our history 3
Celebrations in Springfield
Springfield people worked hard, but had feast days, too. When the country celebrated Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee in 1887, a special service was held at All Saints Church. Afterwards, 1500 people sat down to dinner, followed by a tea for 900 children, all paid for by the wealthy of the parish. The feasts took place in a huge wooden pavilion built in the field behind Springfield Place by Brown and Sons, who owned the timber yard.
In the 1880s a travelling circus stopped every year on Springfield Green.
In 1890, and then in 1952 and 1953, the Essex Show was held on 60 acres of land behind Springfield Place. In 1953, 32,000 people came to the show. The Essex Show site moved out to Great Leighs when the estate was built, which includes Bodmin Road and Torquay Road.
The WI hall on Springfield Green was built in 1921.
Part of an historic community
Over the years Springfield has grown enormously and also become swallowed up in the spread of Chelmsford. But if you live in Springfield, you are a part of a distinct historic community, with roots going back to those early people in pre-historic times. So whether you live, shop, work or enjoy your leisure time in Springfield, you are following in the footsteps of hundreds of Springfield people before you.
We have been contacted by Barry who has let us know a little more about what it was like to live in Springfield in the past. Here is his story:
"I was born on Springfield Green in an off licence called the Little Gem in 1947 attending the old primary school I was one of 9 children.
The Gem was in the middle of some cottages between the railway and the arms houses that face the green. We later move to number 4 Springfield Green which was only the other side of lane that ran round to other cottages. Later the house number was changed.
There was a pond over the far side of the green with plumb trees near the church, there was also a road that ran straight across the green over the bridge which is still under grass this divided the green into two.
There was an old water pump on the green outside the large house near the arms houses this was knocked down by my older sister who was on a motorbike. 
The other side of the Gem was a lane which lead to the rear of these premises across the lane were 3 cottages 2 up and 2 down one in which we lived. Behind these where 3 more cottages.
Over the bridge towards Springfield Road on the left hand side was an old wooden building which was the sunday school between this and the railway was a footpath to Pump Lane.
Next to the sunday school was the woman's institute. Behind the Endeavour was the scouts hall with a shop next door. Into Springfield Road there was a garage with cottages adjoining it opposite was the plough and behind the plough was a tyre repair area.
Further along the road where the new flats have just been completed was the fire station before becoming the Little Chef and Oasis Garage."
Thanks Barry for sharing your memories.
Do you know anymore about the history of Springfield? Or have you stories to tell? Let us know.
Comments: Great site. Read the history section and found Barry's input very good. In fact my mother and her family (Clark) lived in the cottage next to the Little Gem (The cottage was called "The Hollies"). And next to their cottage, lived my great grandmother (Hows that for history)
Be great if anyone had any photos of the little Gem and my grandparents old cottage.
My granfather used to deliver fruit and veg to the locally area on a horse and cart (and the horse was blind).
Barry (another one !!)
Pictures:- Picture 1: Bodmin Road, where the Essex Show used to be. Picture 2: Womens Institute (WI) Hall the other side of the road to Springfield Green. Picture 3: Springfield Green.