England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Little Leighs St John the Evangelist

The Parish

The parish of Little Leighs is located in central Essex roughly 5 miles southwest of the market town of Braintree. Little Leighs sits immediately west of the A131 road which connects Braintree with Chelmsford. Little Leighs is a tiny place, an estate parish dominated by the 15th century Little Leighs Hall, with virtually all land in single hands and inbound migration deterred no formal village has developed, a closed parish. The few properties that make up Little Leighs line a narrow lane that parallels the River Ter, scattered in isolated clumps for well over a half mile between the A road and the Hall. Like most such estate villages the needs of the estate dictated the local economy which was based upon arable farming. Modern developments have come to the parish, the A131, which used to run through Little Leighs's larger neighbour Great Leighs, now forms a western bypass as a fast dual-carriageway highway. Little Leighs is drained southeastwards by the Ter which eventually meets the Chelmer just before that river passes through the port of Maldon and into the Blackwater Estuary and the North Sea. Little Leighs is sited  at around 40 metres above the sea in its valley setting, land rises gently away from the Ter with a few spots touching just over 70 metres as the highest ground around. Little Leighs parish was one of the smaller in its county, covering just 500 acres it would have supported close to 150 parishioners. In Domesday Book the two Leighs were returned together, it is tempting to place the small holding, that of Eudo the Steward to Little Leighs with a single plough, typical meadows & woodland a mill presumably on the Ter.

The Church

St John's church sits on the southern side of the lane which forms the village, it is roughly midway between the A131 and Little Leighs Hall. Like many small rural churches fabric has survived at St John since the earliest times. The nave of the church is 12th century Norman Romanesque in style and built in neatly laid courses of flint rubble. To the east lies the 13th century chancel which was either first built in the Early English Gothic style or replaced a 12th century earlier version. Both northern and southern walls of the nave show Norman styled windows whereas the chancel windows have all been replaced during later restoration. Contemporary with the chancel a 13th century doorway was added to the nave. Between the 13th and late 19th century only minor changes were made until the Victorian restoration. That restoration rebuilt the eastern wall, added the shingled splay-footed spire, the southern porch and the northern vestry as well as renewing much of the fenestration. Just northwest of the churchyard there is a small car park allowing a leisurely visit. Whilst the churchyard has a row of close trees to the southeast there is sufficient room to allow most aspects for the photographer.