A new book reveals for the first time the extraordinary history of horse racing in Chelmsford.

Written by David Dunford, a former BBC journalist who lives in Galleywood, Full Circle, The Rise, Fall and Rise of Horse Racing in Chelmsford uncovers a lost world which began more than 250 years ago. It tells the story of racing on Galleywood Common, which ended in the Thirties and the birth of Chelmsford City Racecourse at Great Leighs in the 21st century.

At the end of the 18th and the beginning of the 19th centuries horse races were the highlight of the entertainment calendar across England. By far the most popular in Essex were at Galleywood.

As well as the races, the aristocracy and wealthy enjoyed many grand social events organised in Chelmsford to coincide with them, including balls, dinners and concerts. The races attracted the cream of society and there was much excitement in 1814 when the Duke of Wellington was among the spectators.

For the mass of working people – far too poor to ever attend the great social occasions - the races themselves offered a wonderful day out and the chance to meet friends in a carnival atmosphere. The racecourse was crammed with side shows – small theatres, boxing booths, jugglers, acrobats, card sharps and many beer tents.

The heyday of racing at Galleywood came in the 1860s and a new grandstand was opened in 1863. With the building of St Michael’s church in the 1870s, it became the only racecourse in the country to encircle a church.

The nature of racing changed towards the end of the 18th century as it became more professional and better organized. But, despite this, its popularity began to decline. Flat racing came to an end around 1880 and the course was converted to steeplechasing. Racing was suspended during the First World War and when it resumed thousands of pounds were spent on improvements to the course. The resurgence didn’t last, the crowds dwindled and the last meeting came in March 1935. But that wasn’t the end of the story. Eighty years later the cheers of racegoers ring out again at the new Chelmsford City Racecourse at Great Leighs.

Mr Dunford, 69, who was born in Chelmsford and went to the University of Essex in the late Sixties, enjoyed a successful career in journalism and was editor of the BBC General News Service. After taking early retirement, he was a visiting lecturer in radio journalism at the University of the Arts in London, before returning to university himself in 2014.

The book, which is the first he has had published, grew out of the dissertation he wrote while studying for his MA in History at the University of Essex.

He said: "I used to do a lot of horse riding and living in Galleywood and driving across the common, I often wondered what went on when it was used as a racecourse.

"My MA course finally gave me the chance to find out and this book is the result."

Full Circle – The Rise, Fall and Rise of Horse Racing in Chelmsford is published on March 3 by Essex Hundred Publications at £12.99.

Caption: Racing past the church at Galleywood in the 1920s. Picture courtesy of Galleywood Heritage Centre.