Day Jaunt from Benfleet to Leigh on Sea

Day jaunt from Benfleet to Leigh on Sea with Ruth Daivs and Clare O'Neill. Leigh on Sea, a fishing town on the Essex coast.

Henry IV, endeavouring to avoid the plague then raging in London, crossed the Thames from Sheppey to Leigh. Halfway across, his ship was attacked by French pirates, a great chase ensued and, had it not been for the skill and navigational prowess of his crew, the King would have been captured. As he set foot on the Strand, the King went down on his knees and gave thanks for his safe delivery to Leigh.

Today's group took the train from London to Benfleet and then walked to Leigh on Sea.

The earliest known written record of Leigh (or Legra as it was then known) is the entry in the Domesday Book, compiled in 1086.

The entry in the Domesday Book runs:
Legra, which was held by 1 free man as a manor and as a 1 hide, is held by R in demesne. Then as now (Semper) 2 villeins, and 2 bordars, and 1 plough on the demesne, and half a plough belonging to the men, and 5 bordars by the water (super aquam ), who hold no land. There is pasture for 100 sheep. Then 1 rouncey (horse) , 5 cows, 5 calves (and) 100 sheep; now 2 rounceys, 4 cows, 5 calves (and) 103 sheep. It was then worth 40 shillings; now 100

Let us not get ahead of the narrative. First, the walk from Benfleet.

The great clash of good & evil is retold throughout the ages.



Moving memorials.



Buster R.I.P.