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Grateley's name derives from "great lea", referring to the meadow to the south-west of the St Leonard's church, which is mainly 13th century, though with some Norman and even Saxon elements. Athelstan, the first "King of all England", who also claimed primacy over the Scottish and Welsh kingdoms, held a "Great Council" at Grateley in AD 925, when he established the "Grately Law Code" which set out the basis for an English coinage. In a later era, John Lawrence, "the great proconsul of our English Christian empire" took the title Lawrence of the Punjab and of Grately when created a baron in 1869. With the coming of the railways the village grew in two clusters, joined by Station Road; today many of the villager commute, though there are still active local businesses as well as the traditional farming activities.
Neighbouring Quarley ("the quarter of the lea") remains a relatively quiet, unspoilt village, but retains its own parish council. The summit of Quarley hill is an Iron Age hill fort.St Michael and All Angels at Quarley is unusual for such a long established church (parts are Norman) in having no bell tower - its three bells hang from a wooden frame in the grounds.
My picture was taken at the Quarley village fete, 2002.
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