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Writtle
Village
Writtle has a well documented
history going back many centuries, and includes King John’s Palace and Hunting Lodge.
Robert The Bruce, King of Scotland was born here on 11 July 1274. The village was on the
main coaching road between London and Norwich and was once therefore more important than
neighbouring Chelmsford. In 1922, the Marconi Wireless Telegraphy Company began
transmitting the first regular broadcast from Writtle.
Early History
The Little Domesday Book reveals Writtle as one of the largest
manors, both in population and territory, in Essex, the importance of which was
enhanced by its being a royal demesne (i.e. land that was held for the King's
own use).
Writtle was probably named by the Celts
combining ‘Rhyd’ meaning ford and ‘Dol’ meaning valley, thus
Rhyddol.
Some historians think the name derives from ‘Writolaburna’, the
Old English name for the River Wid, which winds its way across the extreme
south-east corner of the manor. Writolaburna signifies the bubbling,
purling stream.
King John had a hunting lodge
built near the site of the present Writtle College in 1210 and bears the name
King John's Palace. The Palace continued to be used as a hunting lodge by King
Henry III, after King John's death in 1216, before passing into the hands of
Isobel de Bruys (Bruce), forebear of Robert the Bruce. Robert the Bruce, future King of Scotland, was born here on 11 July 1274.
It is recorded that by 1566, little remained of the buildings. Today, very
little exists to remind us of its royal connection.
In 1922, the Marconi Wireless Telegraphy Company began
transmitting the first regular broadcast from Writtle.
| The station was
known as Two Emma Toc or 2MT Writtle and was the forerunner of the BBC. |
Further information about Marconi and the
Writtle connection can be found at Marconi
Calling.
To find out more about Writtle, see
the Writtle
College, Writtle Parish Council or the
Disgruntled of Writtle websites.
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