Sotterley
Sotterley | ||
---|---|---|
Shire county | ||
Region | ||
Country | England | |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom | |
Post town | Beccles | |
Postcode district | NR34 | |
Dialling code | 01502 | |
UK Parliament | ||
Sotterley, originally Southern-lea from its situation south of the river,
Sotterley Hall remains at the centre of the parish which now has very few basic services.[6] A saw mill operates in the village,[7] often making use of wood from the 160 hectares (400 acres) of mixed woodland managed by the Sotterley estate.[8]
History
At the
Sotterley was held by Roger de Soterley in 1242
A descendant, also called Thomas, was
In 1744 Sotterley manor was sold to
Geography
Sotterley lies on an area of clay plateau in a wider area averaging between 20 and 25 metres above sea level. The underlying rock is crag-sand with overlying glacial till deposits and clay soils.[3] The landscape is mainly arable with Sotterley Park and its associated woodland providing the main variation. The village is dispersed around a crossroads with a road pattern of unlit lanes which is largely unchanged from that seen on Hodgkinson's map of 1783.[3]
The census of 1801 records Sotterley had a population of 254 inhabitants.[16] The population remained reasonably steady throughout the 19th century and stood at 221 in 1901, at which time the village school had an average attendance of 80 children.[16][17] From the 1920s onwards, the population began to decline more quickly and stood at 142 by the census of 1961.[16] The 2011 census recorded the population of the parish as 113, a reduction of seven since the census of 2001.[4]
The village has very limited basic services today. The public house, the Falcon, closed during the 20th century.[17][18] Regional Cycle Route 31, from Reedham to Southwold, passes through the village.[19] Sotterley school, which was built in 1873 to replace a parochial school built in 1840 and supported by charitable contributions, closed in 1971.[20][21][22][23] Children now attend primary school in Brampton and high school in Beccles.
Sotterley Hall and estate
Sotterley Estate is centred on a Georgian mansion house built in 1744, Sotterley Hall, overlooking a lake.
The estate surrounding the house,
The estate is managed with a mixture of agricultural, woodland and field sports use. A 12-mile (19 km) horse trail is available on land around the estate and village.[28] The estate has been used as a film and TV location.[29]
Churches
The parish church, a Grade I listed building with many medieval elements,[30] is located on the Sotterley estate and is dedicated to St Margaret. Access by vehicle is limited to the times of services.[13][31] The church has more figure brasses than any other in Suffolk as well as medieval glasswork[13][32] and a carved oak rood screen.[21][13] Kelly's directory of 1900 notes that the church register held at the time dated from 1547.[17] The roll of honour in the church records that 15 men from Sotterley died during World War I, including two Barnes.[13]
The parish was consolidated in 1873 with the neighbouring parish of Willingham St Mary which had lacked a church for many years.[17]
An unusual octagonal cemetery chapel and cemetery were established outside the estate in about 1883.[33][34] The brick built chapel is a Grade II listed building which may have been designed by Sir Arthur Blomfield. Each face of the building has a gothic window.[34] The chapel was threatened with demolition but is now owned by the parish council[33] and restoration was begun in 2007 by the Sotterley Chapel Preservation Trust.[31][33]
References
- ^ East Suffolk District Council, 2019. Retrieved 2021-02-10.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Suckling, A.I., (1846). 'Sotterley', in The History and Antiquities of the County of Suffolk, 2 vols (W.S. Cowell, Ipswich 1846), I, pp. 81–96 (British History Online). Retrieved 2011-04-06.
- ^ a b c 'Sotterley and Benacre plateau', Waveney District landscape character assessment pp.191–195, Waveney District Council, April 2008. Retrieved 2011-04-18. (Archived, 2011-07-19.)
- ^ a b A profile of Waveney[permanent dead link], Waveney District Council, February 2011. Retrieved 2011-04-18.
- ^ Shadingfield, Sotterley, Willingham and Ellough Parish Council Website, 2021. Retrieved 2021-02-10.
- ^ Shadingfield, Sotterley, Willingham & Ellough, Healthy Suffolk, Suffolk County Council, 2016. Retrieved 2020-02-10.
- ^ The Sawmill, Sotterley Estate. Retrieved 2009-04-19. (Archived, 2012-03-22.)
- ^ Woodlands, Sotterley Estate. Retrieved 2009-04-19. (Archived, 2012-03-22.)
- ^ Sotterley, The Domesday Book online. Retrieved 2011-04-18.
- ^ Sotterley, Open Domesday. Retrieved 2021-02-19.
- ^ Croscroft, Open Domesday. Retrieved 2021-02-10.
- ^ a b c d Page, A. (1844). 'Satterley Parish', Topographical and genealogical, The County of Suffolk. (Available online. Retrieved 2011-04-06.)
- ^ a b c d e St Margaret, Sotterley, The Suffolk Churches site. Retrieved 2009-04-19
- ^ Lake work benefits Beccles newts, BBC news website, 2009-09-15. Retrieved 2011-04-06.
- ^ Watson J (1815) The treble almanack for the year 1815 Dublin: Authority. (Available online. Retrieved 2011-04-06.)
- ^ a b c Sotterley CP/AP: Historical statistics – Population, Vision of Britain. Retrieved 2011-04-18.
- ^ a b c d 'Sotterley', Kelly's directory of Suffolk, 1900, p. 306. London: Kelly's Directories Limited.
- ^ Sotterley: Falcon, Suffolk Pubs, Campaign for Real Ale. Retrieved 2011-04-18.
- ^ Beccles and Southwold linked by new cycle route, Eastern Daily Press, 2011-05-22. Retrieved 2011-05-22.
- ^ White W (1855) 'Sotterley', History, Gazetteer & Directory of Suffolk, 1855, pp.673–674. Sheffield: Robert Leader.
- ^ a b c 'Sotterley', Kelly's Directory of Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk, 1892, p.1208. London: Kelly and Co.
- ^ 'Sotterley', The post office directory of Cambridge, Norfolk and Suffolk, 1869, p.898. London: Kelly and Co.
- ^ Unseen archive, Archant Newspapers
- ^ Sotterley Hall, British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 2011-04-06.
- ^ Listed Buildings in Sotterley, Suffolk, England, British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 2011-04-18.
- ^ a b c d Sotterley Park: SSSI citation, Natural England. Retrieved 2011-04-17.
- ^ South Norfolk and High Suffolk Claylands, Natural England. Retrieved 2011-04-17.
- ^ Equestrian, Sotterley Estate. Retrieved 2011-04-18.
- ^ Film/TV Location, Sotterley Estate. Retrieved 2011-04-18. (Archived, 2012-03-22.)
- ^ Church of St Margaret, Sotterley, British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 2011-04-06.
- ^ a b Sotterley, Hundred River Benefice. Retrieved 2011-04-18. (Archived, 2012-03-22.)
- ^ St Margaret's Church, Sotterley Estate. Retrieved 2011-04-18. (Archived, 2012-03-22)
- ^ a b c Sotterley Chapel, Parish Council Website, 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-19.
- ^ a b Sotterley Cemetery Memorial Chapel, Sotterley, British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 2011-04-06.
Further reading
- Victoria County History of Suffolk, Vol. I (ed. W. Page). London: Constable, 1907 (Reissued by the Institute of Historical Research, 1975)
- A. G. Mathews (1948) Walker Revised, being a revision of John Walker's "Sufferings of the Clergy"