Great Wakering

Coordinates: 51°33′06″N 0°48′59″E / 51.5516°N 0.8165°E / 51.5516; 0.8165
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Great Wakering
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townSouthend-on-Sea
Postcode districtSS3
Dialling code01702
PoliceEssex
FireEssex
AmbulanceEast of England
UK Parliament
List of places
UK
England
Essex
51°33′06″N 0°48′59″E / 51.5516°N 0.8165°E / 51.5516; 0.8165

Great Wakering is a village in the

Rochford District in Essex
, England. It is approximately four miles east of
Southend. Great Wakering consists mainly of two roads: the High Street, which runs from the junction of Star Lane, and New Road, which begins outside St. Nicholas' Parish Church and runs down to the bridges for Foulness Island
.

History

According to a medieval tradition, Wakering (probably Great Wakering) was the site of a monastery during the seventh century AD. Two Christian cousins of King Ecgberht of Kent, named Æthelred and Æthelberht, were murdered at Eastry, a royal dwelling in the Kingdom of Kent, during King Ecgberht's reign (664–673). They were prevented by a miracle from being buried at Canterbury, and were taken instead to an existing monastery at Wakering in the Kingdom of Essex and enshrined there as saints. Ecgberht's brother and successor, King Hlothhere of Kent, is said by William of Malmesbury to have ridiculed the idea of their sanctity.

The village church, dedicated to St. Nicholas, dates back to

Methodist church, and an Evangelical (formerly Peculiar People
) church on Great Wakering High Street.

Great Wakering is a village steeped in history. It has many community links to the

Ministry of Defence-governed Foulness Island. The village was badly hit during the 1953 floods and locals fear a re-occurrence of the devastation now that tidal levels are rising and flood defences eroding. Of architectural interest is an old brickworks site (now partly demolished) at Star Lane, which was once served by an industrial narrow-gauge railway, the remains of which can still be seen in the bushes if you look carefully. Brick-making was once the main industry in Wakering. The factory finally closed in 1991, but the four towers remained a focal point on the horizon until September 2007, when the towers were finally demolished. In 2016, planning permission was granted to build new housing on the site.[2]

Much of the land area around Great Wakering is closed to the public as it forms part of a

Brent geese and waders. You will find much military debris around the area such as old firing targets, railway tracks, a lookout tower and several ruined batteries. There is also access here to the tidal path The Broomway
, which leads to Fisherman's Head on Foulness Island.

Sport and leisure

The local

Isthmian League First Division North
. Their home ground, Burroughs Park.

Fairfax Saxons FC is a Great Wakering-based football club set up to raise awareness of men's health and to promote the community and local businesses via the medium of football. They play in the Southend Borough Combination Veterans League. This covers the Southend and surrounding areas. Home games are played at The Wakering Recreation Ground. It is a Sunday League set up. As a club, they train every Thursday and on Sunday when there is no game on. They are always welcoming new players and we hope to expand to create more teams within the club. They have two teams.

Notable people

Gallery

  • St. Nicholas' Church, Great Wakering
    St. Nicholas' Church, Great Wakering
  • The Broomway, a tidal path said to pre-date the Romans is a treacherous walk between Great Wakering and Foulness and was once the only route between the two places.
    The
    Broomway
    , a tidal path said to pre-date the Romans is a treacherous walk between Great Wakering and Foulness and was once the only route between the two places.
  • Marshland in front of the coast path behind Great Wakering New Ranges. This area is known locally as the Black Grounds. An old military lookout tower called 'X1' can be seen on the horizon.
    Marshland in front of the coast path behind Great Wakering New Ranges. This area is known locally as the Black Grounds. An old military lookout tower called 'X1' can be seen on the horizon.
  • Methodist church on Great Wakering High Street.
    Methodist church on Great Wakering High Street.
  • This beach is called the Wakering Stairs and belongs to the Ministry of Defence and can be accessed at their discretion. It is full of rocks and military debris.
    This beach is called the Wakering Stairs and belongs to the Ministry of Defence and can be accessed at their discretion. It is full of rocks and military debris.

References

  1. ^ "Parish population 2011". Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  2. ^ "Planning Statement" (PDF). Rochford District Council. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  • Rollason, D.W (1982). The Mildrith Legend. A Study in Early Medieval Hagiography in England.
    ISBN 0-7185-1201-4
    .
  • Media related to Great Wakering at Wikimedia Commons
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