Bobbingworth

Bobbingworth is a village and civil parish in the Epping Forest district of Essex, England.^[2][3] The village is situated approximately 3 miles (5 km) north-west from Chipping Ongar, 10 miles (16 km) west from the county town of Chelmsford, and lies off the A414 road. Bobbingworth is in the parliamentary constituency of Brentwood & Ongar.

Bobbingworth
St Germain's Church, Bobbingworth
Bobbingworth Location within Essex
Population	280 (2011)[1]
OS grid reference	TL535057
Civil parish	Bobbingworth
District	Epping Forest
Shire county	Essex
Region	East
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	ONGAR
Postcode district	CM5
Dialling code	01277
Police	Essex
Fire	Essex
Ambulance	East of England
UK Parliament	Brentwood & Ongar
List of places UK England Essex 51.7295°N 0.2214°E / 51.7295; 0.2214

Bobbingworth covers an area of 2,595 acres (10.50 km²). According to the 2011 Census the parish had a population of 280.^[1]

A notable building in Bobbingworth is Blake Hall, which, after the bombing of the North Weald Aerodrome in September 1940 (during the Second World War) became the R.A.F. Station Headquarters. Blake Hall tube station, now closed and to the south of the village, was named after the building.

Bobbingworth School

Bobbingworth School and adjacent teacher's residence, since closed and converted into residential property, were built in 1855-6 by the Capel Cure family, who own Blake Hall.^[4] It was built as 'a good substantial schoolroom' and until 1869 was solely attended by girls. In 1871, however, the pupils included 18 boys, an addition made possibly in anticipation of the requirements of the Education Act. In the same year, an inspector reported to the Education Department that only 47 places were needed to secure universal elementary schooling in the parish and that 55 places were available at the school.

The Capel Cures continued to support the school until 1904, apparently without assistance from public funds, retaining it as their property but allowing it to be administered as a Church school. An inspector, visiting it in 1896, found the buildings in good repair but the scholastic standard low. The school did not officially pass under the control of the Essex Education Committee until some three years after the 1902 Education Act.^[5]