Woodham Walter is a village about three miles 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. 875. The name is derived from the old English words "wudu" (wood in modern English) and "ham" (home, or homestead). The modern name may derive from the Fitzwalter family who owned a moated manor house in the village for many generations. The house was demolished in the 17^th century by William Fytch

There is evidence of earlier settlement. A hoard of silver coins was found in the village, dated to c. 700. At Oak Farm in 1991 three gold and bronze torcs were discovered. They have been dated to c. 1000 BC.

The Domesday Book

Domesday 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...

 entry for Woodham Walter lists a population of 18.

Local amenities

There are three public houses, the Bell Inn, the Queen Victoria and The Cats. There is a Post Office and village shop on The Street.

Education

There is one school in the village, Woodham Walter Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School. There are c. 75 students

Religious sites

The parish church is St Michael's. Thomas, Earl of Sussex, obtained a licence from Elizabeth I on 26 June 1562 to build the church and it was consecrated on 30 April 1564. It is constructued of red brick.

External links

• Information and photographs of Woodham Walter Village