Woodham Mortimer
Encyclopedia
Woodham Mortimer is a village on the Dengie peninsula
about three miles west-south-west of Maldon
in the English county of Essex
. The village is part of the Wickham Bishops and Woodham ward of the Maldon district
.
gave the parish to Robert de Mortimer, leading to the change in name.
s, the Royal Oak on the A414 and the Hurdlemakers Arms on Post Office Road. Its name refers to the hurdles which used to be made from materials cut in the nearby woods. There is a golf driving range with 9-hole pitch and putt that was opened in 1967 on Burnham Road.
The parish church is St Margaret's. The original church on the site may date from the 16th century, however, it was rebuilt in the 19th century leaving little evidence of the older church with only the south wall and east end remaining.
Evidence for the age of the church includes the 13th century font (although the base is newer) and the 17th century carvings on the pulpit.
The church has a small window commemorating Queen Victoria's diamond jubilee.
The graveyard includes the grave of Peter Chamberlen.
lived in. There is a blue plaque
fixed to the hall noting them as pioneering obstetricians who invented the forceps
. The hall passed out of the Chamberlen family in 1715 when the family home was sold. The forceps were found in 1813 under a trap door in the loft
of the hall and given to the Medical and Chirurgical Society which passed them to the Royal Society of Medicine
in 1818.
There is a war memorial
commemorating the nine people from the village who died during the World Wars. There is also a memorial erected in 1825 to William Alexander, who left his lands to the poor.
Dengie peninsula
Dengie is a peninsula in Essex, England, that once formed a hundred of the same name .The peninsula is formed by the River Crouch to the south, the Blackwater to the north, both of which are tidal, and the North Sea to the east...
about three miles west-south-west of Maldon
Maldon, Essex
Maldon is a town on the Blackwater estuary in Essex, England. It is the seat of the Maldon district and starting point of the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation.Maldon is twinned with the Dutch town of Cuijk...
in the English county of 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...
. The village is part of the Wickham Bishops and Woodham ward of the Maldon district
Maldon (district)
Maldon is a local government district in Essex, England. Its council is based in the town of Maldon, and the next largest centre of population is Burnham-on-Crouch. The district covers the Dengie peninsula as well as an area to the north of the Blackwater Estuary, a total area of...
.
History
The village was first recorded as "Wudeham" in c. 975. The name is derived from the old English words "wudu" (wood in modern English) and "ham" (home, or homestead). At the time of the Norman Conquest the parish belonged to Ralph Peverell and was known as Little Woodham. Henry IIHenry II of England
Henry II ruled as King of England , Count of Anjou, Count of Maine, Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Count of Nantes, Lord of Ireland and, at various times, controlled parts of Wales, Scotland and western France. Henry, the great-grandson of William the Conqueror, was the...
gave the parish to Robert de Mortimer, leading to the change in name.
Economy
There are two public housePublic house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
s, the Royal Oak on the A414 and the Hurdlemakers Arms on Post Office Road. Its name refers to the hurdles which used to be made from materials cut in the nearby woods. There is a golf driving range with 9-hole pitch and putt that was opened in 1967 on Burnham Road.
Education
The village has a pre-school based in the village hall on Post Office Road. It was established in 1972. Next to the village hall is a playing field with swings and a small football pitch.Religious sites
Evidence for the age of the church includes the 13th century font (although the base is newer) and the 17th century carvings on the pulpit.
The church has a small window commemorating Queen Victoria's diamond jubilee.
The graveyard includes the grave of Peter Chamberlen.
Landmarks
Woodham Mortimer Hall is a 17th century gabled house that Hugh and Peter ChamberlenPeter Chamberlen
Peter Chamberlen was the name of two brothers, the sons of William Chamberlen , a Huguenot surgeon who fled from Paris to England in 1576. They are famous for inventing the modern use of obstetrical forceps...
lived in. There is a blue plaque
Blue plaque
A blue plaque is a permanent sign installed in a public place to commemorate a link between that location and a famous person or event, serving as a historical marker....
fixed to the hall noting them as pioneering obstetricians who invented the forceps
Forceps
Forceps or forcipes are a handheld, hinged instrument used for grasping and holding objects. Forceps are used when fingers are too large to grasp small objects or when many objects need to be held at one time while the hands are used to perform a task. The term 'forceps' is used almost exclusively...
. The hall passed out of the Chamberlen family in 1715 when the family home was sold. The forceps were found in 1813 under a trap door in the loft
Loft
A loft can be an upper story or attic in a building, directly under the roof. Alternatively, a loft apartment refers to large adaptable open space, often converted for residential use from some other use, often light industrial...
of the hall and given to the Medical and Chirurgical Society which passed them to the Royal Society of Medicine
Royal Society of Medicine
The Royal Society of Medicine is a British charitable organisation whose main purpose is as a provider of medical education, running over 350 meetings and conferences each year.- History and overview :...
in 1818.
There is a war memorial
War memorial
A war memorial is a building, monument, statue or other edifice to celebrate a war or victory, or to commemorate those who died or were injured in war.-Historic usage:...
commemorating the nine people from the village who died during the World Wars. There is also a memorial erected in 1825 to William Alexander, who left his lands to the poor.