Layer de la Haye facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Layer de la Haye |
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 St. John the Baptist church, Layer de la Haye |
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 Layer de la Haye
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| Population | 1,767 (2011) |
| OS grid reference | TL968199 |
| District |
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| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | COLCHESTER |
| Postcode district | CO2 |
| Dialling code | 01206 |
| Police | Essex |
| Fire | Essex |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| EU Parliament | East of England |
| UK Parliament |
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Layer de la Haye (sometimes spelled Layer-de-la-Haye) is a village in Essex, England. It is part of the City of Colchester area. In 2011, about 1,767 people lived there. Locals often just call it Layer.
Contents
A Look Back: History of Layer de la Haye
The village of Layer de la Haye has a long history. It is believed to have started in Saxon times. Its first name was Legra, which meant 'lookout'. This was because the village is on high ground. It was a great spot for Saxons to watch for invaders coming from the coast.
Later, the name changed to Leire or Leger. This word, from the Norse language, meant 'mud'. It probably described the muddy soil and marshy land around the village. When the Normans took over England, a family called de la Hayes owned the village. This is how the name became Layer de la Haye.
Challenges and Changes
In the 1300s, the village faced a tough time. The terrible Black Death (a plague) hit Layer de la Haye very hard. The local church was left empty and falling apart. Luckily, monks later helped to fix it up.
In 1289, a man named John de Rye gave 160 acres of land to St John's Abbey in Colchester. To thank him, a manor and a farm were named after him: Rye Manor and Rye Farm. By the end of the 1400s, the Abbey built a special gatehouse. Today, this building is known as the Greate House.
When the Dissolution of the Monasteries began in 1536, a powerful man named Sir Thomas Audley took control of some lands in Layer de la Haye. He became a very important person in the government. The village's water-mill, called Layer Mill, was even mentioned in the old Domesday Book. It used water from the Roman River to power its wheel.
Famous People and an Earthquake
Many important people are buried in the churchyard of St John the Baptist. These include Arthur Cecil Alport, a doctor who discovered a kidney disease. Also buried there are Cuthbert Alport, a politician, and General Sir Ivo Vesey, a top army officer.
Layer de la Haye also experienced a big event in 1884. It was one of the villages that was damaged by the 1884 Colchester earthquake.
What's in Layer de la Haye?
The village has a Church of England primary school for children up to age eleven. The school offers fun after-school clubs, like a girls' football club. This club is even organized by the professional football team Colchester United F.C..
The Village Church
The main church in the village is called St John the Baptist. There has been a church building here since at least 1128. Some parts of the building might even be older! For over 400 years, monks from Colchester helped to provide priests for the church.
The main part of the church and its tower were rebuilt around 1350. In the 1800s, a new section was added to make space for more people. The church has five bells, with the oldest one dating back to 1459. In 2001, a project was finished to put in a new frame for the bells.
Abberton Reservoir
Part of the large Abberton Reservoir is located in Layer de la Haye. The Essex Wildlife Trust manages a visitor centre there. This reservoir is very important for wild birds. Up to 40,000 birds visit it every year!
The reservoir was built starting in 1935. It also led to the building of the Layer de la Haye Treatment Works. This is where water from the reservoir is cleaned. Then, it's sent to another town to be mixed with other water sources before it becomes drinking water for homes. The buildings at the treatment works are good examples of a modern building style from that time.
People and Community
The number of people living in Layer de la Haye has changed over time. In 1950, there were fewer than 700 residents. By 1975, it was over 1,000, and by 1990, it was almost 2,000.
Because the larger town of Colchester is nearby, with many shops, the three shops in Layer de la Haye eventually closed. However, the Layer Village Store was reopened by new owners in 2015. Even though there have been some worries about bad behavior, most people see Layer de la Haye as a safe and happy place to live. Many clubs and groups offer fun activities for everyone in the village.
See also
In Spanish: Layer-de-la-Haye para niños
