Maldon District

Last updated

Maldon District
Non-metropolitan district
Maldon from across the Blackwater - geograph.org.uk - 2031878.jpg
Maldon, the administrative centre of the district
Maldon UK locator map.svg
Maldon shown within Essex
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Country England
Region East of England
Non-metropolitan county Essex
Status Non-metropolitan district
Admin HQ Maldon
Founded1 April 1974
Government
 • TypeNon-metropolitan district council
 • BodyMaldon District Council
 •  MPs Priti Patel
John Whittingdale
Area
 • Total138.53 sq mi (358.78 km2)
 • Rank112th (of 314)
Population
 (2021)
 • Total66,208
 • Rank296th (of 314)
 • Density480/sq mi (180/km2)
 • Ethnicity
96.9% White
1.1% S.Asian
2.0% Other
Time zone UTC0 (GMT)
 • Summer (DST) UTC+1 (BST)
ONS code 22UK (ONS)
E07000074 (GSS)
OS grid reference TL848070
Maldon District Council
Maldon District Council logo.png
Type
Type
Leadership
Kevin Laggan,
Independent
since 18 May 2023 [1]
Richard Siddall,
Maldon Independents
since 8 June 2023
Richard Holmes
since August 2018 [2]
Structure
Seats31
Political groups
  Conservative (9)
  Independent (9)
  Liberal Democrats (6)
  Maldon Independents (6)
  Labour (1)
Elections
Last election
 4 May 2023
Next election
2027
Meeting place
Council Offices, Maldon.jpg
Council Offices, Princes Road, Maldon, CM9 5DL
Website
www.maldon.gov.uk

Maldon District is a local government district [3] [4] in Essex, England. The council is based in the town of Maldon, after which the district is named. The district also includes the town of Burnham-on-Crouch and numerous villages, including Heybridge, Wickham Bishops, Southminster, Tolleshunt D'Arcy and Tollesbury. The district covers the Dengie peninsula in the south, as well as the Thurstable Hundred area to the north of the Blackwater Estuary, a total area of 358.78 km2. [5]

Contents

The Blackwater Esturary Blackwater Estuary - geograph.org.uk - 973638.jpg
The Blackwater Esturary

The majority of people live in the small rural villages, many of which have their origins in connections with the coast or agricultural economy. The district has a long association with sailing, as is referenced in the council's logo.

Burnham-on-Crouch, the district's second largest town. Essex, The Clocktower, Burnham-on-Crouch - geograph.org.uk - 2334443.jpg
Burnham-on-Crouch, the district's second largest town.

Administrative history

The district was created on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, covering the area of three former districts, which were all abolished at the same time: [6]

The new district was named Maldon after its largest town. [7]

Southminster, the district's third largest settlement. Church of St Leonard, Southminster - geograph.org.uk - 3134262.jpg
Southminster, the district's third largest settlement.

Governance

Maldon district is a non-metropolitan district, with Maldon District Council forming the middle layer of a three-tier structure of local government. Above the district level, Essex County Council provides county-level services. At the lower level the district is divided into civil parishes. [8]

Political control

The council has been under no overall control since 2020. The council remained under no overall control following the 2023 election.

The first election to Maldon District Council was held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until the new arrangements took effect on 1 April 1974. Political control of the council since 1974 has been as follows: [9]

Party in controlYears
No overall control 1974–1976
Conservative 1976–1983
No overall control 1983–1999
Conservative 1999–2020
No overall control 2020–present

Leadership

The leaders of the council since 2006 have been: [10]

CouncillorPartyFromTo
Alan Cheshire Conservative 20062008
Penny Channer Conservative 15 May 200819 May 2011
John Archer [11] Conservative 19 May 201110 May 2012
Bob Boyce Conservative 10 May 201221 May 2015
Miriam Lewis Conservative 21 May 201511 May 2017
Mark Durham Conservative 11 May 20179 Aug 2018
Adrian Fluker Conservative 9 Aug 201817 Aug 2020
Elaine Bamford Conservative 1 Oct 20205 Nov 2020
Wendy Stamp Independent 5 Nov 202011 Nov 2021
Penny Channer Conservative 18 Jan 20227 May 2023
Richard SiddallMaldon Independents8 Jun 2023

Former leader of Maldon district council John Smith, who led the council between 1991 and 1993, was killed along with two family members while he commanded a light aircraft flight from Oban bound for Andrewsfield, Essex on 9 April 2007. [12] [13]

Composition

Following the 2023 election and one subsequent change of allegiance in June 2023, the composition of the council was: [14]

PartyCouncillors
Conservative 9
Independent 9
Liberal Democrats 6
Maldon District Independent Group6
Labour 1
Total31

Of the independent councillors, six form the "District Support Group" and the other three do not belong to a group. [15] The next election is due in 2027.

Premises

The council is based at the Council Offices on Princes Road in Maldon. [16] The original building was previously an orphanage called "The Retreat", which had been purchased in 1939 by the Maldon Rural District Council for £4,500. [17] Large extensions were added in the 1980s to the north and south of the original building.

Elections

Since the last boundary changes in 2003, the council has comprised 31 councillors elected from 17 wards. Elections are held every four years. [18]

The area is part of the parliamentary constituency of Maldon.

Tollesbury, one of the many villages in the district Tollesbury Marina - geograph.org.uk - 2148385.jpg
Tollesbury, one of the many villages in the district

History

The first evidence of a settlement to the north of Maldon at Elms Farm is from the Middle Bronze Age 3500 years ago. From 500 BC onwards the red hills of the Crouch and Blackwater show us that there was a continuous and extensive activity in the salt making which still prospers today.

Later, during the Iron Age, about 100 BC, there was a port, set among the marshlands at the junction of the Blackwater and Chelmer rivers. This settlement may have been of regional religious significance, and there is evidence that it traded luxury goods with Europe.

Elms Farm continued as a port and market place but was clearly superseded in importance by Colchester in the 1st century AD, when Colchester became the first capital of the Roman administration.

The Romans founded Othona in the 3rd century. It was a Saxon Shore fort at the mouth of the Blackwater, built to protect the estuary from Saxon pirates. It was here in 654 AD that St Cedd founded the church of St Peter-on-the-Wall, the oldest church in England to retain much of its original fabric.

In 664 AD St Cedd attended the Synod of Whitby which merged the Anglo-Celtic Church with the Church of Rome. Recent changes in the coastline have revealed the remains of extensive Saxon 5-7th century fish traps. The Church stands today overlooking the North Sea from whence came further invaders in the 10th century - the Danes.

In 912 AD and 914 AD King Edward the Elder camped at Maldon to organise defences in the desperate fight against the Danes. In 917 AD the Saxons were defeated at Colchester and besieged at Maldon, but eventually, the Danes were defeated.

In 991 AD there was a major battle between the pillaging Danes led by Olaf Trygvassen who had already attacked Ipswich, and Earl Byrhtnoth’s men who were defending Maldon on the instruction of the Saxon King Æthelred the Unready. Earl Byrhtnoth was in his sixties. The battle was recorded in a poem which is regarded as one of the finest examples of early English literature.

The famous Battle of Maldon took place beside the River Blackwater on 10 August 991, during the reign of Æthelred the Unready. The Anglo-Saxons, led by Byrhtnoth and his thegns, fought against a Viking invasion, a battle which ended in defeat for the Anglo-Saxons.

Geology, landscape and ecology

The district is in the east of Essex ( 51°41′N0°45′E / 51.683°N 0.750°E / 51.683; 0.750 ). Most of the district is the Dengie peninsula. Still, a significant area is also the area above the Blackwater Estuary, bounded by the River Blackwater to the west until near Kelvedon, the boundary then continues south of Tiptree to the Salcott inlet on the Blackwater Estuary. There are very few settlements on the boundary of the district with the North Sea, in contrast with other coastal districts of Essex, due to the Dengie Marshes.

The district has a rural character ranging from the tidal salt marshes to farmland and rolling wooded ridges. A network of country lanes provides access to the countryside from the towns and villages. A remote area of tidal mud-flats and saltmarshes at the eastern end of the Dengie peninsula forms the Dengie Special Protection Area. The River Blackwater and River Crouch are of international importance for nature conservation particularly for their extensive population of wildfowl and waders.

Parishes

The district is divided into 34 civil parishes. The parish councils of Burnham-on-Crouch and Maldon take the style of "Town Council". Some of the parishes share grouped parish councils, such that there are 31 parish councils. The parishes are: [19]

Arms

Coat of arms of Maldon District
Maldon District Coat of Arms.jpg
Notes
Granted 28 February 1978. [20]
Crest
On a wreath Or and Vert upon water barry wavy Argent and Azure charged with a fleur-de-lys Or an Essex sailing barge Proper.
Escutcheon
Per saltire wavy Azure and Vert a saltire wavy Argent between a lion passant guardant in chief two garbs in fess and a ship's wheel in base all Gold.
Supporters
On the dexter side an Anglo-Saxon warrior holding in his dexter hand a sword point downwards and the sinister side a yachtsman habited in a sailing smock and wearing a peaked cap all Proper upon a compartment composed of a grassy mound also Proper divided by water barry wavy Argent and Azure.
Motto
Vision Courage Integrity
Badge
Upon water barry wavy Argent and Azure charged with a fleur-de-lys Or an Essex sailing barge Proper.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Maldon</span> Battle near Maldon, Essex in 991 CE

The Battle of Maldon took place on 11 August 991 AD near Maldon beside the River Blackwater in Essex, England, during the reign of Æthelred the Unready. Earl Byrhtnoth and his thegns led the English against a Viking invasion. The battle ended in an Anglo-Saxon defeat. After the battle Archbishop Sigeric of Canterbury and the aldermen of the south-western provinces advised King Æthelred to buy off the Vikings rather than continue the armed struggle. The result was a payment of Danegeld of 10,000 Roman pounds (3,300 kg) of silver.

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

Maldon is a town and civil parish on the Blackwater estuary in Essex, England. It is the seat of the Maldon District and starting point of the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation. It is known for Maldon Sea Salt which is produced in the area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Burnham-on-Crouch</span> Town in southeast Essex, England

Burnham-on-Crouch is a town and civil parish in the Maldon District of Essex in the East of England. It lies on the north bank of the River Crouch. It is one of Britain's leading places for yachting.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">River Blackwater, Essex</span> River in Hampshire, England

The River Blackwater is a river in Hampshire, England. It rises as the River Pant in the northwest of the county, just east of Saffron Walden, and flows in a generally southeast direction to Bocking, near Braintree, via Great Sampford and Great Bardfield. At Bocking, it becomes the River Blackwater, and veers east to flow past Bradwell Juxta Coggeshall and Coggeshall. It then veers south, flowing past Kelvedon and Witham, before reaching Maldon. There, it veers east again and empties into the Blackwater Estuary, which in turn meets the North Sea at Mersea Island.

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

Wickham Bishops is a village and civil parish in the Maldon district of Essex, England. It is located around three miles north of the town of Maldon and around two miles south-east of Witham, in whose post town it lies.

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

Tillingham is a small village and civil parish with 1,015 inhabitants in 2001, increasing to 1,058 at the 2011 Census, located 8 miles (13 km) from Burnham-on-Crouch and 3 miles (4.8 km) from Bradwell-on-Sea, in Maldon District and the ceremonial county of Essex in England. It is one of the villages that make up the ancient Dengie Hundred, which is bounded by the River Blackwater and River Crouch.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dengie Peninsula</span> Peninsula in Essex, England

Dengie is a peninsula in Essex, England, that once formed a hundred of the same name.

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

Asheldham is a village and civil parish in Essex, England. It is located about 14 km (8.7 mi) southeast of Maldon and is 26 km (16 mi) east-southeast from the county town of Chelmsford. The village is in the district of Maldon and the parliamentary constituency of Maldon & East Chelmsford. The village is part of the combined Asheldham and Dengie Parish Council.

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

Heybridge is a large village and civil parish in the Maldon district of Essex, England. It is adjacent to the town of Maldon, near the River Blackwater. The village had a population of 8,175 according to the 2011 Census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maldon (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom 1801-1983 & 2010 onwards

Maldon is a constituency in Essex represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since its recreation in 2010 by Sir John Whittingdale, a Conservative.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bradwell-on-Sea</span> Village in Essex, England

Bradwell-on-Sea is a village and civil parish in Essex, England. The village is on the Dengie peninsula. It is located about 9 km (5.6 mi) north-northeast of Southminster and is 30 km (19 mi) east from the county town of Chelmsford. The village is in the District of Maldon in the parliamentary constituency of Maldon whose boundaries were last varied at the 2010 general election. In 2011 it had a population of 863, a decline from 877 in the previous census.

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

Southminster is a village and civil parish on the Dengie Peninsula in the Maldon district of Essex in the East of England. It lies about 3 miles (4.8 km) north of Burnham-on-Crouch and 10 miles (16 km) south-east of Maldon; it is approximately 52 miles (84 km) east-north-east of London. To the north is the River Blackwater, which is tidal, and, since Roman times, has been the gateway to trading in the area.

Woodham Mortimer is a village on the Dengie peninsula about three miles west-south-west of Maldon in the English county of Essex. The village is part of the Wickham Bishops and Woodham ward of the Maldon district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Lawrence, Essex</span> Human settlement in England

St Lawrence is a parish in the Maldon district of Essex in the East of England on the Dengie peninsula. The village of St Lawrence Bay, which takes its name from the parish, is situated on the south shore of the Blackwater Estuary, 4 miles (6.5 km) from Southminster and is also known by local residents as “Stone”. The village contains areas known as Ramsey Island and St Lawrence Bay.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tolleshunt D'Arcy</span> Village in Essex, England

Tolleshunt D'Arcy is a village situated on the Blackwater estuary in the Maldon District of Essex, England. The village is 12 miles (19 km) southwest of Colchester, 19 miles (31 km) east of Chelmsford and 30 miles (48 km) north of Southend-on-Sea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">River Chelmer</span> River in Essex, England

The River Chelmer flows entirely through the county of Essex, England; it runs 40 miles (64 km) from the north-west of the county through Chelmsford to the River Blackwater, near Maldon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asheldham Brook</span> River in Essex, England

Asheldham Brook is a river that flows entirely through the Maldon district in Essex, United Kingdom. It has its main source near Batts Road in the St Lawrence parish, and its mouth at Grange Outfall on the Dengie marshes, flowing out into the North Sea.

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

Heybridge Basin is a village and civil parish about 1 mile from Maldon, in the Maldon district, in the county of Essex, England. In 2018 the built up area had an estimated population of 732. The parish was formerly part of Heybridge parish, on 1 April 2020 it became a separate parish.

References

  1. ↑ Shares grouped parish council with Dengie
  2. ↑ Shares grouped parish council with Asheldham
  3. ↑ Shares grouped parish council with Woodham Mortimer
  4. ↑ Shares grouped parish council with Ulting
  5. ↑ Shares grouped parish council with Langford
  6. ↑ Shares grouped parish council with Hazeleigh
  1. ↑ "Council meeting, 18 May 2023". Maldon District Council. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
  2. ↑ "Council minutes, 25 July 2019". Maldon District Council. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  3. ↑ "Maldon Town Council – Working for You" . Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  4. ↑ Council, Maldon District. "Maldon District Council". maldon.gov.uk. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  5. ↑ "Output Geography". statistics.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 2 January 2007. Retrieved 24 January 2007.
  6. ↑ "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, SI 1972/2039, retrieved 19 May 2023
  7. ↑ "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Names) Order 1973", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, SI 1973/551, retrieved 25 April 2023
  8. ↑ "Local Government Act 1972", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, 1972 c. 70, retrieved 3 March 2023
  9. ↑ "Maldon". BBC News Online . Retrieved 14 March 2010.
  10. ↑ "Council minutes". Maldon District Council. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
  11. ↑ Forsyth, Jamie (27 May 2011). "New leader vows to steer council through tough times". Maldon Standard. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  12. ↑ "Air Accident Investigation Web Site". aaib.dft.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 16 July 2012. Retrieved 18 November 2008.
  13. ↑ "John Smith Coroners News Report". news.bbc.co.uk. London. 18 November 2008. Retrieved 18 November 2008.
  14. ↑ "Maldon election result". BBC News. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
  15. ↑ "Council report, 8 June 2023" (PDF). Maldon District Council. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  16. ↑ "Maldon District Council" . Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  17. ↑ "Rural Council purchase The Retreat". Chelmsford Chronicle. 22 September 1939. p. 8. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  18. ↑ "The District of Maldon (Electoral Changes) Order 2001", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, SI 2001/2436, retrieved 19 May 2023
  19. ↑ "Parish councils contact details". Maldon District Council. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
  20. ↑ "East of England Region". Civic Heraldry of England. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  1. ↑ Council, Maldon District. "Maldon District Council". maldon.gov.uk. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  2. ↑ "Maldon Town Council – Working for You" . Retrieved 6 July 2021.
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