Chipping Ongar
Encyclopedia
Chipping Ongar is a small market town
, and a civil parish called Ongar, in the Epping Forest
district of the county of Essex
, England
. It is located 5.4 miles (8.7 km) East of Epping
, 6.5 miles (10.5 km) South-East of Harlow
and 6 miles (9.7 km) North-West of Brentwood
.
and Epping
on an east-west axis and between Dunmow
and Chigwell
(beyond which is London
) on a north-south axis. To the south-east lies Brentwood
, on the old road to the former River Thames
ferry crossing at Tilbury
, though the building in the 1970s of the M11
and M25 motorway
s means that Ongar is no longer directly on a principal route for petrol tankers (and other less prominent vehicles) travelling from the current Dartford Crossing
and the Thames Estuary
oil refineries.
The civil parish of Ongar, which has a town council, includes from north-to-south Shelley
, Chipping Ongar and Marden Ash
, with Greensted
to the southwest.
The central part of Ongar High Street comprises a widened main street of the type found in many older English towns whose status as market town
s is believed to have originated during the (little chronicled) Saxon period. The widened high street is used to permit some 'no charge' short term parking that benefits the local shops. The high street does however retain a very narrow stretch, with shops and houses either side very close to the road due to pavement that is barely adequate for two people to pass each other.
Much of the surrounding countryside is occupied by large mechanised farms devoted currently, for the most part, to arable agriculture. During the twentieth century the proximity of London encouraged dairy farming, but the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s were characterised by the removal of hedges and an increase in average field sizes as cattle numbers diminished. The subsoil is of heavy clay, rendering the land too soggy in winter for sheep, and inviting a greater level of attention to ditching and drain maintenance than has been applied to the district's road network since 1974.
in the Mediaeval era, at the centre of a hundred
and has the remains of a Norman castle
(see below). The Church of England parish church
of Saint Martin
dates from the 11th century and shows signs of Norman
work. A small window in the chancel
is believed to indicate the existence of an anchorite
's cell in mediaeval times. The Gothic Revival architect
C.C. Rolfe added the south aisle in 1884.
Ongar's role in local government was downgraded in 1974 with the abolition of Epping and Ongar Rural District Council. By 1990 the area's baby boom generation had grown beyond secondary education and the town's secondary school (opened in 1936 with elegant neo-Georgian buildings fronting Fyfield Road, expanded greatly when it became a comprehensive in the 1960s) was closed despite vigorous local protest. Its buildings were demolished to make way for a new residential development. Secondary school age children from the area are bussed to school in surrounding towns, notably Brentwood and Shenfield. A sports centre and swimming pool, built in the 1970s to serve the comprehensive school, continue to serve the locality. Chipping Ongar Primary School, located on the Greensted
Road at the southern edge of the town, and Shelley Primary School at the northern end of town remain. St. Andrew's Parish Church
in Greensted
is 2 miles (3.2 km) west of Ongar. It is believed to be the oldest wooden church in the world.
Several of the small private-sector businesses that operated through to the closing decades of the twentieth century have closed down or relocated as the economic focus of the region has been redirected, especially since the opening of the M11 motorway
in the 1970s, to larger towns in west Essex, especially Harlow
and Brentwood. Local planning policies have focused increasingly on residential development, and Ongar, like very many of the smaller towns in the belt round London, can be viewed primarily as a dormitory town for commuters to London, Brentwood, Harlow
and Chelmsford
. However, the single track rail line that connected Ongar to Epping
(and thereby to London) was closed down in 1994 (see below) and local area road development has not been a priority in recent decades. Ongar also retains a range of retail shops. Jane Taylor
, the author of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
, is buried in Ongar. Chipping Ongar features in Will Self's
novel, The Book of Dave
.
The nursery rhyme "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" is reported to have been written in Chipping Ongar.
Knowleton hall is the most well known home in Ongar due to its interesting history.
Not to be confused with RAF Chipping Ongar
, RAF Station Chipping Ongar (also known as Willingale) is a former World War II airfield in Essex, England. The airfield is located approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) northeast of Chipping Ongar; about 20 miles (32 km) northeast of London. Opened in 1943, it was used by both the Royal Air Force and United States Army Air Force. During the war it was used primarily as a bomber airfield. After the war it was closed in 1959 after many years of being a reserve airfield.
is to the west of the motte and there is a second bailey to the east. The remains of a town enclosure embankment extend to the west.
The castle may have been built by Eustace II, Count of Boulogne who obtained the manor of Ongar in 1086. It was visited by King Henry II
in 1157, when it was held by Richard de Lucy. A stone keep
was built on top of the motte, but this was pulled down in the 16th century and replaced by a brick building, itself destroyed in the 18th century. The motte itself is now covered with trees and is in private ownership, but can be seen from a public footpath that starts at the north end of the High Street.
A graph from The Office of National Statistics gives an idea of how much congestion Ongar accommodates during peak periods. The portion of Car / Van drivers gives us an indication of local commuters.
Ongar is less than 25 miles from Central London, it is 6 miles to M11 J7 Harlow and 8 miles to M25 J28 Brentwood. The A414 runs between Chelmsford through Ongar to Harlow which in itself attracts a considerable amount of motorists wishing to join the M11 Harlow or M25 Brentwood.
Parking restrictions operate throughout the town centre where a 20 minute no return 2 hour scheme applies. Three Pay and Display car parks are available with a total 530 capacity.
Speeding restrictions lie at 30 mph between the High Street until the Four Wantz roundabout and The Stag Pub, the town's northern & southern ends respectively. One Gatso speed camera operates just off the Four Wantz roundabout enforcing the 30 mph restriction, however the town is very much included in the ' Essex Police Safer Roads Campaign ' where Police intercept motorists and / or occupants for safety belt fines, speeding tickets and operating a mobile phone whilst driving.
Local residents have previously called upon lowering the current National limit between The Mulberry House and the Four Wantz roundabout on the A414 Chelmsford bound. However, Essex Police Force's senior traffic management officer, Adam Pipe deemed lowering the speed limit " inappropriate, as drivers would feel 30mph is not adequate and would not comply ". Link - ThisIsTotalEssex.co.uk
, Chelmsford
, Harlow
and Epping
.
{| class="wikitable"
|Route Number
|Route
|Operational Details
|Operator
|-
|7/7A/7B
|Ivy Chimneys Spotted Dog
/ Epping Station
to Chelmsford Bus Station
via North Weald
|Mon-Fri, 5 return journeys. Times
|Regal Busways
|-
|20/21
|Brentwood Warley Old Ford
/ Ongar Two Brewers to Harlow Bus Station
via North Weald, Epping
|Mon-Sat about every 30 minutes. Route 20 operates Ongar-Epping-Harlow, route 21 operates Brentwood-Ongar-Epping-Harlow.
|SM Coaches
|-
|32
|Ongar Two Brewers to Chelmsford Bus Station
via Writtle
|Mon-Sat, 6 return journeys.
|Stephensons of Essex
|-
|46
|Ongar Two Brewers to Moulsham Oaklands Park
via Chelmsford
|Mon-Sat, 5 return journeys. Times
|First Essex
|-
|47
|Ongar Two Brewers to Harlow Bus Station
via Matching Tye
|Tuesdays and Thurs-Sat, 1 return journey. Times.
|Regal Busways
|-
|146
|Ongar Two Brewers to Hatfield Heath White Horse
via Fyfield
|Tuesday and Thursday, 1 return journey. Times.
|Regal Busways
|-
|380
|Ongar Two Brewers to Harlow Bus Station
via Epping
, Epping Green
, Roydon
|Mon-Fri 1 non-return journey. Times
|Regal Busways
|-
|501
|Ongar Two Brewers to Harlow Bus Station
via North Weald, Epping
|Sunday every 2 hours.
|Arriva Shires & Essex
|-
There are also school routes operated by N.I.B.S which are routes 434, 436, 437 operating to Shenfield schools and routes 471, 472, 473 operating to Brentwood schools.
Also see Essex Bus Routes.
and Ongar
in 1994, there is no longer a daily commuter train service in the town. The Epping Ongar Railway
operates the former Central Line track, from North Weald Station on Sundays every hour to Ongar Station.
The nearest London Underground
service to the town is Epping
which is served by the Central Line
. The closest National Rail
service is from Brentwood
, which is served by the Shenfield Metro
and is operated by National Express East Anglia.
album, Live at Leeds
, Keith Moon
refers to Chipping Ongar in a bit of stage banter as part of the introduction to their so-called "mini-opera," A Quick One, While He's Away
. Guitarist Pete Townshend
is in the middle of explaining the storyline to the audience, involving a lonely wife and her lover, Ivor the Engine Driver: "So what happens is uh, they uh, fu, they fornicate."
Moon interrupts to ask, "What's that, Pete? I thought it was a little station outside Chipping Ongar!" and Townshend tells him, "No no no."
Moon, who was the band's drummer, replies, "That's the trouble always sitting here in the back," to which Townshend deadpans back to the audience, "He always gets off at the wrong stop."
The endgame of Will Self
's The Book of Dave
takes place in Chipping Ongar.
In Ade Edmondson's book "How To Be A Complete Bastard", in the section on "How to be a Bastard to Japanese Tourists" he says "tell them all of London
's tourist attractions are within walking distance of Ongar Tube"
In the BBC series Just Good Friends, Penny's mother and father live in Chipping Ongar.
Market town
Market town or market right is a legal term, originating in the medieval period, for a European settlement that has the right to host markets, distinguishing it from a village and city...
, and a civil parish called Ongar, in the Epping Forest
Epping Forest (district)
Epping Forest is a local government district of the county of Essex, England. It is named after Epping Forest, of which the district contains a large part...
district of the county of Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It is located 5.4 miles (8.7 km) East of Epping
Epping
Epping is a small market town and civil parish in the Epping Forest district of the County of Essex, England. It is located north-east of Loughton, south of Harlow and north-west of Brentwood....
, 6.5 miles (10.5 km) South-East of Harlow
Harlow
Harlow is a new town and local government district in Essex, England. It is located in the west of the county and on the border with Hertfordshire, on the Stort Valley, The town is near the M11 motorway and forms part of the London commuter belt.The district has a current population of 78,889...
and 6 miles (9.7 km) North-West of Brentwood
Brentwood, Essex
Brentwood is a town and the principal settlement of the Borough of Brentwood, in the county of Essex in the east of England. It is located in the London commuter belt, 20 miles east north-east of Charing Cross in London, and near the M25 motorway....
.
Geography
Ongar is located at the convergence of several old roads, being between ChelmsfordChelmsford
Chelmsford is the county town of Essex, England and the principal settlement of the borough of Chelmsford. It is located in the London commuter belt, approximately northeast of Charing Cross, London, and approximately the same distance from the once provincial Roman capital at Colchester...
and Epping
Epping
Epping is a small market town and civil parish in the Epping Forest district of the County of Essex, England. It is located north-east of Loughton, south of Harlow and north-west of Brentwood....
on an east-west axis and between Dunmow
Dunmow
Dunmow may refer to:*Great Dunmow, a town in the Uttlesford district of Essex, England*Little Dunmow, a village located about 3 miles outside the town of Great Dunmow...
and Chigwell
Chigwell
Chigwell is a civil parish and town in the Epping Forest district of Essex. It is located 11.6 miles north east of Charing Cross. It is served by two London Underground stations and has a London area code.-Etymology:According to P. H...
(beyond which is London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
) on a north-south axis. To the south-east lies Brentwood
Brentwood, Essex
Brentwood is a town and the principal settlement of the Borough of Brentwood, in the county of Essex in the east of England. It is located in the London commuter belt, 20 miles east north-east of Charing Cross in London, and near the M25 motorway....
, on the old road to the former River Thames
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
ferry crossing at Tilbury
Tilbury
Tilbury is a town in the borough of Thurrock, Essex, England. As a settlement it is of relatively recent existence, although it has important historical connections, being the location of a 16th century fort and an ancient cross-river ferry...
, though the building in the 1970s of the M11
M11 motorway
The M11 motorway in England is a major road running approximately north from the North Circular Road in South Woodford in north-east London to the A14, north-west of Cambridge.-Route:...
and M25 motorway
M25 motorway
The M25 motorway, or London Orbital, is a orbital motorway that almost encircles Greater London, England, in the United Kingdom. The motorway was first mooted early in the 20th century. A few sections, based on the now abandoned London Ringways plan, were constructed in the early 1970s and it ...
s means that Ongar is no longer directly on a principal route for petrol tankers (and other less prominent vehicles) travelling from the current Dartford Crossing
Dartford Crossing
The Dartford - Thurrock River Crossing, Dartford River Crossing is a major road crossing of the River Thames in England, connecting Dartford in the south to Thurrock in the north, via two road tunnels and the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge. It opened in stages, the west tunnel in 1963, the east tunnel...
and the Thames Estuary
Thames Estuary
The Thames Mouth is the estuary in which the River Thames meets the waters of the North Sea.It is not easy to define the limits of the estuary, although physically the head of Sea Reach, near Canvey Island on the Essex shore is probably the western boundary...
oil refineries.
The civil parish of Ongar, which has a town council, includes from north-to-south Shelley
Shelley, Essex
Shelley is a small urban settlement in the Epping Forest District, in the English county of Essex.It is located on the B184 road, and is contiguous with the small town of Chipping Ongar....
, Chipping Ongar and Marden Ash
Marden Ash
Marden Ash is an urban settlement in the Epping Forest District of Essex, contiguous with the small town of Chipping Ongar....
, with Greensted
Greensted
Greensted-juxta-Ongar is a village in Essex, England, strung out along the Greensted Road approximately one mile to the west of Chipping Ongar.-Naming:...
to the southwest.
The central part of Ongar High Street comprises a widened main street of the type found in many older English towns whose status as market town
Market town
Market town or market right is a legal term, originating in the medieval period, for a European settlement that has the right to host markets, distinguishing it from a village and city...
s is believed to have originated during the (little chronicled) Saxon period. The widened high street is used to permit some 'no charge' short term parking that benefits the local shops. The high street does however retain a very narrow stretch, with shops and houses either side very close to the road due to pavement that is barely adequate for two people to pass each other.
Much of the surrounding countryside is occupied by large mechanised farms devoted currently, for the most part, to arable agriculture. During the twentieth century the proximity of London encouraged dairy farming, but the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s were characterised by the removal of hedges and an increase in average field sizes as cattle numbers diminished. The subsoil is of heavy clay, rendering the land too soggy in winter for sheep, and inviting a greater level of attention to ditching and drain maintenance than has been applied to the district's road network since 1974.
History
Ongar was an important market townMarket town
Market town or market right is a legal term, originating in the medieval period, for a European settlement that has the right to host markets, distinguishing it from a village and city...
in the Mediaeval era, at the centre of a hundred
Hundred (division)
A hundred is a geographic division formerly used in England, Wales, Denmark, South Australia, some parts of the United States, Germany , Sweden, Finland and Norway, which historically was used to divide a larger region into smaller administrative divisions...
and has the remains of a Norman castle
Castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
(see below). The Church of England parish church
Church of England parish church
A parish church in the Church of England is the church which acts as the religious centre for the people within the smallest and most basic Church of England administrative region, known as a parish.-Parishes in England:...
of Saint Martin
Martin of Tours
Martin of Tours was a Bishop of Tours whose shrine became a famous stopping-point for pilgrims on the road to Santiago de Compostela. Around his name much legendary material accrued, and he has become one of the most familiar and recognizable Christian saints...
dates from the 11th century and shows signs of Norman
Norman architecture
About|Romanesque architecture, primarily English|other buildings in Normandy|Architecture of Normandy.File:Durham Cathedral. Nave by James Valentine c.1890.jpg|thumb|200px|The nave of Durham Cathedral demonstrates the characteristic round arched style, though use of shallow pointed arches above the...
work. A small window in the chancel
Chancel
In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar in the sanctuary at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building...
is believed to indicate the existence of an anchorite
Anchorite
Anchorite denotes someone who, for religious reasons, withdraws from secular society so as to be able to lead an intensely prayer-oriented, ascetic, and—circumstances permitting—Eucharist-focused life...
's cell in mediaeval times. The Gothic Revival architect
Gothic Revival architecture
The Gothic Revival is an architectural movement that began in the 1740s in England...
C.C. Rolfe added the south aisle in 1884.
Ongar's role in local government was downgraded in 1974 with the abolition of Epping and Ongar Rural District Council. By 1990 the area's baby boom generation had grown beyond secondary education and the town's secondary school (opened in 1936 with elegant neo-Georgian buildings fronting Fyfield Road, expanded greatly when it became a comprehensive in the 1960s) was closed despite vigorous local protest. Its buildings were demolished to make way for a new residential development. Secondary school age children from the area are bussed to school in surrounding towns, notably Brentwood and Shenfield. A sports centre and swimming pool, built in the 1970s to serve the comprehensive school, continue to serve the locality. Chipping Ongar Primary School, located on the Greensted
Greensted
Greensted-juxta-Ongar is a village in Essex, England, strung out along the Greensted Road approximately one mile to the west of Chipping Ongar.-Naming:...
Road at the southern edge of the town, and Shelley Primary School at the northern end of town remain. St. Andrew's Parish Church
Greensted Church
Greensted Church, in the small village of Greensted, near Chipping Ongar in Essex, England, is the oldest wooden church in the world, and probably the oldest wooden building in Europe still standing, albeit only in part, since few sections of its original wooden structure remain...
in Greensted
Greensted
Greensted-juxta-Ongar is a village in Essex, England, strung out along the Greensted Road approximately one mile to the west of Chipping Ongar.-Naming:...
is 2 miles (3.2 km) west of Ongar. It is believed to be the oldest wooden church in the world.
Several of the small private-sector businesses that operated through to the closing decades of the twentieth century have closed down or relocated as the economic focus of the region has been redirected, especially since the opening of the M11 motorway
M11 motorway
The M11 motorway in England is a major road running approximately north from the North Circular Road in South Woodford in north-east London to the A14, north-west of Cambridge.-Route:...
in the 1970s, to larger towns in west Essex, especially Harlow
Harlow
Harlow is a new town and local government district in Essex, England. It is located in the west of the county and on the border with Hertfordshire, on the Stort Valley, The town is near the M11 motorway and forms part of the London commuter belt.The district has a current population of 78,889...
and Brentwood. Local planning policies have focused increasingly on residential development, and Ongar, like very many of the smaller towns in the belt round London, can be viewed primarily as a dormitory town for commuters to London, Brentwood, Harlow
Harlow
Harlow is a new town and local government district in Essex, England. It is located in the west of the county and on the border with Hertfordshire, on the Stort Valley, The town is near the M11 motorway and forms part of the London commuter belt.The district has a current population of 78,889...
and Chelmsford
Chelmsford
Chelmsford is the county town of Essex, England and the principal settlement of the borough of Chelmsford. It is located in the London commuter belt, approximately northeast of Charing Cross, London, and approximately the same distance from the once provincial Roman capital at Colchester...
. However, the single track rail line that connected Ongar to Epping
Epping
Epping is a small market town and civil parish in the Epping Forest district of the County of Essex, England. It is located north-east of Loughton, south of Harlow and north-west of Brentwood....
(and thereby to London) was closed down in 1994 (see below) and local area road development has not been a priority in recent decades. Ongar also retains a range of retail shops. Jane Taylor
Jane Taylor (poet)
Jane Taylor , was an English poet and novelist. She wrote the words for the song Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star in 1806 at age 23, while living in Shilling Street, Lavenham, Suffolk....
, the author of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
"Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" is a popular English nursery rhyme. The lyrics are from an early nineteenth-century English poem, "The Star" by Jane Taylor. The poem, which is in couplet form, was first published in 1806 in Rhymes for the Nursery, a collection of poems by Taylor and her sister Ann...
, is buried in Ongar. Chipping Ongar features in Will Self's
Will Self
William Woodard "Will" Self is an English novelist and short story writer. His fictional style is known for being satirical, grotesque, and fantastical. He is a prolific commentator on contemporary British life, with regular appearances on Newsnight and Question Time...
novel, The Book of Dave
The Book of Dave
- Content :The Book of Dave tells the story of an angry and mentally-ill London taxi driver named Dave Rudman, who writes and has printed on metal a book of his rantings against women and thoughts on custody rights for fathers. These stem from his anger with his ex-wife, Michelle, who he believes...
.
The nursery rhyme "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" is reported to have been written in Chipping Ongar.
Knowleton hall is the most well known home in Ongar due to its interesting history.
Not to be confused with RAF Chipping Ongar
RAF Chipping Ongar
RAF Station Chipping Ongar is a former World War II airfield in Essex, England. The airfield is located approximately northeast of Chipping Ongar; about northeast of London...
, RAF Station Chipping Ongar (also known as Willingale) is a former World War II airfield in Essex, England. The airfield is located approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) northeast of Chipping Ongar; about 20 miles (32 km) northeast of London. Opened in 1943, it was used by both the Royal Air Force and United States Army Air Force. During the war it was used primarily as a bomber airfield. After the war it was closed in 1959 after many years of being a reserve airfield.
Ongar Castle
Ongar Castle is a good example of a late 11th or early 12th Century Motte and Bailey, although only the earthworks survive. The motte or mound is about 70 metres in diameter at the base and is surrounded by a wet ditch up to 15 metres wide. A kidney-shaped inner baileyMotte-and-bailey
A motte-and-bailey is a form of castle, with a wooden or stone keep situated on a raised earthwork called a motte, accompanied by an enclosed courtyard, or bailey, surrounded by a protective ditch and palisade...
is to the west of the motte and there is a second bailey to the east. The remains of a town enclosure embankment extend to the west.
The castle may have been built by Eustace II, Count of Boulogne who obtained the manor of Ongar in 1086. It was visited by King Henry II
Henry II of England
Henry II ruled as King of England , Count of Anjou, Count of Maine, Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Count of Nantes, Lord of Ireland and, at various times, controlled parts of Wales, Scotland and western France. Henry, the great-grandson of William the Conqueror, was the...
in 1157, when it was held by Richard de Lucy. A stone keep
Keep
A keep is a type of fortified tower built within castles during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars have debated the scope of the word keep, but usually consider it to refer to large towers in castles that were fortified residences, used as a refuge of last resort should the rest of the...
was built on top of the motte, but this was pulled down in the 16th century and replaced by a brick building, itself destroyed in the 18th century. The motte itself is now covered with trees and is in private ownership, but can be seen from a public footpath that starts at the north end of the High Street.
Motorists
Ongar is a congested town which suffers from high volumes of traffic not only inside peak times but faces considerable weekend congestion much from locals driving into town and using one of three central car parks surrounding dense areas such as Sainsbury's and Tesco.A graph from The Office of National Statistics gives an idea of how much congestion Ongar accommodates during peak periods. The portion of Car / Van drivers gives us an indication of local commuters.
Ongar is less than 25 miles from Central London, it is 6 miles to M11 J7 Harlow and 8 miles to M25 J28 Brentwood. The A414 runs between Chelmsford through Ongar to Harlow which in itself attracts a considerable amount of motorists wishing to join the M11 Harlow or M25 Brentwood.
Parking restrictions operate throughout the town centre where a 20 minute no return 2 hour scheme applies. Three Pay and Display car parks are available with a total 530 capacity.
Speeding restrictions lie at 30 mph between the High Street until the Four Wantz roundabout and The Stag Pub, the town's northern & southern ends respectively. One Gatso speed camera operates just off the Four Wantz roundabout enforcing the 30 mph restriction, however the town is very much included in the ' Essex Police Safer Roads Campaign ' where Police intercept motorists and / or occupants for safety belt fines, speeding tickets and operating a mobile phone whilst driving.
Local residents have previously called upon lowering the current National limit between The Mulberry House and the Four Wantz roundabout on the A414 Chelmsford bound. However, Essex Police Force's senior traffic management officer, Adam Pipe deemed lowering the speed limit " inappropriate, as drivers would feel 30mph is not adequate and would not comply ". Link - ThisIsTotalEssex.co.uk
Bus
The main towns buses serve are BrentwoodBrentwood, Essex
Brentwood is a town and the principal settlement of the Borough of Brentwood, in the county of Essex in the east of England. It is located in the London commuter belt, 20 miles east north-east of Charing Cross in London, and near the M25 motorway....
, Chelmsford
Chelmsford
Chelmsford is the county town of Essex, England and the principal settlement of the borough of Chelmsford. It is located in the London commuter belt, approximately northeast of Charing Cross, London, and approximately the same distance from the once provincial Roman capital at Colchester...
, Harlow
Harlow
Harlow is a new town and local government district in Essex, England. It is located in the west of the county and on the border with Hertfordshire, on the Stort Valley, The town is near the M11 motorway and forms part of the London commuter belt.The district has a current population of 78,889...
and Epping
Epping
Epping is a small market town and civil parish in the Epping Forest district of the County of Essex, England. It is located north-east of Loughton, south of Harlow and north-west of Brentwood....
.
{| class="wikitable"
|Route Number
|Route
|Operational Details
|Operator
|-
|7/7A/7B
|Ivy Chimneys Spotted Dog
Epping
Epping is a small market town and civil parish in the Epping Forest district of the County of Essex, England. It is located north-east of Loughton, south of Harlow and north-west of Brentwood....
/ Epping Station
Epping tube station
Epping on the London Underground is the north-eastern terminus of the Central Line. The station before Epping is Theydon Bois, which is about three minutes travelling time away. Epping station is in the Epping Forest District of Essex...
to Chelmsford Bus Station
Chelmsford
Chelmsford is the county town of Essex, England and the principal settlement of the borough of Chelmsford. It is located in the London commuter belt, approximately northeast of Charing Cross, London, and approximately the same distance from the once provincial Roman capital at Colchester...
via North Weald
|Mon-Fri, 5 return journeys. Times
|Regal Busways
Regal Busways
Regal Busways Ltd is a small bus operator established in 2001 and based in Essex. Their services operate through 30 local communities including Chelmsford, Epping, The Hanningfields, Canvey Island, Harlow, Ongar, Pleshey, Toot Hill, Upshire, Waltham Abbey, Waltham Cross and Wickford.-History:Regal...
|-
|20/21
|Brentwood Warley Old Ford
Brentwood, Essex
Brentwood is a town and the principal settlement of the Borough of Brentwood, in the county of Essex in the east of England. It is located in the London commuter belt, 20 miles east north-east of Charing Cross in London, and near the M25 motorway....
/ Ongar Two Brewers to Harlow Bus Station
Harlow
Harlow is a new town and local government district in Essex, England. It is located in the west of the county and on the border with Hertfordshire, on the Stort Valley, The town is near the M11 motorway and forms part of the London commuter belt.The district has a current population of 78,889...
via North Weald, Epping
Epping
Epping is a small market town and civil parish in the Epping Forest district of the County of Essex, England. It is located north-east of Loughton, south of Harlow and north-west of Brentwood....
|Mon-Sat about every 30 minutes. Route 20 operates Ongar-Epping-Harlow, route 21 operates Brentwood-Ongar-Epping-Harlow.
|SM Coaches
SM Coaches
S.M. Coaches is a bus and coach operating company based in Harlow, Essex in the United Kingdom. They mostly operate local services around Harlow, as well as school services and private hire. Olympian Coaches is also a part of the business, operating school services, private hire and commuter...
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|32
|Ongar Two Brewers to Chelmsford Bus Station
Chelmsford
Chelmsford is the county town of Essex, England and the principal settlement of the borough of Chelmsford. It is located in the London commuter belt, approximately northeast of Charing Cross, London, and approximately the same distance from the once provincial Roman capital at Colchester...
via Writtle
Writtle
The village of Writtle lies a mile west of Chelmsford, Essex, England, it has a traditional village green, complete with duck pond and a Norman church; and was once described as: 'one of the loveliest villages in England, with a ravishing variety of ancient cottages'...
|Mon-Sat, 6 return journeys.
|Stephensons of Essex
Stephensons of Essex
Stephensons of Essex is a privately owned bus company based in south Essex, in England, operating local bus and contract services in the same areas as Arriva Southend, Ensignbus, First Essex, NIBS, and Regal Busways. It also runs private hire coaches, and has a bus and coach dealership and sales...
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|46
|Ongar Two Brewers to Moulsham Oaklands Park
Chelmsford
Chelmsford is the county town of Essex, England and the principal settlement of the borough of Chelmsford. It is located in the London commuter belt, approximately northeast of Charing Cross, London, and approximately the same distance from the once provincial Roman capital at Colchester...
via Chelmsford
Chelmsford
Chelmsford is the county town of Essex, England and the principal settlement of the borough of Chelmsford. It is located in the London commuter belt, approximately northeast of Charing Cross, London, and approximately the same distance from the once provincial Roman capital at Colchester...
|Mon-Sat, 5 return journeys. Times
|First Essex
First Essex
First Essex Buses Limited is owned by First Group. First Essex carries around 29 million passengers each year on a network of routes serving Essex and the surrounding areas. It arose from an amalgamation of Eastern National and Thamesway Buses, whose yellow/maroon livery has only recently disappeared...
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|47
|Ongar Two Brewers to Harlow Bus Station
Harlow
Harlow is a new town and local government district in Essex, England. It is located in the west of the county and on the border with Hertfordshire, on the Stort Valley, The town is near the M11 motorway and forms part of the London commuter belt.The district has a current population of 78,889...
via Matching Tye
Matching Tye
Matching Tye is a village which forms part of the civil parish of Matching, in the County of Essex, England. It is located 2.3 miles East of Harlow, 2.9 Miles South-East of Sawbridgeworth and 6.3 miles North-East of Epping....
|Tuesdays and Thurs-Sat, 1 return journey. Times.
|Regal Busways
Regal Busways
Regal Busways Ltd is a small bus operator established in 2001 and based in Essex. Their services operate through 30 local communities including Chelmsford, Epping, The Hanningfields, Canvey Island, Harlow, Ongar, Pleshey, Toot Hill, Upshire, Waltham Abbey, Waltham Cross and Wickford.-History:Regal...
|-
|146
|Ongar Two Brewers to Hatfield Heath White Horse
Hatfield Heath
Hatfield Heath is a village located in the county of Essex, UK with a population of approximately 1500 people. The village sits close to the border of Hertfordshire and Essex and is within close proximity of the towns of Bishop's Stortford and Chelmsford...
via Fyfield
Ongar
Ongar can refer toin England*High Ongar, Essex*Chipping Ongar, Essex **Ongar , an ancient administrative unit**Ongar railway stationin Ireland*Ongar, Dublinin Pakistan...
|Tuesday and Thursday, 1 return journey. Times.
|Regal Busways
Regal Busways
Regal Busways Ltd is a small bus operator established in 2001 and based in Essex. Their services operate through 30 local communities including Chelmsford, Epping, The Hanningfields, Canvey Island, Harlow, Ongar, Pleshey, Toot Hill, Upshire, Waltham Abbey, Waltham Cross and Wickford.-History:Regal...
|-
|380
|Ongar Two Brewers to Harlow Bus Station
Harlow
Harlow is a new town and local government district in Essex, England. It is located in the west of the county and on the border with Hertfordshire, on the Stort Valley, The town is near the M11 motorway and forms part of the London commuter belt.The district has a current population of 78,889...
via Epping
Epping
Epping is a small market town and civil parish in the Epping Forest district of the County of Essex, England. It is located north-east of Loughton, south of Harlow and north-west of Brentwood....
, Epping Green
Epping Green, Essex
Epping Green is a small village situated on the B181 between Epping and Harlow.The village is in the parish of Epping Upland which stretches from the Wake Arms pub near Upshire to the outskirts of Harlow taking in parts of Thornwood and Rye Hill....
, Roydon
Roydon
Roydon may refer to:* the given name of Roydon Hayes , New Zealander cricketer*Roydon, Essex, English village*Roydon, King's Lynn and West Norfolk, English village*Roydon, South Norfolk, English village...
|Mon-Fri 1 non-return journey. Times
|Regal Busways
Regal Busways
Regal Busways Ltd is a small bus operator established in 2001 and based in Essex. Their services operate through 30 local communities including Chelmsford, Epping, The Hanningfields, Canvey Island, Harlow, Ongar, Pleshey, Toot Hill, Upshire, Waltham Abbey, Waltham Cross and Wickford.-History:Regal...
|-
|501
|Ongar Two Brewers to Harlow Bus Station
Harlow
Harlow is a new town and local government district in Essex, England. It is located in the west of the county and on the border with Hertfordshire, on the Stort Valley, The town is near the M11 motorway and forms part of the London commuter belt.The district has a current population of 78,889...
via North Weald, Epping
Epping
Epping is a small market town and civil parish in the Epping Forest district of the County of Essex, England. It is located north-east of Loughton, south of Harlow and north-west of Brentwood....
|Sunday every 2 hours.
|Arriva Shires & Essex
Arriva Shires & Essex
Arriva Shires & Essex is a division of Arriva, with operations in Essex, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and London. It is one of many private operators of London Buses. Until 2002 its operations included Colchester...
|-
There are also school routes operated by N.I.B.S which are routes 434, 436, 437 operating to Shenfield schools and routes 471, 472, 473 operating to Brentwood schools.
Also see Essex Bus Routes.
Railway
Since the closure of the Central Line between EppingEpping tube station
Epping on the London Underground is the north-eastern terminus of the Central Line. The station before Epping is Theydon Bois, which is about three minutes travelling time away. Epping station is in the Epping Forest District of Essex...
and Ongar
Ongar tube station
Ongar tube station is a former London Underground station in the town of Chipping Ongar, Essex. Until its closure in 1994, it was the easternmost point of the Central line, and from 1961 until closure, it held the distinction of being the London Underground station farthest from Central...
in 1994, there is no longer a daily commuter train service in the town. The Epping Ongar Railway
Epping Ongar Railway
The Epping Ongar Railway operates on a preserved railway along the final section of the old Great Eastern Railway and London Underground Central Line branch line between Epping and Ongar, with an intermediate station at North Weald...
operates the former Central Line track, from North Weald Station on Sundays every hour to Ongar Station.
The nearest London Underground
London Underground
The London Underground is a rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and some parts of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex in England...
service to the town is Epping
Epping tube station
Epping on the London Underground is the north-eastern terminus of the Central Line. The station before Epping is Theydon Bois, which is about three minutes travelling time away. Epping station is in the Epping Forest District of Essex...
which is served by the Central Line
Central Line
The Central line is a London Underground line, coloured red on the tube map. It is a deep-level "tube" line, running east-west across London, and, at , has the greatest total length of track of any line on the Underground. Of the 49 stations served, 20 are below ground...
. The closest National Rail
National Rail
National Rail is a title used by the Association of Train Operating Companies as a generic term to define the passenger rail services operated in Great Britain...
service is from Brentwood
Brentwood railway station
Brentwood railway station is a railway station in Brentwood, Essex. It is on the electric line between between Shenfield and London Liverpool Street....
, which is served by the Shenfield Metro
Great Eastern Main Line
The Great Eastern Main Line is a 212 Kilometre major railway line of the British railway system, which connects Liverpool Street in the City of London with destinations in east London and the East of England, including Chelmsford, Colchester, Ipswich, Norwich and several coastal resorts such as...
and is operated by National Express East Anglia.
In popular culture
On the Who'sThe Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
album, Live at Leeds
Live at Leeds
Live at Leeds is The Who's first live album, and is the only live album that was released while the group were still recording and performing regularly. Initially released in the United States on 16 May 1970, by Decca and MCA and the United Kingdom on 23 May 1970, by Track and Polydor, the album...
, Keith Moon
Keith Moon
Keith John Moon was an English musician, best known for being the drummer of the English rock group The Who. He gained acclaim for his exuberant and innovative drumming style, and notoriety for his eccentric and often self-destructive behaviour, earning him the nickname "Moon the Loon". Moon...
refers to Chipping Ongar in a bit of stage banter as part of the introduction to their so-called "mini-opera," A Quick One, While He's Away
A Quick One, While He's Away
"A Quick One, While He's Away" is a 1966 medley written by Pete Townshend and recorded by The Who for their album A Quick One. The song also appears on the album BBC Sessions. In the performance on their Live at Leeds album Townshend calls the 9 minute "epic" track a "mini-opera" and introduces...
. Guitarist Pete Townshend
Pete Townshend
Peter Dennis Blandford "Pete" Townshend is an English rock guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and author, known principally as the guitarist and songwriter for the rock group The Who, as well as for his own solo career...
is in the middle of explaining the storyline to the audience, involving a lonely wife and her lover, Ivor the Engine Driver: "So what happens is uh, they uh, fu, they fornicate."
Moon interrupts to ask, "What's that, Pete? I thought it was a little station outside Chipping Ongar!" and Townshend tells him, "No no no."
Moon, who was the band's drummer, replies, "That's the trouble always sitting here in the back," to which Townshend deadpans back to the audience, "He always gets off at the wrong stop."
The endgame of Will Self
Will Self
William Woodard "Will" Self is an English novelist and short story writer. His fictional style is known for being satirical, grotesque, and fantastical. He is a prolific commentator on contemporary British life, with regular appearances on Newsnight and Question Time...
's The Book of Dave
The Book of Dave
- Content :The Book of Dave tells the story of an angry and mentally-ill London taxi driver named Dave Rudman, who writes and has printed on metal a book of his rantings against women and thoughts on custody rights for fathers. These stem from his anger with his ex-wife, Michelle, who he believes...
takes place in Chipping Ongar.
In Ade Edmondson's book "How To Be A Complete Bastard", in the section on "How to be a Bastard to Japanese Tourists" he says "tell them all of London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
's tourist attractions are within walking distance of Ongar Tube"
In the BBC series Just Good Friends, Penny's mother and father live in Chipping Ongar.