CHELMSFORD, the county town of Essex, is de lightfully situated at the confluence of the rivers Chel mer and Cann, the former of which is crossed by a bridge, originally built by Maurice, bishop of London, but rebuilt in 1787. The town consists of four princi pal streets, and possesses several elegant public build ings. The shire hall is a handsome edifice, and contains apartments for the courts of assize and session, and also the corn exchange, and the assembly rooms. Its front, which is built with white stone, has a basement of rustic work, and a pediment sustained by four three quarter Io nic columns. The church, dedicated to St Mary, is a large and elegant building. The body of the church was erected in 1803, in place of the more ancient part, which fell down in 1800. It has a square flint tower at its west end. On the Moulsham side of the Chelmer stands the county gaol, which was begun in 1773, and contains all those accommodations which are now almost every where extended to persons in confinement. Two extensive barracks have been recently built here, one at the west end of the town, and the other on the south side, both of which can accommodate 4000 troops. At a
short distance from the last of these barracks commences the line of embankment, with the batteries and parapets which were erected for the defence of the metropolis. The other public buildings in Chelmsford, are the free grammar school, endowed by Edward VI. in 1552 ; a charity school for 50 boys, founded in 1713 ; a charity school for 20 girls, founded in 1714; and a neatly sculp tured conduit, (with the figure of a naiad at the top, and several appropriate inscriptions,) to which the water is conveyed from a spring at the distance of a quarter of a mile. At Galleywood Common, near Chelmsford, there is a race course, on which three plates are run for an nually, and one of them of the value. of 100 guineas is given by the queen. Number of houses 822. Popula tion in 1811, 4649 ; males 2046, females 2603 ; females employed in trade 533. See Gough's Additions to Cam den's Britannia, vol. ii. p. 55 ; and Brayley and Britton's Beauties of England and Wales, vol. v. p. 256. (j)