Great Bromley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Great Bromley |
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 St George's Church, Great Bromley |
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 Great Bromley
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| Population | 1,037 (2011) |
| OS grid reference | TM083262 |
| District |
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| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Colchester |
| Postcode district | CO7 |
| Dialling code | 01206 |
| Police | Essex |
| Fire | Essex |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| EU Parliament | East of England |
| UK Parliament |
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Great Bromley is a lovely village in Essex, England. It's part of the Tendring area. You can find it about 6 kilometers (or 4 miles) south of Manningtree and 9 kilometers (about 6 miles) east of Colchester. The village also includes smaller areas called Balls Green, Hare Green, and Bromley Cross. A main road, the A120, goes right through the middle of the village.
Contents
A Look Back in Time
Ancient Discoveries
Long, long ago, ancient burial mounds were found in and around Great Bromley. These mounds show that people lived here many centuries ago.
The Village Church
The church in Great Bromley is very old. It was built in the 1300s and 1400s. It's named after Saint George, a famous saint. Some people even call it the "Cathedral of the Tendring Hundred" because it's so grand.
Early Settlers and New Lands
In the 1600s, many people in this area had strong religious beliefs. They were called Puritans. Some of them decided to leave England for a new life. In 1635, two brothers, Gregory and Simon Stone, moved to America. They were part of a big move of people called the Great Migration. They settled in places like Cambridge and Watertown, Massachusetts.
The Crossman Family and the Village Hall
Between the two World Wars, a rich brewer named Sir Percy Crossman lived at the Hall in Great Bromley. His home had a large lake, about 500 yards long, with two small islands. This lake is still there today and is used by a local fishing club.
Sir Percy was very generous. Around 1923, he built a Village Hall next to a cricket pitch. This hall was a gift to the village from his son, Douglas Peter Crossman, in 1946. It's a place for community events and activities.
A Family's Memorial
Inside the church, there's a special monument. It remembers three sons from the Hanson family, who owned the Hall. One son died fighting in Spain against Napoleon's army. Another died while serving in the Navy. The third passed away on a ship belonging to the East India Company.
World War II and the Radar Station
During the Second World War, Great Bromley Church was damaged by bombs three times. Windows on the east and north sides were hit.
An important radar station was built near the village between 1936 and 1939. It was called AMES 24 and was one of the first Chain Home radar stations. It had tall steel and wooden towers, which locals called "the Pylons." This station was very important during the war. It helped track German planes during the Battle of Britain and the Blitz. It also tracked V2 rockets later on.
In 1941 and 1942, it was also the first control center for "Gee" navigation. This system helped guide RAF bombers to their targets. At its busiest, over 250 RAF staff worked at Great Bromley. The station was almost hit by bombs several times but was never directly struck. Soldiers and guns defended it. Today, you can still see parts of the old guardhouses and tower bases.
After the War
After the war, the old radar site was used for new things. Marconi, a famous company, used it for radio and television tests. It also helped with radio communication for the Police, Fire Brigade, and Civil Defence. American airmen even lived nearby to operate radio equipment that linked the US Air Force in England and Germany.
Great Bromley Today
In 2006, the church of St. George received a grant of £2,000. This money came from the Friends of Essex Churches Trust. It was used to help repair the church's windows, keeping this historic building in good condition.
