Place Name
Named in honour of the much admired Matilda of Scotland (1080 – May 1, 1118), whose marriage to Henry I made her Queen of England. She acted as regent of England in the absence of her spouse on several occasions. Locally she won the love and respect of her subjects when she built new bridges, Bow and Channelsea, across the River Lea, replacing the old Roman crossings that had remained in use until early in the 12thCentury. Matilda was remembered by her subjects as Mathilda bona regina and “Good Queen Maud”.
