Havering-atte-Bower

infobox UK place
country = England
map_type = Greater London
region= London
official_name= Havering-atte-Bower
constituency_westminster= Romford
london_borough= Havering
postcode_area= RM
postcode_district= RM4
post_town= ROMFORD
dial_code= 01708
os_grid_reference= TQ515935
latitude= 51.6203
longitude= 0.1877:"Pyrgo" redirects here. For the woman from Greek mythology, see Alcathous."Havering-atte-Bower is a village and outlying settlement of the London Borough of Havering, [http://www.havering.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=7987 Havering London Borough Council] - A history of Havering atte Bower] located 15 miles (24 km) north east of Charing Cross and close to the Greater London boundary. It was one of three former parishes whose area comprised the historic Royal Liberty of Havering. [http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/relationships.jsp?u_id=10199463&c_id=10001043 Vision of Britain] - Havering atte Bower liberty]

The village

The ancient village is perched on one of the highest points in London, in the far north of the borough and near to the M25 motorway. It is situated 344 feet (105 m) above sea level with striking views of East London, Essex and Kent. To the north of Havering-atte-Bower is open countryside and to the south are the large suburban developments of Harold Hill and Collier Row.

The village is surrounded by three large parks, the dense woodlands of Havering (site of one of only two redwood plantations in England, imported from California), Bedfords Park, and Pyrgo. The most notable residence in the village now is Bower House, built in 1729 by John Baynes, using some of the materials of the former Havering Palace. The area is on the route of the London Outer Orbital Path.

Etymology

The name is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Haueringas".Mills, D., "Oxford Dictionary of London Place Names," (2004) ISBN 0198609574] It is an ancient folk name which means "settlement of the followers of a man called Hæfer". The name is recorded as "Hauering atte Bower" in 1272. The "atte Bower" suffix means "at the royal residence" and refers to Havering Palace, which was situated here.

History

The village is steeped in royal history. Edward the Confessor was the first royal to take interest in the area as he established a hunting lodge here which over the years would become a palace or 'bower' and it is believed, though disputed that he may have died in the house that he had loved so much before being buried at Westminster Abbey.

The surrounding areas, including the parishes of Hornchurch and Romford, formed the Royal Liberty of Havering from 1465 to 1892. For the next 600 years royalty would use the house of Havering Palace for various reasons adding the architectural style of the day to the expanding palace.

Another palace was purchased by Henry VIII to the east of the village called Pyrgo to relieve the now aging Havering Palace. Into the 17th century the Royal Palace of Havering was in decline and was pulled down. Pyrgo later followed in the 18th century. Only one set of plans exist from the original Havering Palace, courtesy of a survey by Lord Burghley in 1578.

External links

* [http://www.lostheritage.org.uk/houses/lh_essex_pyrgopark.html Lost Heritage: A History of Pyrgo Park]
* [http://www.habfc.co.uk/ Havering-Atte-Bower Football Club]
* [http://www.havering-atte-bower-cc.co.uk/ Havering-Atte-Bower Cricket Club]

References