to the village. In 1531 things were to change. Henry the VIII was on the throne and he severed links with Rome. The Act of Reformation outlawed the Monasteries. The people of Sewards End joined in with what was happening elsewhere. Monks were captured and hung or forced to flee and Monasteries were sacked. This is why there is no trace of the Monastery at Wills Ayley. The community's name has changed over the centuries from Syward-hes-haund in 1286, Sewardsende in the mid 14th century and eventually to the name close to the one used today, Sewers End a name that continued until as late as 1911. As Sewards End dates back many centuries, it is fortunate to include many examples of fine historic architecture, including buildings such as "Everards" and the folly known as "The Towers". In 2014 the Tour de France cycle race passed through the village watched by many people including a significant number of non- villagers. Church and School. The village's church, St James', is a chapel of ease of St Mary's Church, Saffron Walden. It was built in 1847 and substantially enlarged in 1870. The church building was also used as a school from 1847 to 1947. In May 1885 the average school attendance was 90 pupils. Recent Change In common with many other rural villages of its size, Sewards End has seen many changes in recent decades. There was a working mill until 1914 but it was demolished soon after. The 2nd half of the 20th century saw the village moving away from its rural roots where a high percentage of the population either worked on the land or in local industry, to the role of dormitory village, the population frequently commuting to Cambridge or further afield to London via road and rail links. These changes have inevitably led to alterations in the social fabric of the community and they are evidenced by the closure of the village's two pubs (The Fox and the Green Dragon), its local shop, post office and garage as well as the downsizing of its once vibrant cricket club during the last 3 decades of the 20th century. After many years without a home, Sewards End Cricket Club has survived by playing Sunday social cricket over the years and continues to do so with the aim of playing regularly back in the village once again. Villagers' lifestyles have moved