Wat Tyler Country Park is a country park located to the south of Pitsea, Essex within the area of Pitsea Marsh. [1] The area was inhabited from the Bronze Age onwards and at one time was the location of the Pitsea Explosives Factory.
The park is named after Wat Tyler, the leader of the Peasants' Revolt in 1381, which started in nearby Fobbing before spreading to London. The Revolt failed and Tyler was killed, but he is remembered as a people's champion against the rich and powerful.
Facilities include the RSPB Wildlife Garden and Visitor Centre, and a miniature railway.
Little Coopers Farmhouse that was originally located in Takeley was designated a Grade II building in 1980. In the late 1980s due to redevelopment, the whole structure was dismantled and re-built at the Wat Tyler Country Park. [2]
The park contains a miniature railway which in 2012 had four platforms and 1.2 km of track. [3] It has not been used since before 2020. [4]
Basildon is the largest town in the borough of Basildon, within the county of Essex, England. It had a recorded population of 107,123. In 1931, the town had a population of 1,159.
WatTyler was a leader of the 1381 Peasants' Revolt in England. He led a group of rebels from Canterbury to London to oppose the institution of a poll tax and to demand economic and social reforms. While the brief rebellion enjoyed early success, Tyler was killed by officers loyal to King Richard II during negotiations at Smithfield, London.
The Borough of Basildon is a local government district in south Essex in the East of England, centred on the town of Basildon. It was formed as the Basildon District on 1 April 1974 from the former area of Basildon Urban District and the part of Thurrock Urban District that was within the Basildon New Town. The population of the district as of 2010 is about 172,000. The local authority is Basildon Borough Council. The council made an application for borough status in February 2010 and this was given approval that year, with Mo Larkin becoming the first mayor in October.
Wickford is a town and civil parish in the south of the English county of Essex, with a population of 33,486. Located approximately 30 miles (50 km) east of London, it is within the Borough of Basildon along with the original town of Basildon, Billericay, Laindon and Pitsea.
Basildon United Football Club is a football club based in Basildon, Essex. They are currently members of the Isthmian League North Division and play at Gardiners Close.
Basildon was a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elected one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election.
One third of Basildon Borough Council in Essex, England is elected each year, followed by one year without election. Since the last boundary changes in 2002, 42 councillors have been elected from 16 wards.
Bowers & Pitsea Football Club is a football club based in Pitsea, Essex, England. The club are currently members of the Isthmian League Premier Division and play at the Len Salmon Stadium.
Pitsea is a small town and former civil parish, now in the unparished area of Basildon, in south Essex, England. It comprises five sub-districts: Eversley, Northlands Park Neighbourhood, Chalvedon, Pitsea Mount and Burnt Mills. It is part of the new town of Basildon. In 1931 the parish had a population of 3414.
Basildon and Billericay is a constituency in Essex represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament. Since its 2010 creation it has been represented by John Baron, a Conservative.
South Basildon and East Thurrock is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since its 2010 creation by Stephen Metcalfe, a Conservative.
Benfleet railway station is on the London, Tilbury and Southend line, serving the towns of South Benfleet and Canvey Island, Essex. It is 29 miles 11 chains (46.9 km) down the main line from London Fenchurch Street via Basildon and it is situated between Pitsea to the west and Leigh-on-Sea to the east. Its three-letter station code is BEF.
Stanford-le-Hope railway station is on a loop line of the London, Tilbury and Southend line, serving the town of Stanford-le-Hope, Essex. It is 27 miles 13 chains (43.7 km) down the line from London Fenchurch Street via Rainham and it is situated between East Tilbury and Pitsea. Its three-letter station code is SFO.
Gloucester Park in Basildon is an urban neighbourhood park, named after the Duke of Gloucester, who opened the park in 1957. In the 1970s a 6-acre (24,000 m2) artificial fishing lake was made in the park. Since 2001 it has held the annual Basildon Festival, which moved from Wat Tyler park. It is also the training facility of Basildon Amateur Athletics Club who boast an all-weather stadium and train mostly on a Monday and Wednesday night. Other facilities at the park include a swimming pool, netball and tennis courts, bowling green, children's playground, cricket and football pitches with astro turf.
Ailsa Craig Engines was a manufacturer of marine and specialist made-to-order engines from 1891 to 1972. Named after the island off the coast of Ayr, Scotland, Ailsa Craig, the company began as a bicycle manufacturer in Glasgow in 1891, later moving to Putney, London, where the then owner went into partnership and set about building early vehicles, going on in 1904 to produce the world's first V12 engine intended for a Russian airship and even a petrol engined vacuum cleaner for Hubert Cecil Booth in 1904.
The Dunton Plotlands was an area of small rural plots of land in Dunton Wayletts, southern Essex inhabited from the 1930s to the 1980s.
Pitsea waste management site is a large landfill site on the north side of the Thames estuary 0.7 miles (1.1 km) from Pitsea in Basildon, Essex. It is the second largest landfill site in the UK operated by Veolia Ltd. receiving 800,000 tonnes of solid waste per year, mostly from the London conurbation.
Pitsea Marsh is a 94.6-hectare (234-acre) Site of Special Scientific Interest in Pitsea in Essex. The southern half is the Wat Tyler Country Park, and the northern half is private land.
Vange and Fobbing Marshes are a 164.6-hectare (407-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in two areas south of Basildon in Essex. Vange Marsh is managed by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.
Basildon Town Football Club is a football club based in Basildon, England. They are currently members of the Eastern Counties League Division One South and play at Rookery Hill, Corringham.