History
Originally a hermitage during the reign of Henry II the name Woodham was adopted in 1175 when it became a priory, including 60 acres (240,000 m2) of forest stretching towards Danbury.
There is a residence in the village that was once owned by the Bishop of York and was attacked during the Peasants' Revolt in 1381.
At the turn of the 16th century, the convent was used as a hospital until being returned to the church in 1540.
Due to the proximity of both the Marconi Company and North Weald Airfield, the village was in the flight path for a number of air-raids during World War II; however it was not a direct target itself.
The village was the centre of national media attention in July 2011 when some 4,000 gypsies arrived there for the Christian Light and Life Festival nearby. Local residents were angered by vandalism and litter which occurred after the gypsies arrived; local crime subsequently doubled and an extra 40 police officers were put on patrol to deal with it.
Read more about this topic: Woodham Ferrers
Famous quotes containing the word history:
“The steps toward the emancipation of women are first intellectual, then industrial, lastly legal and political. Great strides in the first two of these stages already have been made of millions of women who do not yet perceive that it is surely carrying them towards the last.”
—Ellen Battelle Dietrick, U.S. suffragist. As quoted in History of Woman Suffrage, vol. 4, ch. 13, by Susan B. Anthony and Ida Husted Harper (1902)
“Social history might be defined negatively as the history of a people with the politics left out.”
—G.M. (George Macaulay)
“Tell me of the height of the mountains of the moon, or of the diameter of space, and I may believe you, but of the secret history of the Almighty, and I shall pronounce thee mad.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)