The first church was likely built in what is now Hurley in around 700 AD, with the first mention of the village being recorded around 894 when the Danes “traversed Herlei”. The village came under the control of Esgar (Asgar), the Chief Staller and Master of the Horse to Edward the Confessor in the middle of the 11th Century.
William I confiscated Hurley after his conquest and gave them to Geoffrey de Mandeville, for services rendered. In 1086, at the request of Geoffrey de Mandeville’s second wife Leceline, Bishop Osmund of Old Sarum dedicated the rebuilt church at Hurley as a Benedictine Priory, a cell to Westminster Abbey.
The Domesday Book, compiled in the 11th century, states that the village of Hurley consisted of a church with a mill, 2 fisheries, 25 villagers and 12 cottagers.
If you would like to see some old photos of the village and the park (not quite dating back to 700AD) you can see a gallery below.
