A Study of the Strood by W.E. Duane. Chapter 6. Page 27.

The Administrators of the Strood

The parishioners from the mainland had to cross the Channel to attend Church, but the traffic went the other way to attend the Court of the Lord of the Manor.

These were held annually at Peet Hall until 1759 [Note 1] when the venue was changed to West Mersea Hall.

The notice calling a General Court Baron and Customary Court signed by the Steward on behalf of the Lord would be displayed on the Church door. On the back of one such notice [Note 2] that survives is written

"This notice was affixed by me on the Principal Door of the Parish Church of West Mersea before the commencement of Divine Service on Sunday 2nd Dec. 1855."
        Alfred Pullen.

Peet Hall is one and a half miles north out of the Island near Pete Tye Bridge on the mainland. The homage consisted of the principal tenants of Mersea who would need a passage across the Channel to attend the Courts, so perhaps the Strood existed as long ad the Manor.

The earliest record of the Strood appears in the Ancient Deeds of 1455 where it is given as "Strodway" [Note 3] in the Ancient ...

Note 1 ERO D/QI/38.
Note 2 ERO D/DMb/M140
Note 3 Place Names of Essex. Page 320.

Date: 1965