War. Training of the Galleywood Home Guard took place on Galleywood Common. There was a rifle range, training grounds with many types of terrain, scrubland, gorse bushes, ferns, hills, dense woodland and farmland. There was an aircraft observation unit, anti-aircraft guns and searchlights. There were also military communications facilities which many say included radar aerials. Racecourse Galleywood's racecourse was first formally mentioned in 1770. In that year, the track's main event was granted the title of the "Queen's Plate" by King George III. The racecourse began to fall into decline from the late 19th and 20th centuries. It was bought for housing land after World War II although parts of the racecourse remain around the common. It was the only racecourse in the country to go around a church. Schools There are three schools in Galleywood: Galleywood Infants School, St. Michael's C of E Junior School and The Thriftwood School. Services Galleywood has a local library and Civic Hall. Parks Galleywood is home to Chelmer Park, which has facilities for hockey, football, netball, tennis, cricket and rounders. It is the home of Chelmsford Hockey Club, the Chelmsford Cricket Club, Galleywood Cricket Club and the Galleywood Football Club. The park extends to over 50 acres and includes two playground areas for young children and toddlers. There is also a small apple orchard, a remnant of the historic land use. Galleywood has Jubilee Recreational Park with a playground area and is the meeting point for Galleywood Scouts. References External links Galleywood Information Galleywood Villages in Essex