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Welcome to Chelmsford...
Our passion for Chelmsford is clear to see from browsing our social media accounts or popping into our City-centre studio. A visit to Essex's first City and its surrounding areas certainly leaves a lasting impression, with a wide variety of historic landmarks still readily available for all to see.
To celebrate Chelmsford, DSD has produced a collection of artworks to capture the pioneering spirit and legacy sites of our great City. These have been recreated across a range of ultra useful pieces of merchandise which are now available for purchase from our store.
Central Park Viaduct
An 18 arch behemoth carrying the Great Eastern main line from London to Norwich
The viaduct running through the Central Park is the largest of three in Chelmsford, spanning 18 arches and snaking its way through an ever-increasingly populated City.
Due to the geography of the Chelmsford landscape, the viaduct was a neccessity to bridge the gap between Brentwood and Colchester when the Eastern Counties Railway (ECR) opened the line in 1843.
As the railway is elevated on a viaduct, the platforms are above street-level, with a three-storey station building on today's site being constructed in 1885 by the Great Eastern Railway, into which the ECR had been merged. The present station building dates from a rebuild in 1985 and then a further facelift, completed in 2016.
The Britvic Clock Tower
Part of the Chelmsford landscape since 1955, a legacy beautifully preserved
On March 14th 2014 production at the famous Britvic factory in Chelmsford ceased, ending an era of 60 years of soft drink production in the City.
The iconic clock tower, positioned at the rear of the site and considered a key part of Chelmsford’s landscape, remained for a further 3 years until its demolition along with rest of the factory in 2017 to make way for the new Clock Tower retail park along Westway.
A replacement clock tower was constructed at the entrance to the park and acts as a public art installation, with bubbles of light rising up the front facade when the clock strikes the hour, standing as a permanent reminder of the site's connection to Britvic and the importance of the company to the City.
Essex County Cricket Ground
Celebrating home runs in style since 1967 at 'Fortress Chelmsford'
Essex County Cricket Club has experienced fantastic form over the past 5 seasons, beating 17 opponents from across England and Wales to claim the County Championship twice, in 2017 and most recently 2019.
For Chelmsfordians it brings great pride for the Essex County Ground (ECG) to be located in our City, the county town of Essex.
Although the ECG has a capacity of 6,500 seats, it is a relatively small ground and therefore suits big-hitting batsmen. Having been the county’s official home ground since 1967, it always attracts a large amount of passionate local support which has led to it affectionately being referred to as 'Fortress Chelmsford'.
Marconi New Street
The World's first purpose-built radio factory, site of Britain's first radio broadcast
The Grade 2 listed Marconi building along New Street in Chelmsford is as majestic today as it was back in 1912 when it was constructed in just 17 weeks to allow for the company’s expansion.
The site is credited with being the world’s first purpose-built radio factory, as well as being the location for Britain’s first official radio broadcast on 15th June 1920 by Dame Nellie Melba, whos rendition was received throughout Europe and as far as Canada! The historic event is commemorated by a blue plaque at the entrance to the building.
Today the grand structure houses the UK head office of the San Francisco-based company Benefit Cosmetics UK. The Marconi legacy lives on within the building however, with a timeline dedicated to the former radio pioneer adorning the wall of one of the offices, as well as a selection of classic radio handsets.
