Havering's Grove Explained

Static Image Name:Haverings Grove Sign - geograph.org.uk - 2121378.jpg
Static Image Caption:The Havering's Grove sign, at the centre of the village
Country:England
Official Name:Havering's Grove
Coordinates:51.6269°N 0.389°W
Os Grid Reference:TQ6595
Label Position:top
Shire District:Brentwood
Shire District1:Basildon
Shire County:Essex
Region:East of England
Constituency Westminster:Brentwood and Ongar, Basildon and Billericay
Post Town:BRENTWOOD, BILLERICAY
Postcode District:CM12, CM13
Postcode Area:CM
Dial Code:01277
Module:
Stroke-Width:1
Zoom:12
Width:240

Havering’s Grove is a village in Essex, which developed in the twentieth century. Most of Havering's Grove lies in the Borough of Brentwood, with part in the Borough of Basildon. It is situated on the A129 London to Southend Road between Hutton and Billericay.

Although the settlement covers an extensive area, the population is not high, due to the low density nature of the plotland and ribbon development that constitute most of the settlement.

Place names

Etymology

Havering’s Grove takes its name from a wood, first mentioned as Haueringewode in 1291,[1] much of which was destroyed by plotland development. It is not clear what association there was between the wood and the Royal Liberty of Havering, but it may be that the wood was named after a local manor or farm named after a person who had migrated from Havering.[2]

Woodland

Fragments of the original Havering's Grove woodland remain in the plotland area, as do fragments of another ancient woodland called Bridge Wood, beside the public right of way. There are also areas of recent secondary woodland in the plotlands. On the east side of the settlement, beside Mouttnessing Brook, lies another old woodland called Shipman's Shaw.[3]

Farming

There is a "Havering's Grove Farm", and a map of parts of the parish of Mountnessing, drawn around 1775, shows a "Havering Grove Field" north of the road - just west of the modern Cowbridge Cottages.[4]

Brooks and bridges

There is a watercourse, a tributary of the River Wid called Havering Grove’s Brook,[5] [6] and the bridge that carries the A129 over the brook is called Havering’s Grove Bridge. The brook, or parts of it are also known as Lapwater Brook.

The brook forms the boundary between the boroughs of Brentwood and Basildon.

A second watercourse, the Mountnessing Brook, also a tributary of the Wid, flows south-north at the eastern side of the village.[7]

Community

The village has a Residents' Association,[8] which has been campaigning against the scheme to run the proposed new Norwich-Tilbury pylon route along the west side of the village.[9]

Facilities

There is a cafe and retail outlets focused around a large garden centre.[10] The Plough public houses has been converted to a restaurant.

Administration and representation

The area covered by the modern village was historically part of the ancient parishes of Hutton and Mountnessing.

There is a Havering’s Grove Polling District in Brentwood Borough’s Hutton East Ward.[11] The part in Basildon is part of the Burstead Ward.

Notes and References

  1. The Place-names of Essex, PH Reaney. English Place-Name Society, Volume 12, Cambridge University Press.
  2. The Place names of Mountnessing, Avril Powell, Essex Place-names Project 1999
  3. Web site: Harvey . Neil . December 2009 . Basildon District Habitat and Biodiversity Service Level Agreement Report . files.basildongag2011.org.uk.
  4. 'A plan of the parish of Mountnessing in the county of Essex. Part of which is the property of the Right Honorable Robert Edward Lord Petre, Baron of Writtle' Essex Record Office Ref: D/DP P27 https://www.essexarchivesonline.co.uk/result_details.aspx?ThisRecordsOffSet=11&id=327575
  5. https://www.rochford.gov.uk/sites/default/files/documents/files/planning_riverannexb_JAAP19c.pdf
  6. Website citing pressures on the brook http://essexrivershub.org.uk/index.php/rived-wid-mountnessing-to-havering-s-grove-brook-pressures
  7. Web site: Basildon Borough Council Strategic Flood Risk Assessment Level 1 Report Figures B01-B05 . basildon.gov.uk.
  8. News: 5 May 2010 . Community gets back on the map . brentwoodlive.co.uk.
  9. News: Meyler . Piers . 21 September 2023 . Brentwood residents fear 'impending destruction' from pylon plan . Essex Chronicle.
  10. Outline of the retail facilities https://www.gardencentreguide.co.uk/hunters-chase-garden-centre-brentwood
  11. Web site: Schedule of Polling Districts and Polling Places: Review 2019 . document.brentwood.gov.uk.