Bell Common

Last updated

Bell Common
Bell Common Cricket Ground - geograph.org.uk - 1213146.jpg
Bell Common Cricket Ground
Essex UK location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Bell Common
Location within Essex
OS grid reference TL4401
Shire county
Region
Country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Police Essex
Fire Essex
Ambulance East of England
List of places
UK
England
Essex
51°41′31″N0°05′56″E / 51.692°N 0.099°E / 51.692; 0.099

Bell Common is a hamlet [1] in the Epping Forest District of Essex, England. It lies south of the town of Epping and north of the Ambresbury Banks archaeological site.

Its former name, Beacon Common, is attributed to a story about an ancient beacon erected at Bell Common by locals to alert them in the event of invasion. [2]

Its green space is retained undeveloped due to the Epping Forest Act 1878 [3]

The settlement has a number of listed buildings, including The Black Cottage and 115-7 Bell Common. [4] [5] [6]

Tunnel

Inside the Bell Common Tunnel Bell Common Tunnel - geograph.org.uk - 53233.jpg
Inside the Bell Common Tunnel

The Bell Common Tunnel is a covered section of the M25 motorway in Bell Common. The tunnel was constructed between 1982 and 1984 using the cut and cover method. [7] The tunnel is 470 meters long. [8] It lies between junctions 26 and 27 on the M25. [9]

The construction of the roadway was protested by campaigns against the M25, including by members of the West Essex Rambler's Association [10] and the Upshire Village Preservation Society. [11] The public inquiry which followed was, per the Epping Forest Guardian, "at that time, the longest public inquiry in road planning history". [11] While the tunnel was under construction the local cricket club were forced to temporarily relocate. [12] The grounds and club were later reinstated. [13]

The tunnel began a £90.4m Highways Agency refurbishment in 2008 to replace various equipment and the ventilation system. [14] It was reopened in March 2010. [15]

A report for the California Department of Transportation by the Western Transportation Institute describes the Bell Common Tunnel as "designed to enable animal movements above a major Highway". [16] A report for Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council also says the covered tunnel "assisted in mitigating the community, landscape and ecological severance caused by running the M25 through Epping Forest." [17]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">M25 motorway</span> Orbital motorway around Greater London

The M25 or London Orbital Motorway is a major road encircling most of Greater London. The 117-mile-long (188 km) motorway is one of the most important roads in the UK and one of the busiest. Margaret Thatcher opened the final section in 1986, making the M25 the longest ring road in Europe upon opening. The Dartford Crossing completes the orbital route but is not classed as motorway; it is classed as a trunk road and designated as the A282. In some cases, including notable legal contexts such as the Communications Act 2003, the M25 is used as a de facto alternative boundary for Greater London.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dartford Crossing</span> Tunnel and bridge between Kent and Essex, UK

The Dartford–Thurrock River Crossing, commonly known as the Dartford Crossing and until 1991 the Dartford Tunnel, is a major road crossing of the River Thames in England, carrying the A282 road between Dartford in Kent in the south and Thurrock in Essex in the north.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Epping Forest</span> Ancient woodland and former royal forest in Essex and Greater London

Epping Forest is a 2,400-hectare (5,900-acre) area of ancient woodland, and other established habitats, which straddles the border between Greater London and Essex. The main body of the forest stretches from Epping in the north, to Chingford on the edge of the London built-up area. South of Chingford the forest narrows, and forms a green corridor that extends deep into east London, as far as Forest Gate; the forest's position gives rise to its nickname, the Cockney Paradise. It is the largest forest in London.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A11 road (England)</span> Road in England

The A11 is a major trunk road in England. It originally ran roughly north east from London to Norwich, Norfolk. It now consists of a short section in Inner London and a much longer section in Cambridgeshire, Suffolk and Norfolk. The lengthy section between these was renumbered as a result of the opening of the M11 in the 1970s and then the A12 extension in 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Epping Forest District</span> Non-metropolitan district in England

Epping Forest District is a local government district in Essex, England. It is named after the ancient woodland of Epping Forest, a large part of which lies within the district. The district covers northeastern parts of the urban area of London, including the suburban towns of Epping, Loughton, Waltham Abbey, Chigwell, and Buckhurst Hill, as well as rural areas beyond it. The district is situated in the west of the county, bordering north-eastern Greater London.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waltham Abbey</span> Town in Essex, England

Waltham Abbey is a suburban town and civil parish in the Epping Forest District of Essex, within the metropolitan and urban area of London, England, 13.5 miles (21.7 km) north-east of Charing Cross. It lies on the Greenwich Meridian, between the River Lea in the west and Epping Forest in the east, with large sections forming part of the Metropolitan Green Belt.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Outer London Defence Ring</span> Early World War II fortification

The Outer London Defence Ring was a defensive ring built around London during the early part of the Second World War. It was intended as a defence against a German invasion, and was part of a national network of similar "Stop Lines".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abridge</span> Human settlement in England

Abridge is a village in Essex, England. It is on the River Roding, 16 miles (26 km) southwest of the county town of Chelmsford. The village is in the district of Epping Forest and in the parliamentary constituency of Brentwood and Ongar. It is part of the civil parish of Lambourne and is served by Lambourne Parish Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alpheton</span> Human settlement in England

Alpheton is a village and civil parish in the Babergh district of Suffolk, England. Located on the A134 road about six miles north of Sudbury, in 2005 it had a population of 260, reducing to 256 at the 2011 Census. According to Eilert Ekwall the meaning of the village name is the homestead of Aelfled.

The district of Epping Forest is in the county of Essex in England. It was created on 1 April 1974, following the merger of Epping Urban District, Chigwell Urban District, Waltham Holy Cross Urban District, and part of Epping and Ongar Rural District.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stapleford Tawney</span> Village in Essex, England

Stapleford Tawney is a village and civil parish in the Epping Forest district of Essex, England. Stapleford Tawney is approximately 4 miles (6 km) west-southwest from Chipping Ongar and 14 miles (23 km) southwest from the county town of Chelmsford.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lower Thames Crossing</span> Proposed route crossing the River Thames

The Lower Thames Crossing is a proposed road crossing of the Thames estuary downstream of the Dartford Crossing that links the counties of Kent and Essex, and its proposed approaches. If built it would pass through the districts of Thurrock and Gravesham, supplementing the Dartford route. The approximately 14.3-mile (23.0 km) route is being assessed by the Planning Inspectorate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nazeing</span> Human settlement in England

Nazeing is a village and civil parish in the Epping Forest district, in Essex, England. Within the parish are the separate settlements of Upper Nazeing, Middle Nazeing, and Lower Nazeing. The Prime Meridian passes to the west of Lower Nazeing. It has a population of 4267.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lambourne</span> Civil parish in Essex, England

Lambourne is a civil parish in the Epping Forest district of Essex, England. It is located approximately 4.5 miles (7 km) south of Epping and 5 miles (8 km) northwest of Romford. It covers an area of 2,590 acres (1,050 ha), and in 2001 its population was 1,828, increasing to 2,013 at the 2011 Census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Theydon Mount</span> Human settlement in England

Theydon Mount is a village and civil parish in the Epping Forest district of the county of Essex, England. The village is notable for the Grade I listed Elizabethan mansion, Hill Hall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Epping, Essex</span> Town and parish in Essex, England

Epping is a market town and civil parish in the Epping Forest District of Essex, England. Part of the metropolitan and urban area of London, it is 17 miles northeast of Charing Cross. It is surrounded by the northern end of Epping Forest, and on a ridge of land between the River Roding and River Lea valleys.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">High Beach</span> Human settlement in England

High Beach is a village inside Epping Forest in south-west Essex, England. Part of the civil parish of Waltham Abbey, the village is within the Epping Forest District and the ward of Waltham Abbey High Beach, and lies approximately 11 miles (18 km) north-east of Charing Cross.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Essex</span> Ceremonial county in the East of England

Essex is a ceremonial county in the East of England, and one of the home counties. It is bordered by Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, the North Sea to the east, Kent across the Thames Estuary to the south, Greater London to the south-west, and Hertfordshire to the west. The largest settlement is Southend-on-Sea, and the county town is Chelmsford.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Three Forests Way</span> Footpath in Essex and Hertfordshire, England

The Three Forests Way is a long-distance footpath in Essex and Hertfordshire, England. The 59-mile (95 km) circular path passes through three forests in west Essex. It is waymarked, and named on Ordnance Survey mapping.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2024 Epping Forest District Council election</span> Local election in Epping Forest, England

The 2024 Epping Forest District Council election was held on Thursday 2 May 2024, alongside the other local elections in the United Kingdom held on the same day. All 54 members of Epping Forest District Council in Essex were elected following boundary changes. The council remained under Conservative majority control.

References

  1. ↑ "Gazetteer of British Place Names". gazetteer.org.uk. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
  2. ↑ "Bell Common Conservation Area Character Appraisal" (PDF). www.eppingforestdc.gov.uk. Epping Forest District Council. February 2010. p. 8. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 January 2022. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
  3. ↑ Powell, W R, ed. (1966). "Epping: Introduction and manors". A History of the County of Essex: Volume 5. Vol. 5. London. Retrieved 5 February 2025– via British History Online.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  4. ↑ "THE BLACK COTTAGE, Epping - 1124162 | Historic England". historicengland.org.uk. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
  5. ↑ "115-117, BELL COMMON, Epping - 1236145 | Historic England". historicengland.org.uk. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
  6. ↑ "BELL COMMON CONSERVATION AREA" (PDF). www.eppingforestdc.gov.uk. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 August 2022. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
  7. ↑ Clayton, C. R. I., ed. (1993). Retaining Structures: Proceedings of the Conference Retaining Structures. Thomas Telford. p. 93. ISBN   9780727719324.
  8. ↑ Symons, I. F.; Tedd, P (December 1989). "Behaviour of a propped embedded retaining wall at Bell Common Tunnel in the longer term". Géotechnique . 39 (4): 701. doi:10.1680/geot.1989.39.4.701. ISSN   0016-8505 – via ICE Virtual Library.
  9. ↑ "M25 Bell Common tunnel, Essex". Transport Xtra. 5 March 2010. Archived from the original on 5 February 2025. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
  10. ↑ Dale, Johanna, ed. (2023). St Peter-on-the-Wall: Landscape and heritage on the Essex coast (PDF). London: UCL Press. p. 288. doi:10.14324/111.9781800084353. ISBN   978-1-80008-435-3.
  11. 1 2 Green, Georgina (24 September 2022). "Bell Common scene of Upshire M25 battle and Queen Boadicea's last stand". Epping Forest Guardian. Archived from the original on 24 September 2022. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
  12. ↑ Cunningham, Alice (17 November 2020). "What's above the M25 tunnels in Hertfordshire and Essex and how long have they been there?". Hertfordshire Mercury. Archived from the original on 17 November 2020. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
  13. ↑ Reynolds, Laura (13 October 2017). "There's A Cricket Pitch On Top Of The M25". Londonist. Archived from the original on 14 September 2017. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
  14. ↑ Klettner, Andrea (17 November 2008). "Work starts on £90m HA scheme". Construction News. Archived from the original on 5 February 2025. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
  15. ↑ "Bell Common Tunnel upgrade scheme opened". Tunnels & Tunnelling International. British Tunnelling Society. 4 March 2010. Archived from the original on 21 May 2024. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
  16. ↑ Langton, Tom; Clevenger, Tony; Brehme, Cheryl; Fisher, Robert (June 2017). Amphibian and Reptile Highway Crossings: State of the practice, gap analysis and decision support tool - A Literature Review (PDF). p. 22.
  17. ↑ "Green Infrastructure Study" (PDF). Solihull Council. Solihull Landscape Architecture and Ecology. January 2012. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 October 2021. Retrieved 5 February 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.