Lexden
Lexden | ||
---|---|---|
Shire county | ||
Region | ||
Country | England | |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom | |
Post town | Colchester | |
Postcode district | CO3 | |
Dialling code | 01206 | |
Lexden is a suburb of Colchester and former civil parish, in the county of Essex, England. It was formerly a village, and has previously been called Lessendon, Lassendene and Læxadyne. In 2011 the ward had a population of 5,549.
Lexden is approximately one mile west of central Colchester. It is home to a public house, the Crown; and St Leonard's Church (
Lexden's original name, Læxadyne, is Old English for "Leaxa's valley". It is referred to as the "Hundred of LASSENDENE" in the Domesday Book.
It is now cut into two-halves by a modern bypass, Cymbeline Way, constructed in 1933.[2] Within the space of a few hundred yards there are two 400-year-old watermills, (both now private residences), a 100-year-old iron bridge over the River Colne, two local nature reserves and several walks.
The area is covered by the Lexden ward and elects 2 councillors to sit on
History
The site on which Lexden now stands was crossed by the fortifications of
The parish church was founded early in the 12th century and a number of houses of medieval origins survive in Lexden Road (the A1124). Parts of The Sun Inn date from 1542[5] but it has recently become a private house.
In 1648, Lexden was the headquarters of Lord-General
During the 18th century a number of large houses were built including Lexden Park on the corner of Church Road, and the Manor House was rebuilt. The main road became a
The small and decrepit medieval church of St Leonard was demolished in 1820 and a new church was built slightly to the south, designed in the
A National Day and Sunday School was built in Spring Lane in 1817 and enlarged several times until replaced by Lexden Council School (now Lexden Primary) in 1925. Lexden Park House became the Endsleigh private school in 1955 and then the Endsleigh Annex of the Colchester Institute until 1990.[8] The house itself was converted to apartments and the gardens became a local nature reserve.[9] The Avenue of Remembrance was built in 1933 to relieve traffic on the London Road and as a memorial to the fallen of Colchester in World War I.[10]
Charles Henry Harrod, a businessman involved in retail trade who founded the highly successful Harrods store in London, was born in Lexden.
In 1891 the parish had a population of 3562.[11] On 26 March 1897 the parish was abolished to form Colchester.[12] Lexden is mentioned in the Domesday Book.
Education
In Lexden, there is one private school, Holmwood House School, which was founded in 1922 and has around three hundred pupils from reception to year eight. St Teresa's Catholic Primary School is an academy school with around two hundred and twenty pupils from reception to year six. Lexden Primary School[13] and Home Farm Primary School are state schools for all children from nursery to year six, Lexden also having a special unit for the hearing impaired. There is also a school for children with special needs, Lexden Springs School.
Providing secondary education, the Colchester Royal Grammar School,[14] Colchester County High School for Girls,[15] Philip Morant School and College[16] and St Mary's School, Colchester[17] are nearby.
Sports and recreation
Lexden has a
Electoral ward
Lexden | |
---|---|
Colchester South & Maldon (1983–1997) | |
County division | Constable |
The suburb was covered by the Lexden ward and elected 2 councillors to sit on
The ward was abolished at the 2016 election and parts were amalgamated with the enlarged Prettygate ward and the new Lexden & Braiswick ward.
References
- ^ "Colchester Ward population 2011". Retrieved 29 September 2015.
- ^ "Modern Colchester: Town development".
- ^ "English Heritage".
- ^ "Castle Redevelopment - Colchester Castle RedevelopmentColchester & Ipswich Museums". Archived from the original on 24 December 2012. Retrieved 19 March 2010.
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 19 March 2010.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Lexden history Group - Lexden history Group". 12 December 2020.
- ^ "Jane Austen Society UK : Cambridge Group - Jane Austen Connections". Archived from the original on 11 July 2011. Retrieved 19 March 2010.
- ^ "Outlying parts of the Liberty: Lexden | British History Online". www.british-history.ac.uk.
- ^ "Wild Essex site profile: Lexden Park".
- ^ "Avenue of Remembrance".
- A Vision of Britain through Time. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
- ^ "Relationships and changes Lexden AP/CP through time". A Vision of Britain through Time. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
- ^ "Lexden Primary School - Home". www.lexden.essex.sch.uk.
- ^ "Welcome to Colchester Royal Grammar School". www.crgs.co.uk.
- ^ "Home - Colchester County High School for Girls".
- ^ "Home". Philip Morant School & College.
- ^ "St Mary's Colchester | Junior School Essex | Kindergarten in Colchester".
External links
Media related to Lexden at Wikimedia Commons