Leigh-on-Sea - History and Architecture

History and Architecture

Leigh-on-Sea was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Legra. The Church of St. Clement, at the cliff top, has been an important landmark for sailors since 1400 or earlier. A flight of steps still in use today, 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, and these form part of the painting View at the mouth of the Thames. Two of the old town's pubs, the Peter Boat and Ye Olde Smack, owe their names to two other kinds of local fishing boats, the peter boat and the smack.