Colin Crosby Heritage Tours

Leigh

Leigh is now a suburb of Southend, the largest town in Essex, at the Western end of the Borough.

Today, there are three distinct parts of Leigh, or Leigh-on-Sea as it is officially known.

Along London Road, the busy A13 leading to the capital forty miles away, there are many shops.

The main shopping centre, however, is along the Broadway, a little closer to the coast. This centre is as good as those of many a market town.

Down beside the Thames Estuary is the High Street, in what is known locally as Old Leigh. This is the oldest part of the town.

Old Leigh was for centuries a fishing and shipbuilding village. Seafood, particularly cockles, is still important to the local economy, and can be eaten either in the restaurants and or bought from the many cocklesheds selling direct to the public.

It is probable that the Mayflower, on which the Pilgrim Fathers sailed to America, was built at Leigh. Certainly a good number of those who sailed were from Essex.

In the 14th century Thomas of Woodstock was arrested on the orders of Richard II at Pleshey, and taken from Leigh to Calais, where he died, probably murdered.

St. Clement's Church, at the top of the steep Church Hill steps leading down to the High Street, has a memorial to the men of the many little ships of Leigh who took part in the Dunkirk evacuation.

Visible to the East is Southend and its famous Pier, the longest in the world, and on the hills to the West are the mediaeval ruins of Hadleigh Castle, famously painted by John Constable.

Blue Badge Guide Colin Crosby is available to lead Guided Walks around Leigh for groups.