PLACE NAME
The Abbey Church of Waltham Holy Cross and St Lawrence, in Waltham Abbey, Essex can trace its origins back to the early 7thCentury when a small wooden church was built on its site. It was re-founded in the 12thCentury and grew to be the largest religious building in England and an important pilgrimage site. The name literally means village by or at the forest and derives from the Old English words weald or wald, meaning forest, and hamm meaning village or enclosure. The abbey, which gave its name to the modern day town, was the last monastic building to be closed under the orders of Henry VIII during the Dissolution of the Monasteries. While most of its buildings were demolished soon after, the nave was retained and now serves as the parish church. Like many of the roads on the St Helier’s estate this is named after British monasteries and abbeys in remembrance of the area’s historic ownership by Westminster Abbey. The road names are in alphabetical order, of which Aberconway Road in the north west of the estate is first.
