Layer Heath is originally shown on the 1777 Chapman & Andre Historic Map, located to the north and east of Layer de la Haye. The heath is shown on this map to be an irregular shape, with an area of c.122ha. The map shows numerous collections of buildings on the edge of the heath. Four of these seem to be listed buildings. They seem to include the Grade II listed C16 Great House Farmhouse (LB Number: 1223948), the Grade II listed early C18 house Old Vicarage (LB Number: 1223837), Grade II listed late C18 outbuilding northwest of Old Vicarage (LB Number: 1223838) and the Grade II listed C17 former cottages 4 and 5 Birch Road (LB Number: 1223836). The heath is not on any later maps. It seems that pockets of the heath survive as Layer de la Haye Common and Malting Green.<1>