Fairstead, Essex
Fairstead | ||
---|---|---|
Shire county | ||
Region | ||
Country | England | |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom | |
Post town | Chelmsford | |
Postcode district | CM3 | |
Dialling code | 01245 | |
Police | Essex | |
Fire | Essex | |
Ambulance | East of England | |
UK Parliament | ||
Fairstead is a village and
The parish encompasses the hamlets of Fuller Street and Rank's Green. Fairstead, including Faulkbourne, had a population of 290 according to the 2011 census.[1] In the 1870s, Fairstead was described as being:
- "a parish in Witham district, Essex; 2¼ miles SW of White Notley r. station and 4 WNW of Witham."[2]
Meaning of name
The name 'Fairstead' originates from Old English, meaning 'fair place'.[3] Fair (fæger) meaning fair, beautiful or pleasant.[3] Stead (stede) meaning 'A place, a site, a locality; a religious house or foundation; a place of communal activity; a farm, a dairy-farm, an estate.'[3] Fair probably means a travelling fair. Thus 'fairstrad' is the place where a fair was held.
Population
In the Domesday Book of 1086, Fairstead had a total population of "17 households".[4]
The population of Fairstead has increased by 90 since the introduction of the census in 1801. Other than a peak increase of 150 in 1831, which increased the population to 350, this levelled off to 250 over the next few decades; long-term, the population of Fairstead hasn't therefore risen or fallen significantly.
![Total Population of Fairstead Civil Parish, Essex as reported by the Census of Population from 1801–2011.](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9b/Fairstead_Population_time_series_1801-2011.jpg/300px-Fairstead_Population_time_series_1801-2011.jpg)
In 1881, Fairstead's population was predominately male, with men outnumbering women 82:64. The majority of males listed their occupation as working in agriculture, with 66 of the males working as farmers or a similar occupation. 48 of the 66 women in Fairstead were listed as "unknown occupation"; this possibly indicates that they worked at home or were housewives.
![The occupations of both males and females in Fairstead, Essex in 1881, as reported by the 1881 Census of England and Wales](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/27/Occupations_of_males_and_females_of_Fairstead_in_1881.jpg/300px-Occupations_of_males_and_females_of_Fairstead_in_1881.jpg)
According to the 2011 Census, there are 133 households in Fairstead, accommodating 290 people: 158 males 132 females.[5] Of these 290 people, 156 are in work. The majority of the workers, 33 (21.2%), are in senior positions, such as managers and directors. Unlike in previous decades, few people are employed in the agriculture industry; only 10 people (6.4%) are employed in this industry.[6]
Education
In 1818, the education in Fairstead consisted of "a day school, supported at the expense of the rector, containing 20 children. The poor have ample means of educating children."[7] Education had developed by 1833, with Fairstead having: "One Day and Sunday School, supported by the Rector, in which 22 males and 18 females attend daily, and 12 males and 4 females in addition on Sundays."[8] By 1867, attendance and facilities had increased: "There is both a day and night school in Fairstead, not in connexion with Government, held in a large room in a cottage, attended by from 40 to 50 children. The night school is taught by the rector, with the aid of the school-mistress."[9]
Nowadays, the nearest primary and secondary schools are located in: Great Leighs, Terling and White Notley. A lack of higher and further education is indicated as 23% of over 16s have no formal qualifications; whereas 13.5% of 16 year-olds have 5 or more GCSEs (A*-C).[5]
Present
The nearest towns are Witham, approximately 4 mi (6.4 km) to the south-east, and Braintree, approximately 5 mi (8 km) to the north.
Railway services are available from nearby
There are no sport clubs in Fairstead. The nearest are in: Braintree, Witham and Chelmsford; most notable are
The Square and Compasses pub dates back to 1652; it was originally two farming cottages.
Fairstead sits on the
References
- ^ a b "Fairstead (Parish): Key Figures for 2011 Census: Key Statistics". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
- ^ Wilson, John Marius (1870). Gazetter of England and Wales. Edinburgh: A. Fullerton & Co. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
- ^ a b c "Key to English Place-Names". The University of Nottingham. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
- ^ "Open Domesday". Domesday Map. Archived from the original on 27 February 2015. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
- ^ a b "Lead Key Figures Fairstead". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office of National Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
- ^ "2011 Occupation Data". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
- ^ Great Britain. Parliament., House of Commons (1819). A Digest of Parochial Returns Made to the Select Committee Appointed to Inquire Into the Education of the Poor (1818). Irish University Press.
- ^ Great Britain. Parliament, House of Commons (1833). "House of Commons Papers". 42.
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(help) - ^ Great Britain. Parliament, House of Commons (1868). "Reports from Commissioners".
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External links
Media related to Fairstead at Wikimedia Commons