Galleywood

Coordinates: 51°41′49″N 0°28′26″E / 51.697°N 0.474°E / 51.697; 0.474

Galleywood is a village surrounded by countryside in Essex, about 30 miles from London, and close to the city of Chelmsford. It is off the A12, which connects to the M25 in London. Galleywood sits astride a Roman road running south from Chelmsford towards Vange Creek. Presently it has the B1007 Stock Road and B1009 Beehive Lane running through it. Galleywood was a part of Great Baddow Parish, but it comprised two villages or hamlets: Galleywood and Galleyend, about a mile apart. Galleywood has a population of 5,757 , 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

Galleywood dates back to early medieval times and was recorded in 1250 as Gauelwode (Galleywood Common), a hamlet of Great Baddow, part of an ancient forest interspersed with open scrubland.