Chignall St James

Chignal St James
District	Chelmsford
Shire county	Essex
Region	East
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	CHELMSFORD
Postcode district	CM1
Dialling code	01245
Police	Essex
Fire	Essex
Ambulance	East of England

Chignal St James is a small parish, 3½ miles North West by West of Chelmsford, Essex, containing only around 250 souls.

The spelling of the village name is open to discussion. Sometimes it is spelt "Chignall St James" at other times, it is spelt "Chignal St James" or "Chignal Saint James".

Although only a small village, the countryside has attracted a number of businesses and their owners to make this village their home. Amongst the most notable being Ashdown Engineering, Gardening Express & Balance Life Magazine. Together with the local farms, these companies form some of the larger employers in the area.

Originally the village was a settlement for farmers and their labour force that worked on the land, but gradually as mechanisation took over, so the farming population left, with the village now being some what of a commuter village, but also being resident to the remaining agricultural workers, and retired folk.

The village has a pub, The Three Elms, thought to be over 500 years old, which is a very small but traditional country pub that serves food and drinks, and is open every day of the week, being somewhat the hub of the community.

In 2009, there was a controversial planning proposal to create a quarry close by to the village, but this was turned down by the planing authorities.

The village contains a number of notable buildings, including an old brick built farm barn, with dove-cote, thought to be the oldest and only example of its type in Essex. Other notable buildings include an old red brick school (now a dwelling), the Church, and other large houses such as the Old Rectory.

The village is also rumoured to be home to Black Shuck, a mythical devil dog, that has been sighted between Chignal St James and the neighbouring village of Chignal Smealy.

Sighting of Big Cats (thought to be black leopards or pumas) have also been made by local farmers, although these have not be substantiated by the authorities. The area is very rural, and has large populations of deer, thought to be the food source for these large cats should they exist.

External links

• The Three Elms
• Chignal Parish Council Web Site
• Ashdown Engineering
• Gardening Express
• Balance Life Magazine