High Laver

High Laver
All Saints Church
High Laver  High Laver shown within Essex
Population	491 [1]
OS grid reference	TL526087
Civil parish	High Laver
District	Epping Forest
Shire county	Essex
Region	East
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	ONGAR
Postcode district	CM5
Dialling code	01277
Police	Essex
Fire	Essex
Ambulance	East of England
EU Parliament	East of England
List of places UK England Essex

Coordinates: 51°45′22″N 0°12′43″E / 51.756°N 0.212°E / 51.756; 0.212

" High Laver is a village in the Epping Forest district of the County of Essex, England. It is located 4 miles (6.4 km) east of Harlow and 1.4 miles (2.2 km) north-west of Moreton ".^[2] The main road from Ongar to Harlow which is a key transport route enters the parish at High Laver Bridge.^[3] The land is nearly 300 ft. (90 m.) above sea-level in the south-west, about 250 ft. (75 m.) in the north and 230 ft. (70 m.) in the east.^[4]

19th Century Ordnance Survey Map of High Laver

When John Locke, British philosopher, died in 1704, he was buried at High Laver where he had lived, in the household of Sir Francis Masham, since 1691. In 1887 John Bartholomew, Gazetteer of the British Isles wrote

"Laver, High, par., Essex, in NW. of co., 4 m. NW. of Ongar, 1891 ac., pop. 477; the churchyard contains the grave of John Locke (1632-1704), the philosopher".^[5]

Population

"In 1801 the population was 346. By 1851 it had grown to 534. It was a little below this level until the last decade of the century when there was a sharp decline to 386. In the first half of the 20th century it rose gradually to 463 in 1951" ^[6] According to 2011 census data High Laver had a population of 493 persons across 200 households.^[7] Within High Laver 260 persons out of the 493 who participated in the 2011 census aged 16 to 74 are in employment.^[8] The 1881 census data indicates that the majority of the Male population of High Laver were employed in agriculture, this is typical of Parishes at this time due to the surrounding countryside being ideal for farming. 2011 census data indicates that 260 16- to 74-year-olds are in employment out of the total population of 493.^[9] The demographics in High Laver are fairly uneven according to the 2011 census data; the data indicates that the largest demographic are the 45 to 59's.^[10]

The Church

"All Saints church in High Laver consists of a nave, chancel, west tower, south porch, and North Vestry".^[12] The church was constructed out of flint and rubble during the late 12th century; there also remains evidence that some Roman bricks and tiles were used as they are visible among the Chancel walls, and also the North wall of the Nave.^[13] Over the years there has been some refurbishment works on the church in order to maintain it. "In the 15th or 16th century the roofs of the chancel and nave, which are ceiled in except for the plates and tie-beams, were renewed".^[14] Within the tower there is a font with an octagonal bowl which dates from the 14th century.^[15] "Outside the south wall of the nave is the brick altar tomb of John Locke (1704). A mural tablet, originally above the tomb, was moved inside the church for preservation in 1932".^[16]

Transport

High Laver lies a Ten minutes drive from junction seven of the M11 motorway.^[17] There are three bus services that go through High Laver. The buses only run four days a week, which means the transport links are very limited.^[18] The nearest train station to High Laver is Harlow Town which is a 20-minute drive, or an alternative bus route which includes one change and takes one hour to get to the station.^[19]

History

High Laver has always been a Parish which has been devoted to agriculture, this is due to its rural location. The 1881 census data collected indacates that the majority of the male population were employed in agriculture. Its main agricultural focus has been on arable farming, in 1086 there was 1428 acres of arable land.^[20] High Laver has always been a parish of mixed farming with a heavy predominance of arable. In 1086 there was woodland for 200 pigs and 37½ acres of meadow.^[21] High Laver school was founded 1866 with accommodation for 75 children. At one point the school breached its capacity with a total of 132 pupils attending. Inhabitants in High Laver now usually attend Magdalen Laver school which is located West to High Laver.^[22]

Images

References

External links

Media related to High Laver at Wikimedia Commons

Ceremonial county of Essex Unitary authorities Southend-on-Sea Thurrock Boroughs or districts Basildon Braintree Brentwood Castle Point Chelmsford Colchester Epping Forest Harlow Maldon Rochford Tendring Uttlesford Major settlements Aveley Basildon Billericay Braintree Brentwood Brightlingsea Buckhurst Hill Burnham-on-Crouch Canvey Island Chelmsford Chigwell Chipping Ongar Clacton-on-Sea Coggeshall Colchester Corringham Dovercourt Eastwood Epping Frinton-on-Sea Grays Great Dunmow Hadleigh Halstead Harlow Harwich Holland-on-Sea Ingatestone Leigh-on-Sea Loughton Maldon Manningtree Pitsea Purfleet Rayleigh Rochford Saffron Walden Shoeburyness South Benfleet Southend-on-Sea South Woodham Ferrers Southminster Stanford-le-Hope Thaxted Tilbury Waltham Abbey Walton-on-the-Naze West Mersea West Thurrock Wickford Witham Wivenhoe Rivers Blackwater Brain Cam Can Chelmer Ching Cobbins Brook Colne Crouch River Lea River Lee Flood Relief Channel Mardyke Prittle Brook Roach Roding Stort Stour Stour Brook Ter Thames Topics Flag Parliamentary constituencies Places SSSIs Country houses Grade I listed buildings Grade II* listed buildings History Museums Lord Lieutenants High Sheriffs WikiProject Category