Rochford is a community in the Rochford area of Essex in the East of England. It is about 43 miles (69 kilometres) from Central London and also about 21 miles (34 kilometres) from Chelmsford, the County Town of Essex. According to the 2001 census the civil parish of Rochford, that includes the community correct, as well as London Southend Airport, had a population of 7,610, enhancing to 8,471 at the 2011 Census. The community is the primary settlement in the Rochford district, as well as takes its name from Rochefort, Old English for Ford of the Hunting Dogs. The River Roach was initially called the Walfleet (Creek of the foreigners). It was relabelled the Roach in what is known as a back formation. This is where it is thought that Rochford indicates ford over the River Cockroach so they relabelled the river to fit the concept. The town runs into country developments in the parishes of Ashingdon and Hawkwell. Kings Hill, in Rochford, was notable for having the Lawless Court up until the 19th century.