Rochford - Definition and Overview

Rochford in the county of Essex, United Kingdom is a small town to the north of Southend on Sea. It is sufficiently separated from both Southend and Rayleigh to preserve its own identity. The town square has remained relatively free of branding by national retailers and has avoided the brasher aspects of the tourism trade that have affected Southend. The town is the main settlement in the Rochford district, and takes its name from 'the ford over the river Roach'.

Until the early 1980s one of the largest employers in Rochford was the Lesneys factory, who manufactured the famous Matchbox minature die cast model cars. However this company relocated to Rugby in 1990.

It is close to a railway station from which trains run to both Southend and Liverpool Street station in the business district of central London. In consequence it has long been popular as a dormitory town for commuters.

To the south of the town an extensive golf course runs to the edge of the former RAF airfield of Rochford now known as "London Southend Airport".

Since 1980 the MP for Rochford and Southend East has been Sir Teddy Taylor (Conservative).