Woodham Walter

Woodham Walter
Woodham Walter
 Woodham Walter shown within Essex
Population 532 (2011)[1]
OS grid referenceTL808070
DistrictMaldon
Shire countyEssex
RegionEast
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post town Maldon
Postcode district CM9 6
Dialling code 01245 & 01621
Police Essex
Fire Essex
Ambulance East of England
EU Parliament East of England
UK ParliamentWitham
List of places
UK
England
Essex

Coordinates: 51°43′55″N 0°37′05″E / 51.732°N 0.618°E / 51.732; 0.618

Woodham Walter is a village about three miles west of Maldon in the English county of Essex. The village is part of the Wickham Bishops and Woodham ward of the Maldon district.[2]

History

The village was first recorded as "Wudeham" in c. 875. The name, which means "village in the wood"[3] is derived from the old English words "wudu" (wood in modern English)[4] and "ham" (home, or homestead). The modern name may derive from the Fitzwalter family who owned Woodham Walter Hall, a moated manor house in the village for many generations. The house was demolished in the 17th century by William Fytch[5]

There is evidence of earlier settlement. A hoard of silver coins was found in the village, dated to c. 700.[6] At Oak Farm in 1991 three gold and bronze torcs were discovered. They have been dated to c. 1000 BC.

The Domesday Book entry for Woodham Walter lists a population of 18.

Local amenities

There are three public houses, the Bell Inn, the Queen Victoria and The Cats. 2015

Education

There is one school in the village, Woodham Walter Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School. There are c. 75 students[7]

Religious sites

St Michael's, Woodham Walter

Thomas, Earl of Sussex, obtained a licence from Elizabeth I on 26 June 1562 to build the new parish church of St Michael the Archangel. It was largely completed (of red brick) in 1563 and consecrated on 30 April 1564, making it probably England's first new post-Reformation Church of England place of worship.[8]

References

Media related to Woodham Walter at Wikimedia Commons

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