CHELMSFORD, market town and municipal borough, and the county town of Essex, England, 3o m. E.N.E. from London by the L.N.E.R. Pop. (1931) 26,537. It lies in the Chelmer valley at the confluence of the Cann, and has communication by river with Maldon and the Blackwater estuary 11 m. east. Chelmsford (Chilmers f ord, Chelmeres f ord, Chelmes f ord) owed its mediaeval importance to its position on the road from London to Colchester. It consisted of two manors: that of Moulsham, which remained in the possession of Westminster Abbey from Saxon times till the reign of Henry VIII. and that of Bishop's Hall, which was held by the bishops of London from the reign of Edward the Confessor to 1545. The mediaeval history of Chelmsford centred round the manor of Bishop's Hall. Early in the 12th century Bishop Maurice built the bridge over the Chelmer which brought the road from London directly through the town, thus making it an important stopping-place. The town was not incorporated until 1888. In 1225 Chelmsford was made the centre for the collection of fifteenths from the county of Essex, and in 1227 it became the regular seat of assizes and quarter-sessions. The parish church of St. Mary is a Perpendic ular building, largely rebuilt. The grammar school was founded by Edward VI. In 1199 the bishop obtained the grant of a weekly market, and in 1201 that of an annual fair, now discontinued, for four days from the feast of St. Philip and St. James. The town has a large agricultural market and a corn exchange in the centre of the square. There are agricultural implement and iron foundries, electrical and engineering works and extensive corn mills. There is a race-course 2 m. south of the town. Chelmsford is the seat of a bishop. There is also a wireless transmitting station, where, Feb. 23, 1920, the first wireless telephone broad casting service in the world was transmitted. The borough is in the Chelmsford parliamentary division of Essex. Area (of municipal borough) 3,112 acres.