Rochford, a Town in the District of Rochford in Essex County, East of England
The town of Rochford is in the Rochford district of the English county of Essex. This civil parish consists of the London Southend Airport and the town proper. It is almost 21 miles from Chelmsford, Essex County Town, and approximately 43 miles from Central London. It is a short distance to the north of Southend-on-Sea but is separated well enough from Rayleigh and Southend to maintain its identity. Until the 19th Century, the town was famous for having the Lawless Court.
The town is Rochford district’s primary settlement and derives its name from Old English Rochefort which means “Ford of the Hunting Dogs.” The River Roach, the river that flows through the town including in suburban developments of the parishes of Hawkwell and Ashingdon, was once called Wallfleet which means “creek of the foreigners” but was renamed, Roach. This is where the second assumed meaning of the town’s name was derived, “Ford over the River Roach.”
Food, Shopping and Accommodation in Rochford
There is a modest collection of independent shops and along West Street of this town, but most residents go to neighbouring towns for a day of retail therapy. But with regards to places to wine and dine, this town can hold its own with its twenty-nine eating establishments of restaurants. Pubs, bars and cafes mostly serving British fare bu with a sizeable number of places serving Indian, Chinese, Italian and other cuisines from around the world.
Things to See and Do in Rochford
The town is off the beaten tourist track, but while in this town, visitors should take the chance to visit the places of interest in Southend-on-Sea and Hackley including the Southend Pier Museum, the Southend on Sea Treasure Hunt Trail, the Southend Cliff Lift, the Century Museum and Planetarium, Sealife Adventure and much more.