Laleham

infobox UK place
country = England
latitude=51.40938
longitude=-0.48882
official_name= Laleham
map_type= Surrey
population = 1,511
shire_district= Spelthorne
shire_county = Surrey
region= South East England
constituency_westminster= Spelthorne
post_town= STAINES
postcode_district= TW18
postcode_area= TW
dial_code= 01784
os_grid_reference= TQ052689

Laleham is a village in the borough of Spelthorne, in the county of Surrey in South East England and is close to Staines. It was formerly in Middlesex. It has a wildlife park called Laleham Park by the River Thames. Penton Hook Lock is nearby and the historic town of Chertsey is across the river on the other side of Chertsey Bridge.

The word Laleham probably comes from 'lael' meaning twig and 'ham' meaning water meadow or village. [ [http://www.spelthorne.gov.uk/lei_laleham_village.htm Spelthorne borough information] ]

History

It is possible that there was a 1st century Roman marching camp on the field which is now part of The Matthew Arnold School.Fact|date=August 2007

Iron Age spearheads from the 5th century have been found in the River Thames at Laleham Ferry. 10th Century charts record the village of "Laelham".

Laleham appears in the Middlesex section of the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Leleham". It was held partly by Fécamp Abbey from Robert of Mortain and partly by Estrild, the nun. Its domesday assets were: 10 hides. It had 6½ ploughs, meadow for 5 ploughs, cattle pasture. It rendered £5. [ [http://www.gwp.enta.net/surrnames.htm Surrey Domesday Book] ]

The foundations of the parish church of All Saints date back to the 12th century. [ [http://www.laleham-parish-church.freeserve.co.uk/history.html All Saints Church history] ] Records show that in the 13th century the monks of Westminster Abbey had their 'Grange' and watermill on the banks of the Thames very close to the site of Laleham Abbey. It was in 1970 that the village of Laleham was designated as a Conservation Area.

Laleham contains many fine and listed buildings notably "Laleham Abbey". In the past this was owned by one of the Earls of Lucan. The hatchment in the north aisle of All Saints Church belonged to them. In the eastern part of the cemetery is the grave of Field Marshall Lord Lucan who gave the order for the Charge of the Light Brigade at the Battle of Balaclava.

Today

Laleham Village also contains Burway Rowing Club and an archery club. There is Laleham C of E School which is an independent Church of England primary school.

Notable people

Matthew Arnold was born in the village, and is buried in All Saints' Churchyard. He also has a local Comprehensive school named after him.
Lord Lucan, famed for disappearing after the attempted murder of his wife and the murder of his children's nanny, also has strong historic links with the village. The Lucan family being the historical Lords of the manor, and the Lucan Arms pub serving the village for many years until it was renamed in the late 1990's.

Both Arnold and Lucan family names can be seen prominently within All Saints Church, with various memorial to generations of those families. Other notable family names are Buckland and Honor

References

External links

Laleham Resident's Association (LRA) website http://www.lalehamonthames.com