Elham, Kent
Elham | ||
---|---|---|
Shire county | ||
Region | ||
Country | England | |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom | |
Post town | Canterbury | |
Postcode district | CT4 | |
Dialling code | 01303 | |
Police | Kent | |
Fire | Kent | |
Ambulance | South East Coast | |
UK Parliament | ||
Elham (/ˈiːləm/) is a village and civil parish in East Kent situated approximately 9 miles (14 km) south of Canterbury and 5 miles (8 km) north west of Folkestone in the Elham Valley. At the 2011 Census the population included the hamlet of Ottinge and village of Wingmore.
History
Toponymy
The origin of the village's name has always been a matter of argument.
Early history
The discovery of hundreds of Neolithic hand axes, scrapers and worked flints at Dreal's Farm on the chalk plateau to the east of the village is the earliest evidence of human activity in the parish.[7][8] Bronze Age remains have also been discovered indicating continuity of settlement.[8] There is also a cluster of Bronze Age tumuli in Elham Park Wood and there is a further tumulus on the hillcrest between Ottinge and Rhodes Minnis. Evidence of Roman occupation is limited to discoveries of coins and pottery and there is little Anglo Saxon archaeological evidence although the Anglo Saxon cemetery at Lyminge may extend over the parish boundary.[8]
St Mary's Church [1] dates from about 1200 whilst the Abbot's Fireside Restaurant on the high street is of Stuart origin (built in 1641). Local legend has it King Charles 1st hid from the Roundheads behind the big fireplace following his escape from Hampton Court during his attempt to get to France in 1647/48. It is also reputed to have been the headquarters of the
19th century to present day
The population of Elham was 1,192 in 1881.[9] Elham Valley Railway opened in 1889 and closed in 1947.[4] There are still traces of its existence throughout the parish such as the remains of the station platforms at the bottom of Duck Lane. Until the early 1900s a brickworks existed within the village (the Elham Valley Brick and Tile Company) with kilns situated on the east side of the valley.
Governance
Elham Parish Council oversees matters within the village. The parish is very large for such a small settlement, stretching to the edge of
Economy and services
Elham Church of England Aided Primary School provides education for children from the age of 4 to 11. There is also a pre-school playgroup that operates within the village hall and a surgery. Elham has retained a village stores and there is also a farm shop at North Elham and a Tea Room in the main village. A farmers' market operates from the Rose and Crown pub every other Sunday. At the hamlet of Breach just outside the parish is the Elham Valley Vineyard. There are two pubs, the Rose and Crown and the King's Arms and one restaurant, the Abbot's Fireside. However, services have declined in the latter half of the 20th century and into the 21st century and there is no longer a baker's, butcher's, garage, newsagents or bookshop within the village. The New Inn has recently been closed and converted to housing. Although no longer a standalone Post Office in the village, a small franchise operates in the King's Arms pub a few mornings a week.
Similar to many other villages in the UK there is a shortage of social housing but there is no obvious sign of real demand. There is availability of property for families and those on ordinary incomes. Improvements in agriculture and the decline of local businesses has resulted in fewer employment opportunities within the village than there were in the early 20th century. Elham is located on the 17 bus route from Folkestone to Canterbury operated by Stagecoach.
Environment and conservation
Elham is situated deep in the heart of the North Downs and within the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Whilst much of the countryside surrounding the village is arable farmland there are still patches of unimproved or semi-improved grassland where wildlife is allowed to flourish such as Baldock Downs and Hall Downs. These sites often support many typical chalk downland species such as Common Milkwort (Polygala vulgaris), Field Scabious (Knautia arvensis) and Salad Burnet (Sanguisorba minor) as well as orchids such as Fragrant (Gymnadenia conopsea), Common Spotted (Dactylorhiza fuchsii) and Pyramidal (Anacamptis pyramidalis).
Notable people
Romani king and bare knuckle boxer Gilderoy Scamp passed away in Elham in 1893.
References
- ^ "Parish population 2011". Retrieved 5 October 2015.
- ^ ISBN 1-873010-95-8.
- ^ "Elham". Domesday Book. The National Archives. 1086. Retrieved 19 February 2008.
- ^ a b c d "A Brief History of Elham and The Square". Elham Valley Website. 11 July 2007. Retrieved 11 July 2007.
- ISBN 0-7134-3069-9.
- ^ "Key to English Place-names".
- ISBN 978-0-7524-4405-5.
- ^ a b c Elham Parish Appraisal 1996
- ISBN 0-9510454-2-3.
- ^ "Elhma and Stelling Minnis ward 2011". Retrieved 5 October 2015.
- ^ "Shepway District Council – Cllr Miss Pamela Carr". Shepway District Council. 11 July 2007. Archived from the original on 14 February 2009. Retrieved 11 July 2007.
- ^ "Park Gate Down (The Hector Wilks Reserve), Elham". Elham Valley Website. 3 December 2007. Retrieved 3 December 2007.
- ^ "Elham Environment Group About Us". Elham Environment Group. 3 December 2007. Archived from the original on 13 October 2008. Retrieved 3 December 2007.
- ^ a b c d "Famous and Notable People "In and Around" the Elham Valley". Elham Valley Website. 11 July 2007. Retrieved 11 July 2007.
- ^ Sturt, Sarah (13 December 2016). "Pam Ferris in 'We're Going on a Bear Hunt'". Kent Life. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
External links
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