Woodham Walter facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Woodham Walter |
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 St Michael's, Woodham Walter |
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 Woodham Walter
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| Population | 532 (2011) |
| OS grid reference | TL808070 |
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Maldon |
| Postcode district | CM9 |
| Dialling code | 01245 & 01621 |
| Police | Essex |
| Fire | Essex |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| EU Parliament | East of England |
| UK Parliament |
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Woodham Walter is a small village located in Essex, England. It's about three miles west of a larger town called Maldon. This village is part of the Wickham Bishops and Woodham area within the Maldon district.
Contents
A Look Back in Time: Woodham Walter's History
What's in a Name?
The village of Woodham Walter has a very old name! It was first written down around the year 875 as "Wudeham." This name comes from old English words. Wudu means "wood" (like a forest), and ham means "home" or "homestead." So, "Wudeham" meant "village in the wood."
The "Walter" part of the name came later. It probably comes from the Fitzwalter family. This family owned a big house in the village called Woodham Walter Hall for many years. This old manor house, which had a moat around it, was taken down in the 1600s.
Ancient Treasures Found
People have lived in or near Woodham Walter for a very long time. We know this because of some cool discoveries!
- In 1991, three amazing gold and bronze "torcs" were found at Oak Farm. Torcs are like large, stiff necklaces or bracelets. These torcs are super old, from around 1000 BC!
- A collection of silver coins was also found in the village. These coins date back to about 700 AD. These finds tell us that people were here long before the village was first recorded.
The Domesday Book
The Domesday Book is a famous old record from 1086. It was like a big survey ordered by William the Conqueror. The book lists how many people lived in different places. For Woodham Walter, the Domesday Book recorded a population of 18 people.
Life in Woodham Walter Today
Local Hangouts
Even though it's a small village, Woodham Walter has a few places where people can meet up. There are three public houses, which are often called pubs in England. These are The Bell Inn, The Queen Victoria, and The Cats.
Learning and Faith
School Days
Woodham Walter has its own primary school. It's called Woodham Walter Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School. About 75 students attend this school, learning and growing together in the village.
A Special Church
The village is home to St Michael the Archangel Church. This church has an interesting history! In 1562, a man named Thomas, Earl of Sussex, got permission from Queen Elizabeth I to build a new church. It was mostly finished by 1563 and officially opened in 1564. This makes St Michael's Church possibly the very first new Church of England place of worship built after the Reformation. The Reformation was a big change in England when the country moved away from the Roman Catholic Church.
