Leigh Green and The Village Sign
See also: Oak Tree on the Green
Leigh Green has been called the Green/Leigh Green from at least the 15th century. It was a central field owned by the Hall Place estate. At one point, some residents had the right to graze their livestock on it. Between 1700 and 1750 cricket started in the village, when the Green would only have had a scythed outfield around a more regularly cut square. In those days, there was a track across the Green to what is now Green View Avenue probably from the Forge for the farmers to get to the land towards the Medway. During the 19th century the Green became more formally recognized as a public space. The Historical Society has the formal “Return of all Commons and Open Spaces within the Leigh Parish” dated 9 June 1865 which states that the area has been used for Fairs and Crickett (sic) and other Amusements by the Inhabitants of Leigh from time Immemorial.
According to Douglas Pankhurst, the Green was levelled and ornamented with horse chestnut trees at Samuel Morley’s expense and place by him at the disposal of the village for leisure sports.
After the formation of Leigh Parish Council in 1894, the Parish Council leased the Green from Samuel Hope-Morley (Lord of the Manor) at a nominal charge of five shillings per annum, an agreement renewed every 7 years. Forthwith the cost of maintenance fell on the Parish Council. In the 1920s, the gravel footpaths across the Green were turfed. The Green continued to be owned by the Hall Place Estate on this basis until 1947 when it was passed to the Parish by a Deed of Gift. (A small piece of green outside Porcupine House was transferred to the Parish Council on 23 July 1976).
The Village Sign was designed by Harold Birdsall Bullingham and made by his son, Ralph Bullingham, Leigh blacksmiths from mid-1930s to 1972. The original paintings were by Wendy Bullingham. It shows four local scenes surrounded by a wrought-iron design of hops. The sign was ‘refurbished’ by Rebecca Day in 2020.
Joyce Field (May 2021)