Leigh-on-Sea
Encyclopedia
Leigh-on-Sea sometimes called Leigh, is a civil parish
in Essex
, England
. It is part of Southend-on-Sea
for administrative purposes. It became a civil parish in 1996. The council tax
was increased to support it. A town council was formed. Leigh is the only parish in Southend. The population reported in the 2001 census was 20,737.
of 1086 as Legra. It started as a fishing centre between the north bank of the Thames estuary and a cliff. The Church of St. Clement, at the cliff top, has been an important landmark for sailors since 1400 or earlier. A flight of stairs led down to the village. Another settlement grew at the top of the cliff. The two settlements coalesced to form a single town. The lower part became known as "Old Leigh" or "Leigh Old Town". The sheltered position at the mouth of the Thames made Leigh a successful centre of international trade and shipbuilding.
Because of its good position on the shipping route to London, Leigh-on-Sea had grown to a fairly large and prosperous port by the 16th century. Ships as large as 340 tons were built for fishing and other purposes.
By the 18th century, ships had become larger and trade changed. Leigh's deep water channel silted up and the town diminished in importance. It then reverted to a fishing village, gradually, providing supplies to the London market by road and barge. When the London to Tilbury railway was extended to Southend in 1856, the town was split again, and many timber-framed buildings were demolished.
The completion of the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway
in 1854 allowed greater trade with London
and the rest of the world, and made Leigh a commuter town for London workers.
During World War II, Leigh-on-Sea was part of a restricted zone and residents who did not have to stay were urged to leave. A balloon barrage was moored to boats in the Thames Estuary to impede efforts by the Luftwaffe to fly up the Thames. The fishing fleet from Leigh was part of the flotilla from around the country that participated in the evacuation of British forces from the beaches of Dunkirk. A memorial in St. Clements churchyard is dedicated to their bravery and sacrifice.
The fabric of the Church of St. Clement includes, from the 15th century: the West tower, the North aisle and a brass monument to Richard Haddock; and from the 17th century: a brass of Robert Salmon (Master of Trinity House).
The Church of Our Lady of Lourdes and St. Joseph on Leigh Road (designed by Fr. Gilbert, 1924), the Church of St. Michael and All Angels on Leigh Road and the Church of St. Margaret on Lime Avenue (designed by Sir Charles Nicholson
, begun 1926 and 1931, respectively) are considered noteworthy buildings.
The main seafood catch from Leigh Old Town has always been shell-fish and whitebait.
Many of the fishing boats were "bawleys". These form part of the painting View at the mouth of the Thames.
's book Midget is set in Leigh-on-Sea. The author John Fowles
was born in the town in 1926. When Rebecca West
and H. G. Wells
were lovers, he bought her the house at 28 Marine Parade in late February 1917. The Broadway and its surrounds area are the setting of the love story The Romance Of Laura Jayne, who fictionally lived in West Street.
, actor; Phil Cornwell
, comedian and impressionist; Tina Cousins
, singer; John Fowles
, author; Phill Jupitus
, television presenter and comedian; David Lloyd
, tennis player and businessman; John Lloyd, tennis player and commentator; Helen Mirren
, actress; Lee Stafford
, celebrity hairdresser; Vivian Stanshall
, artist and musician; Cheekyboy, DJ/Mashup Producer; Hannah Tointon
, actress; Kara Tointon
, actress; Rebecca West
, literary figure.
The regatta
is held over one weekend in September. It is organised by the three Sea Scout
Groups based in the Old Town to raise funds for local Scouting and a nominated charity
. The annual Leigh Art Trail is a chance for local and invited international artists to show their works in the area's shops and cafes.
Leigh on Sea is the meeting place of the Southend Anglo-Italian Circle. Meetings are held in The Friends Meeting House in Dundonald Drive, just off Leigh Road from 8pm on the 3rd Wednesday of every month except August. Most lectures are in Italian.
newspaper in 2007, placed Leigh-On-Sea as being the second best place to live on the British coast after Christchurch
.
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
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...
. It is part of Southend-on-Sea
Southend-on-Sea
Southend-on-Sea is a unitary authority area, town, and seaside resort in Essex, England. The district has Borough status, and comprises the towns of Chalkwell, Eastwood, Leigh-on-Sea, North Shoebury, Prittlewell, Shoeburyness, Southchurch, Thorpe Bay, and Westcliff-on-Sea. The district is situated...
for administrative purposes. It became a civil parish in 1996. The council tax
Council tax
Council Tax is the system of local taxation used in England, Scotland and Wales to part fund the services provided by local government in each country. It was introduced in 1993 by the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as a successor to the unpopular Community Charge...
was increased to support it. A town council was formed. Leigh is the only parish in Southend. The population reported in the 2001 census was 20,737.
History and architecture
Leigh-on-Sea was recorded in the Domesday BookDomesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
of 1086 as Legra. It started as a fishing centre between the north bank of the Thames estuary and a cliff. The Church of St. Clement, at the cliff top, has been an important landmark for sailors since 1400 or earlier. A flight of stairs led down to the village. Another settlement grew at the top of the cliff. The two settlements coalesced to form a single town. The lower part became known as "Old Leigh" or "Leigh Old Town". The sheltered position at the mouth of the Thames made Leigh a successful centre of international trade and shipbuilding.
Because of its good position on the shipping route to London, Leigh-on-Sea had grown to a fairly large and prosperous port by the 16th century. Ships as large as 340 tons were built for fishing and other purposes.
By the 18th century, ships had become larger and trade changed. Leigh's deep water channel silted up and the town diminished in importance. It then reverted to a fishing village, gradually, providing supplies to the London market by road and barge. When the London to Tilbury railway was extended to Southend in 1856, the town was split again, and many timber-framed buildings were demolished.
The completion of the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway
London, Tilbury and Southend Railway
The London, Tilbury and Southend Railway is an English railway line linking Fenchurch Street railway station in the City of London with northeast London and the entire length of the northern Thames Gateway area of southern Essex. It is currently known as the Essex Thameside Route by Network Rail...
in 1854 allowed greater trade with London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and the rest of the world, and made Leigh a commuter town for London workers.
During World War II, Leigh-on-Sea was part of a restricted zone and residents who did not have to stay were urged to leave. A balloon barrage was moored to boats in the Thames Estuary to impede efforts by the Luftwaffe to fly up the Thames. The fishing fleet from Leigh was part of the flotilla from around the country that participated in the evacuation of British forces from the beaches of Dunkirk. A memorial in St. Clements churchyard is dedicated to their bravery and sacrifice.
The fabric of the Church of St. Clement includes, from the 15th century: the West tower, the North aisle and a brass monument to Richard Haddock; and from the 17th century: a brass of Robert Salmon (Master of Trinity House).
The Church of Our Lady of Lourdes and St. Joseph on Leigh Road (designed by Fr. Gilbert, 1924), the Church of St. Michael and All Angels on Leigh Road and the Church of St. Margaret on Lime Avenue (designed by Sir Charles Nicholson
Sir Charles Nicholson, 2nd Baronet
Sir Charles Archibald Nicholson, 2nd Baronet , became well-known as an ecclesiastical architect. He was the son of Sir Charles Nicholson, 1st Baronet, and brother of the stained glass artist Archibald Keightley Nicholson and of Sir Sydney Hugo Nicholson, organist at Westminster Abbey and founder of...
, begun 1926 and 1931, respectively) are considered noteworthy buildings.
The main seafood catch from Leigh Old Town has always been shell-fish and whitebait.
Many of the fishing boats were "bawleys". These form part of the painting View at the mouth of the Thames.
Literary connections
Tim BowlerTim Bowler
Tim Bowler is the author of twenty books for children, teenagers and young adults. He has won 15 awards, including the Carnegie Medal, the pre-eminent UK award for children's literature, for his novel River Boy....
's book Midget is set in Leigh-on-Sea. The author John Fowles
John Fowles
John Robert Fowles was an English novelist and essayist. In 2008, The Times newspaper named Fowles among their list of "The 50 greatest British writers since 1945".-Birth and family:...
was born in the town in 1926. When Rebecca West
Rebecca West
Cicely Isabel Fairfield , known by her pen name Rebecca West, or Dame Rebecca West, DBE was an English author, journalist, literary critic and travel writer. A prolific, protean author who wrote in many genres, West was committed to feminist and liberal principles and was one of the foremost public...
and H. G. Wells
H. G. Wells
Herbert George Wells was an English author, now best known for his work in the science fiction genre. He was also a prolific writer in many other genres, including contemporary novels, history, politics and social commentary, even writing text books and rules for war games...
were lovers, he bought her the house at 28 Marine Parade in late February 1917. The Broadway and its surrounds area are the setting of the love story The Romance Of Laura Jayne, who fictionally lived in West Street.
Notable people
Notable people with a connection to Leigh-on-Sea include Michael WildingMichael Wilding (actor)
-Early life:Born in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, England, Wilding was a successful commercial artist when he joined the art department of a London film studio in 1933. He soon embarked on an acting career.-Career:...
, actor; Phil Cornwell
Phil Cornwell
Phil Cornwell is an English comedian, actor, impressionist and writer. He is probably best known as being part of the Dead Ringers television and radio series...
, comedian and impressionist; Tina Cousins
Tina Cousins
Tina Cousins is an English singer-songwriter and former fashion model. She has had five singles in the Top 20 of the UK Singles Chart, both as a solo artist and in collaboration with others. She has also achieved popularity in Australia. She started her career as a model...
, singer; John Fowles
John Fowles
John Robert Fowles was an English novelist and essayist. In 2008, The Times newspaper named Fowles among their list of "The 50 greatest British writers since 1945".-Birth and family:...
, author; Phill Jupitus
Phill Jupitus
Phillip Christopher Jupitus is an English stand-up and improvised comedian, actor, performance poet, musician and podcaster....
, television presenter and comedian; David Lloyd
David Lloyd (tennis)
David Lloyd is a former professional English tennis player and businessman.He was born in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex. He and his younger brother John Lloyd became two of the most successful British tennis players throughout the 1970s and 1980s. David captained the British Davis Cup team and became a...
, tennis player and businessman; John Lloyd, tennis player and commentator; Helen Mirren
Helen Mirren
Dame Helen Mirren, DBE is an English actor. She has won an Academy Award for Best Actress, four SAG Awards, four BAFTAs, three Golden Globes, four Emmy Awards, and two Cannes Film Festival Best Actress Awards.-Early life and family:...
, actress; Lee Stafford
Lee Stafford
Lee Stafford is an award-winning celebrity hairdresser.-Biography:Stafford opened his hair salon in 1984 in Essex called The House That Hair Built. His career took off in 1997 when he won the title of Men's British Hairdresser of the Year. In 2000 he opened his second hair salon in Wardour Street,...
, celebrity hairdresser; Vivian Stanshall
Vivian Stanshall
Vivian Stanshall was an English singer-songwriter, painter, musician, author, poet and wit, best known for his work with the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, for his surreal exploration of the British upper classes in Sir Henry at Rawlinson End, and for narrating Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells.-The great...
, artist and musician; Cheekyboy, DJ/Mashup Producer; Hannah Tointon
Hannah Tointon
Hannah Marie Tointon is an English actress. She is best known for playing Katy Fox in the long running Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, and Tara in British sitcom The Inbetweeners.-Early life:...
, actress; Kara Tointon
Kara Tointon
Kara Louise Tointon is a British actress, best known for playing Dawn Swann in BBC soap opera EastEnders. Tointon was the 2010 winner of BBC television series Strictly Come Dancing.-Early life:...
, actress; Rebecca West
Rebecca West
Cicely Isabel Fairfield , known by her pen name Rebecca West, or Dame Rebecca West, DBE was an English author, journalist, literary critic and travel writer. A prolific, protean author who wrote in many genres, West was committed to feminist and liberal principles and was one of the foremost public...
, literary figure.
Festivals and activities
Old Leigh is also host to numerous festivals including the Leigh Art Trail, the Leigh Folk Festival and the Old Leigh Regatta.The regatta
Regatta
A regatta is a series of boat races. The term typically describes racing events of rowed or sailed water craft, although some powerboat race series are also called regattas...
is held over one weekend in September. It is organised by the three Sea Scout
Sea Scout
Sea Scouts are members of the international Scouting movement, with a particular emphasis on water-based activities, such as kayaking, canoeing, sailing, and rowing. Depending on the country and the available water these activities are on lakes, rivers or sea in small or large ships. Sea Scouting...
Groups based in the Old Town to raise funds for local Scouting and a nominated charity
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
. The annual Leigh Art Trail is a chance for local and invited international artists to show their works in the area's shops and cafes.
Leigh on Sea is the meeting place of the Southend Anglo-Italian Circle. Meetings are held in The Friends Meeting House in Dundonald Drive, just off Leigh Road from 8pm on the 3rd Wednesday of every month except August. Most lectures are in Italian.
Rankings
A survey by Halifax Estate Agents, published in the Evening StandardEvening Standard
The Evening Standard, now styled the London Evening Standard, is a free local daily newspaper, published Monday–Friday in tabloid format in London. It is the dominant regional evening paper for London and the surrounding area, with coverage of national and international news and City of London...
newspaper in 2007, placed Leigh-On-Sea as being the second best place to live on the British coast after Christchurch
Christchurch, Dorset
Christchurch is a borough and town in the county of Dorset on the south coast of England. The town adjoins Bournemouth in the west and the New Forest lies to the east. Historically in Hampshire, it joined Dorset with the reorganisation of local government in 1974 and is the most easterly borough in...
.