Galleywood

infobox UK place
country = England
latitude= 51.697
longitude= 0.474
official_name= Galleywood
population = 5,757 approx.
shire_district= Chelmsford
shire_county = Essex
region= East of England
constituency_westminster= Maldon and East Chelmsford
post_town= Chelmsford
postcode_district= CM2
postcode_area=CM
dial_code= 01245
os_grid_reference= TL709027

Galleywood is a village surrounded by countryside in the heart of Essex, about 30 miles from London, and close to the town of Chelmsford. It is off the A12 which connects to the M25 in London. Galleywood currently has a population of 5,757 [http://www.chelmsford.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=11766] , and has a higher percentage of retired citizens than the national average.

Galleywood Common is approximately 400 yards in width and one mile in length, and consists of open fields and woodland. It also has St. Michaels Church in the woodland, which is visible for miles around.

History

It is believed to have begun as a small rural hamlet as far back as Saxon times, although the parish dates from the 19th century. The name Galleywood comes when Henry VIII used the woodland area near the hamlet to make the galleys for his navy. The village of Galleywood consists of the hamlets of Galleywood and Galleyend. Galleywood grew bigger than the hamlet of Galleyend to East and they merged to form the village of Galleywood.

chools

There are 3 schools in Galleywood, [http://www.galleywood.essex.sch.uk/ Galleywood Infants School] , [http://www.st-michaels-jun.essex.sch.uk/ St. Michael's C of E Junior School] and [http://www.thriftwood.essex.sch.uk/ The Thriftwood School]

Parks

Galleywood is home to the large Chelmer Park which has facilities for hockey, football, netball, tennis, cricket, and rounders. It is the home the Chelmsford Hockey Club, the [http://www.chelmsfordcc.co.uk/ Chelmsford Cricket Club] , and the Galleywood Football Club. It also has a playground area for young children.

Galleywood also has Jubilee Recreational Park with also a playground area and is meeting point of Galleywood Scouts. However Chelmer Park is much larger.

Race course

Galleywood is notable for its race course which was first formally mentioned in 1770. In that year that the track's main event was granted the title of the "Queen's Plate" by King George III.

The race course in Galleywood began to fall into decline from the late 19th and 20th centuries. It was finally bought for housing land after World War II, although parts of the course remain around the common. It was the only race course in the country to go around a church.