Layer de la Haye
Encyclopedia
Layer de la Haye is a small village
of around 2,000 people near Colchester
in Essex
, England
. While its historical significance is limited, it nevertheless has an interesting and varied history, and today it offers vibrant and community and beautiful landscapes.
In 1289, John de Rye donated 160 acres (650,000 m²) of land to St John's Abbey in Colchester. As a token of appreciation, a manor and farm were named after him (Rye Manor and Rye Farm respectively). At the end of the 15th century, the Abbey built a toll-gate house, now called the Greate House (originally the Gate House) near Malting Green.
At the time of the dissolution of the Monasteries which began in 1536, Sir Thomas Audley, who in turn became speaker of the House of Commons and Lord Chancellor, appropriated the manors of Rye and Blind Knights, together with the Mill and the patronage of the benefice. Layer Mill is mentioned in the Domesday Book as a water-mill. The mill wheel was powered by water from the Roman River.
Layer de la Haye is among the villages which suffered damage from the 1884 Colchester earthquake
.
Despite concerns over vandalism and so-called "yobbery" - a growing concern amongst the middle class in almost all rural areas of England - the village is generally regarded as a safe and happy place to be [1]. Societies and clubs such as The Shoestring Theatre Company provide entertainment for the whole village community.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
of around 2,000 people near Colchester
Colchester
Colchester is an historic town and the largest settlement within the borough of Colchester in Essex, England.At the time of the census in 2001, it had a population of 104,390. However, the population is rapidly increasing, and has been named as one of Britain's fastest growing towns. As the...
in Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. While its historical significance is limited, it nevertheless has an interesting and varied history, and today it offers vibrant and community and beautiful landscapes.
History of the village
The village is thought to have been founded in Saxon times, with its original name, Legra, meaning 'lookout'; indeed, its elevation made it an ideal vantage point for the Saxons against raiding parties from the coast. Later its name changed to Leire or Leger, meaning 'mud'. A Norse word, this is likely to have referred to the soil and marshland around the village. During the time of the Norman Conquests, the village was "owned" by the de la Hayes, and its name thus changed to Layer de la Haye. Layer was ravaged by the Black Plague of the 14th Century. The Church became derelict until it was restored by monks.In 1289, John de Rye donated 160 acres (650,000 m²) of land to St John's Abbey in Colchester. As a token of appreciation, a manor and farm were named after him (Rye Manor and Rye Farm respectively). At the end of the 15th century, the Abbey built a toll-gate house, now called the Greate House (originally the Gate House) near Malting Green.
At the time of the dissolution of the Monasteries which began in 1536, Sir Thomas Audley, who in turn became speaker of the House of Commons and Lord Chancellor, appropriated the manors of Rye and Blind Knights, together with the Mill and the patronage of the benefice. Layer Mill is mentioned in the Domesday Book as a water-mill. The mill wheel was powered by water from the Roman River.
Layer de la Haye is among the villages which suffered damage from the 1884 Colchester earthquake
1884 Colchester earthquake
The Colchester earthquake, also known as the Great English Earthquake, occurred on 22 April 1884. It caused considerable damage in Colchester and the surrounding villages in Essex...
.
The village community
In days past the village was a small and tight-knit community; since then it has undergone a rapid expansion. In 1950 its population was under 700; by 1975 it was over 1,000 and in 1990 it was just short of 2,000. However, the proximity of Colchester, with its large range of shops and facilities, has eventually forced all but one of the three shops in Layer to close. Despite this, the village has still managed to maintain its distinct character and feel.Despite concerns over vandalism and so-called "yobbery" - a growing concern amongst the middle class in almost all rural areas of England - the village is generally regarded as a safe and happy place to be [1]. Societies and clubs such as The Shoestring Theatre Company provide entertainment for the whole village community.