby is Greensted Church, which is the oldest timber framed church in the world, dating from the 11th Century. It is a Grade I listed building and St. Edmund is reputedly buried there. Also dotted along the northern perimeter of the seat are a series of pretty villages - Abbess Roding, Beauchamp Roding and 'the Lavers'. In the south western corner of the constituency, just inside the M25, lie the less picturesque villages of Abridge, Lambourne End and Stapleford Abbotts. In 2001, Independent MP Martin Bell, looking for another seat after making a promise only to stand for a term in Tatton, challenged the incumbent Eric Pickles. He had been invited to stand by local residents concerned about the influence of the Peniel Pentecostal Church on the local Conservative Party. Mr Bell put up an impressive fight, gaining 31.3% of the vote but without such a clear issue to stand on, and with the opposition candidates refusing to stand down, was unable to unseat Mr Pickles.
|
 | RACES |
|
|
| Polls Close |
Description |
Takes Office |
| INFORMATION LINKS |
|
|
| VOTER REGISTRATION |
|
|
| DEMOGRAPHIC |
|
|
| MEDIA |
|
|
|
