Galleywood Common Association

 Dear Members, please find our latest Newsletter – January 2024. 

Chairman’s Report 

The Galleywood Common AGM was held on the 27th of April 2023, in the Lodge Room, Keene Hall. The Officers and Committee were re-elected as follows -  

Bob Villa – Chairman, Pat Stuart – Secretary, Brian Blunden - Treasurer, Malcolm Stuart, Linda Van Veen, Janette Potter, John Laidler, Anthony McQuiggan, Susan Blunden, John Turkentine, and new member Gary Field.  

Walk on the Common 

The annual walk on the Common took place on the 6th of July 2023 with the following observations. 

Knotweed plants still present adjacent to a property called ‘Stoneycroft’. Chelmsford City Parks notified and indicated that their Grounds Maintenance section continue to treat the Japanese Knotweed, which is an ongoing task. 

Many footpaths on the Common were found to be inaccessible due to foliage and weed growth. 

Racecourse railings along Margaretting Road need cleaning. 

Chelmsford City Parks were contacted and were given a tour of the path works. 

Signage 

The existing display boards showing map and bylaws to be replaced with new boards including points of interest. 

It was anticipated that the the Galleywood Common Committee Association would receive proofs of the new information boards, for comments, by the end of June. Outline designs and map are now in the format stage and details of specific information for the boards have been requested. John Turkentine is liaising with Chelmsford City Parks to provide this information. 

Napoleonic Earthworks 

Following concern that the growth of foliage hid the sight of the Earthworks, the reduction of the vegetation has been carried out by Chelmsford City Parks Volunteers to improve the view, however your committee has requested that the removed broken fencing removed should be replaced, due to the potential danger to the public, as the ground drops away rapidly and deeply. 

Pond Walkways 

The Third and final walkway has now been fitted with mesh, minimising the possible safety risk due to users of the Common slipping on the walkways. 

Vehicle access and Firebreak ditches 

As requested, Chelmsford City Parks have checked the ditches on the Common and indicated that no ditching work is required. 

Improvement to the Lane Entrance 

We have reminded the Chelmsford City Parks that they have agreed to produce an improvement scheme for discussion with the committee. 

Janette Potter  

St Michael and All Angels Church 150th Anniversary 

Eagle eyed visitors to the Common will have noticed the erection of a Christian Cross in the Southeast Corner of the Church Benefice land, to mark the occasion. 

Residents and visitors will have noticed that for some time the area leading from the allotments adjacent to St. Michaels and All Angels Church to The Eagle Crossroads, has been cleared of some trees, together with evading Laurels, Gorse and Ivy has been removed by TEG and volunteers, to make a pathway around that area for residents and visitors to safely walk along. 

During this time suitable sized logs were kept to one side and eventually were made into a very large cross.   In September with the help of Christina Willetts of Parklands Farm, the cross was erected in that area - plainly in sight by residents, passersby and drivers. 

 
 
On Sunday 1st October, during the 150th Anniversary Service, Bishop Guli, with David Cattle the Vicar of St. Michael and All Angels, the Mayor of Chelmsford, Linda Mascot, the Mayor’s Consort, County Councillor, City Councillors, and Parish Councillors, together with the congregation walked from the Church after the Blessing Service to the 'Cross at the Crossroads' to bless this beautiful cross. 
 
For those passing by today, it is a magnificent sight to behold 

For all the years I have lived on the Common I have heard of the Walnut Tree.  Whilst my neighbour lost her walnut tree during the Great Storm, this was, as far as I was aware the only walnut tree on the Common 
Recently during one of the many walks around the Common, I asked where it was, only to find out that it was quite near to the Napoleonic Defences.  The area is a bit overgrown, but you can see if from afar. https://w3w.co/inflame.dude.hazy..........and to prove it is a walnut tree ........I was presented with a fallen walnut one morning. 

I know there are lots of blackberry bushes around the Common but are there other fruit or nut trees on the Common...........do you know where they are??   Let us know and we can look for them on our walks............ can look for them on our walks. 
  

John Turkentine 

Working with Chelmsford City Council Parks Department on the replacement information Signboards on the Common, progress has been made in identifying several historic sites of interest using old photographs held in the Galleywood Heritage Centre Archives and with refence to old Ordnance Survey maps, with Google Earth overlay, available for free online - Georeferenced Maps - Map images - National Library of Scotland (nls.uk)

Each of the four existing Signboards are to be replaced, with an updated map of The Common, including the Bye Laws. Each signboard will display images, short description and location of its neighbouring sites of interest. The addition of QR codes, will link to CCC website to provide more detailed information.   

To assist in finding the location of sites on the ground, to within 3x3metre square, use will be made of ‘what3words’ Mobile Phone App.

e.g. To locate The Galleywood Common Green Flag –   

https://what3words.com/panels.recount.printout 

The Galleywood Common Association Website  

- https://e-voice.org.uk/gwca/ is undergoing improvements and updates over the next few months to add photographs, progress on the Signboards and other relevant/seasonal news and diary dates.   

  Susan Wilson 

 Remains of the Napoleonic Defences on Galleywood Common 

Defensive earthworks were raised on Galleywood Common in 1803 to defend the route to London should England become threatened by Napoleon’s invading armies. The Bastion trace ran for 2.8km between the Star Fort at Widford and the Artillery Fort at Galleywood. They were never used and had been all but dismantled by 1813. 

The Artillery Fort on the Common formed the easternmost end of the entrenchments and was designed to accommodate 900 men. It enclosed an area of 3ha on either side of the Margaretting Road and the then main road between Maldon and London. Three batteries were set in front of it with the pre-existing windmill incorporated into the Fort perimeter. It fell into disuse before the end of the Napoleonic wars. 

The racecourse was then built on the Common, originally respecting the fort but subsequent re-routing, quarrying and erosion has largely destroyed much of the remaining earthworks. Some trace of the bastions in the SW corner still survives and the earthworks of the gun batteries to the South and West can still be interpreted. In September 2023 there were surprise visitors to Galleywood Common's Napoleonic Defences, two soldiers (re-enactors) from the 44th East Essex Regiment of Foot. They inspected the remains of one of the gun platforms, see photograph. Chelmsford City Council’s volunteers have subsequently done a good job of clearing the undergrowth, as can be seen in the photograph (courtesy Richard Wilson). More information can be found at Galleywood Heritage Centre these details are from the Leaflet “A guided Tour of the Remains of The Napoleonic Defences” devised by John Turkentine and published by Galleywood Parish Council.