Little Wakering

Geography

Little Wakering lies immediately south of Barling village. Little Wakering village is now contiguous with both Barling to the north and Great Wakering to the south. The Office for National Statistics identifies Little Wakering and Barling as both forming part of the Great Wakering built up area.

Notable buildings

St Mary's Church at Little Wakering is a listed building and dates back to the 12th century. Its tower was added around 1425 by John Wakering, who was Bishop of Norwich from 1416 to 1425. The tower was partially funded by Anne, Countess of Stafford, and was built to commemorate John Wakering's safe return from the Battle of Agincourt in 1415.

Opposite St Mary's Church is a house called Brays, dated 1634. The rest of the village is modern. To the east of the village stands Little Wakering Hall, parts of which date back to at least the 15th century.

History

The name "Wakering" means 'Waecer's/Wacor's people' or 'watching place'. Little Wakering was recorded in the Domesday Book as Wachelinga. Little Wakering was in Rochford hundred. In 1894 Little Wakering became part of Rochford Rural District, on 1 April 1946 the parish was abolished to form Barling Magna, parts also went to Foulness, Canewdon and Great Wakering. At the 1931 census (the last before the abolition of the parish), Little Wakering had a population of 420. In 1974 Little Wakering became part of Rochford non-metropolitan district in the non-metropolitan county of Essex.

References

References

1. "Built Up Areas (December 2022) Boundaries". Office for National Statistics.
2. {{NHLE
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5. "Great and Little Wakering Key to English Place-names". [[University of Nottingham]].
6. "Essex L-O". The Domesday Book Online.
7. "Little Wakering". [[GENUKI]].
8. "Little Wakering (Parish) through time". [[A Vision of Britain through Time]].
9. "Population statistics Little Wakering through time". A Vision of Britain through Time.