Huntingbridge

Huntingbridge is a market town and is the main centre of local government for Huntingbridge District, a unitary authority in central England. It began life as a small Saxon settlement by the River Great Hunt and gradually grew over the years, due to the importance of its market and the building of the first bridge in 1110 AD. There is considerable evidence of a Roman settlement and river crossing on the Roman road to the north, Watling Street.

It became an important staging post and the Coach and Horses coaching inn in the High Street is still in use as a hotel with courtyard and some of the stable buildings can still be seen. In the summer the courtyard is used for amateur productions of Shakespeare's plays.

With the coming of the railway in the 1860's the town lost its importance as a travellers stop-over and had to find alternative trade.

The prison was built along standard designs of Victorian prisons and some of the prison records can be seen online as part of the Victorian Crime and Punishment database http://vcp.e2bn.org/ The population has grown rapidly over the past twenty-five years from 12,000 in 1970, to 20,000 in 1995, largely as a result of the construction of a large housing estate and industrial estate creating many jobs.

The town has a wide range of facilities, including a main line railway station, a large town centre shopping area, market, hospital, out of town shopping area, library, cinema, a number of pubs, a night club and a large industrial estate. There is also a nature reserve and marina.

The Police Station is usually open from 0800 hrs to 2400 hrs every day for callers. It is manned 24 hours a day and as well as uniform patrols there is a traffic department and CID offices.

Huntingbridge has a Magistrates Court and Crown Court.

The Fire Station is manned 24 hours by regular Fire Fighters.

The Hospital has an Ambulance Station and a 24 hour Casualty Department.

Education in Huntingbridge is provided by several primary schools, a comprehensive school and a sixth form college.

Crime in Huntingbridge is not high by national standards, although it causes some residents concern. The Police are working with the community on a range of projects to try and reduce crime and the fear of crime, through Neighbourhood Watch, Countryside Watch, the District Council and other interested groups.

Some of the schools have active Junior Crime Prevention Panels and Youth Action Groups. The Town Council has established a Youth Town Council. This is an elected group of 15 to 20 year old people in the town. They address issues which relate to young people. They are set up as a Council Sub Committee and have a budget allocation.

Many homes have two car families without enough garage space for both cars, and many homes do not have a garage. Many people also feel they will not be the victims of crime and do not put cars in garages even when they are able.

Huntingbridge has recently installed two CCTV schemes in the town. One is located in the shopping area and Market Square and the other at the Hospital. These have helped to cut crime. There are plans to extend these schemes when more money becomes available.

See the town map

See the county map