Thelnetham

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Thelnetham
Thelnetham Windmill.jpg
Thelnetham Windmill
Suffolk UK location map.svg
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Thelnetham
Location within Suffolk
Population230  [1]
District
Shire county
Region
Country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town Diss
Postcode district IP22
Police Suffolk
Fire Suffolk
Ambulance East of England
UK Parliament
List of places
UK
England
Suffolk
52°21′54″N0°57′36″E / 52.365°N 0.960°E / 52.365; 0.960 Coordinates: 52°21′54″N0°57′36″E / 52.365°N 0.960°E / 52.365; 0.960

Thelnetham is a village and civil parish in the West Suffolk district of Suffolk in eastern England. Located on the southern bank of the River Little Ouse (the Norfolk-Suffolk border), six miles west of Diss, in 2005 its population was 230. [1] The village of Blo' Norton lies on the Norfolk side of the river. The name of the village derives from the Old English words "thel" which means a plank bridge, "elfitu" meaning swans and "hamm" meaning a meadow or enclosure. Hence the village is the "meadow with the plank bridge and the swans". [2]

Contents

Blo' Norton and Thelnetham Fen

North of the village and along the river is the Blo' Norton and Thelnetham Fen Site of Special Scientific Interest, an important calcareous fen wetland site supporting a range of rare species such as black bog rush Schoenus nigricans and saw sedge Cladium mariscus plant species. [3] The Little Ouse Headwaters Project manages part of this area as well as surrounding wetland areas such as Hinderclay Fen and Suffolk Wildlife Trust also has a reserve on part of the site. [4] [5]

Bugg's Hole Fen SSSI

The 4 hectares (9.9 acres) Bugg's Hole Fen SSSI is located west of the village. [6] This is a spring fed area of fen with a wide range of habitats and flora including uncommon plant species such as common butterwort Pinguicula vulgaris , bog pimpernel Anagallis tenella and adder’s tongue fern Ophioglossum vulgatum . [6]

Church of St. Nicholas

The Church of St. Nicholas is the Church of England parish church of Thelnetham and part of the United Benefice of Stanton. [7]

Dating from the 14th century, it is said to have been built by Edmund Gonville, founder of Gonville Hall, later Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, who was rector here from 1320–1326.   Many older features remain including a simple octagonal font, the doorways and stairs to the rood loft behind the pulpit, a 14th century arcade, and arches with octagonal piers and quarter-round mouldings. The chancel and south aisle both have medieval stone altars with recut consecration crosses which were reinstated during the 1895 restoration.  Other notable features include a small brass with an inscription below it to Anne Caley (around 1500) on the large squint at the south-east end of the nave. On the south wall of the aisle an alabaster and marble monument to Henry Buckenham (died 1648) and Dorothy his wife (died 1645) can be found and on the north wall of the nave is an 18th century wooden panel with the Flight into Egypt carved in high relief (probably Italian). [8]

Lodge Farm, Thelnetham

Lodge Farm (now called Thelnetham House) was built in 1699 and was the subject of a book by the British author and critic John Middleton Murry. His book, Community Farm was an account of his time at Lodge Farm during the Second World War when he ran the farm as a commune for conscientious objectors. [9]

Thelnetham Windmill

Thelnetham Windmill is a restored 19th century tower mill and is located to the west of the village. It is open to the public on occasional weekends throughout the summer. [10]

Thelnetham Vineyard

Thelnetham Vineyard is a 3-acre (1.2 ha) vineyard on the banks of the Little Ouse which was planted in 1985 and which produces sparkling white wine. [11]

Trappetes' Cross

A 16th century stone cross located to the west of the village near the junction of Hopton Road and Mill Road, an area formerly known as Cross Green. Only several blocks of ashlar, forming the base and a small part of the shaft, remain in the orchard belonging to The Evergreen Oak, the early 16th century former public house. Moved from fields to its present location, the original site of the Trappetes' Cross has not been identified. [12] [13] [14]

The cross was bequeathed to the village by John Cole of Thelnetham in his will of 1527 in which he gave the instruction “Item 1.I will have a new crosse made accordinge to Trappetes' Crosse at the Hawelanesende and sett upp at Short Groves ende, where the Gospell ys sayde upon Ascension Even, for which I assigne xs" (10 shillings). [12]   Shortgrove Lane now runs from Hopton village to a junction with Gypsy Lane in Thelnetham and then along the parish boundary to Weathercock Farm. Cole owned land in `Longsake' Furlong adjacent to `Ratons Lane', which now seems to be called Gypsy Lane. It is likely that his cross was erected at the high point near the junction of Shortgrove and Gypsy Lane (and the former Market Lane). [15] John Cole further directed that a certain farm-rent should be applied yearly to the purpose of providing “a bushel and halffe of malte to be browne, and a bushel of whete to be baked to fynde a drinkinge upon Ascension Even everlasting for ye parishe of Thelnetham to drinke at the Cross of Trappetes”. [16]  

Reference to the cross can still be found in the names of nearby dwellings such as Trappetes Cross Cottages and Cross Green Farm.

See also

Related Research Articles

Redgrave and Lopham Fens

Redgrave and Lopham Fens is a 127 hectare biological Site of Special Scientific Interest between Thelnetham in Suffolk and Diss in Norfolk. It is a National Nature Reserve, a Ramsar internationally important wetland site, a Nature Conservation Review site, Grade I, and part of the Waveney and Little Ouse Valley Fens Special Area of Conservation. It is managed by the Suffolk Wildlife Trust.

River Little Ouse

The River Little Ouse is a river in the east of England, a tributary of the River Great Ouse. For much of its length it defines the boundary between Norfolk and Suffolk.

Suffolk Wildlife Trust

Suffolk Wildlife Trust (SWT) describes itself as the county's "nature charity – the only organisation dedicated wholly to safeguarding Suffolk's wildlife and countryside." It is a registered charity, and its headquarters is at Brooke House in Ashbocking, near Ipswich. It was founded in 1961, and is one of 46 wildlife trusts covering the Great Britain and Northern Ireland. As of March 2017, it has 13,200 members, and it manages 3,120 hectares of land in 60 nature reserves, most of which are open to the public. It had an income of £3.9 million in the year to 31 March 2017.

Fen Rivers Way

The Fen Rivers Way is a long distance footpath that spans a distance of 50 miles (80 km). It runs between the City of Cambridge and the town of King's Lynn in West Norfolk. It follows the course of the River Cam and River Great Ouse across the Fenland landscape into the Wash. It provides a small part of European Long Distance Path E2 which goes from Nice to Galway.

Corton, Suffolk Human settlement in England

Corton is a village and civil parish in the north of the English county of Suffolk. It is 3 miles (4.8 km) north of the centre of Lowestoft in the East Suffolk district. The village is on the North Sea coast with the county border with Norfolk to the north. It is a seaside holiday centre, with a number of facilities for visitors. Great Yarmouth is 6 miles (9.7 km) to the north.

Blo Norton Human settlement in England

Blo' Norton is a village and civil parish in the Breckland district of Norfolk, England, on the River Little Ouse, about 6+12 miles (10 km) west of Diss. The 2001 Census recorded the parish population as 270 people, living in about 100 households.

Stretham Village located in East Cambridgeshire, England

Stretham is a village and civil parish 4 miles (6 km) south-south-west of Ely in Cambridgeshire, England, about 74 miles (119 km) by road from London. Its main attraction is Stretham Old Engine, a steam-powered pump used to drain the fens. The pump is still in use today although converted to electric power. It has open days throughout the year.

Angles Way long-distance footpath in England

The Angles Way is a long-distance footpath in England, close to the River Waveney and River Little Ouse and thus close to the Norfolk/Suffolk border between Great Yarmouth and Thetford.

Mareham le Fen Village in Lincolnshire, England

Mareham le Fen is a village and civil parish about 6 miles (10 km) south from the town of Horncastle, Lincolnshire, England. The hamlet of Mareham Gate lies about 0.5 miles (0.8 km) south from the village, and it is believed that the deserted medieval village (DMV) of Birkwood is situated nearby.

River Thet

The River Thet is a river in Norfolk, England and is a tributary of the River Little Ouse.It rises in Breckland with sources in Deopham Green and Rockland All Saints and joins the Little Ouse in Thetford after flowing approximately southwest.

Icklingham Human settlement in England

Icklingham is a village and civil parish in the West Suffolk district of Suffolk in eastern England. It is located about 7 miles (11 km) north-west of Bury St Edmunds, 4 miles (6.4 km) south-east of Mildenhall and 9 miles (14 km) south-west of Thetford in Norfolk. The village is on the A1101 road between Bury St Edmunds and Mildenhall in the north-west of the county. The area around the village, characterised by a sandy gravel-laden soil, is known as Breckland, though an arm of the fen-like peat follows the River Lark past the village.

The Little Ouse Headwaters Project (LOHP) was set up in 2002 by local residents to promote conservation and enjoyment of the fenland habitats bordering the upper reaches of the River Little Ouse, which lies on the Norfolk-Suffolk border. The site lies between Blo' Norton in Norfolk and Thelnetham in Suffolk. It includes a number of areas including Hinderclay Fen, Blo' Norton Fen, Betty's Fen, The Frith, Blo' Norton Lowes, Blo' Norton Little Fen and Parker's Piece. The area also include parts of the Blo' Norton and Thelnetham Fen Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

Lound, Suffolk Human settlement in England

Lound is a village and civil parish in the north of the English county of Suffolk. It is 4.5 miles (7.2 km) north of Lowestoft, 5 miles (8.0 km) south of Great Yarmouth in the East Suffolk district. It is 2 miles (3.2 km) from the North Sea coast at Hopton-on-Sea and is on the border with the county of Norfolk.

Hinderclay Human settlement in England

Hinderclay is a village and civil parish in the Mid Suffolk district of Suffolk in eastern England. The village is located around 14 miles (23 km) - from Bury St Edmunds in an area of rolling arable land to the south of the Little Ouse river valley. Neighbouring villages include Thelnetham and Rickinghall. In 2005 its population was 340. The parish also contains the hamlet of Thorpe Street.

Thelnetham Windmill Grade II* listed tower mill constructed of brick

Thelnetham Windmill, also known as Button's Mill is a Grade II* listed tower mill constructed of brick. The windmill is located at Thelnetham, Suffolk, England. It was built in the early nineteenth century to grind wheat into flour. Thelnetham windmill worked by wind power until 1924, latterly on two sails, after which it became derelict.

Market Weston Human settlement in England

Market Weston is a small village and civil parish in the West Suffolk district of Suffolk in eastern England. It is located near the Norfolk border around seven miles east-south-east of Thetford. In 2005 its population was estimated to be 260. 245 people were recorded at 2011 census. The parish also contains the Weston Fen SSSI.

Newbourne Human settlement in England

Newbourne is a village and civil parish in the East Suffolk region of Suffolk, England. It lies on the peninsula between the River Orwell and the River Deben, to the east of Ipswich and south of Woodbridge.

Harts Green Human settlement in England

Hart's Green is a hamlet in the civil parish of Lawshall in the Babergh district in the county of Suffolk, England. It is located between Stanningfield and Hanningfield Green and is just over a mile off the A134 between Bury St Edmunds and Sudbury. The road that serves Hart's Green is known as Donkey Lane.

Blo Norton and Thelnetham Fens

Blo' Norton and Thelnetham Fens are a 21.3 hectare biological Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) on the Norfolk/Suffolk border. Blo' Norton Fen is in the parish of Blo' Norton in Norfolk and Thelnetham Fen is in Thelnetham parish in Suffolk. It is a Nature Conservation Review site, Grade 2, and part of the Waveney and Little Ouse Valley Fens Special Area of Conservation, Thelnetham Fen is managed by the Suffolk Wildlife Trust and Blo' Norton Fen by the Little Ouse Headwaters Project (LOHP).

References

  1. 1 2 Estimates of Total Population of Areas in Suffolk Archived 2008-12-19 at the Wayback Machine Suffolk County Council
  2. A Popular Guide to Suffolk Place Names by James Rye published in 1997 by The Larks Press
  3. Blo' Norton and Thelnetham Fen, SSSI citation, Natural England. Retrieved 2013-01-31.
  4. Our sites, Little Ouse Headwaters Project. Retrieved 2013-01-31.
  5. Thelnetham Fen Archived 2013-02-18 at the Wayback Machine , Suffolk Wildlife Trust. Retrieved 2013-01-31.
  6. 1 2 Bugg's Hole Fen, Thelnetham, SSSI citation, Natural England. Retrieved 2013-01-31.
  7. "St.Nicholas, Thelnetham". The United Benefice Of Stanton. 24 April 2015. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  8. England, Historic. "CHURCH OF ST NICHOLAS, Thelnetham - 1194457 | Historic England". historicengland.org.uk. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  9. Community Farm by John Middleton Murry published in 1953 by The Country Book Club
  10. Thelnetham Windmill, Suffolk Mills Group. Retrieved 2013-01-31.
  11. "East Anglia". English Wine Producers. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  12. 1 2 England, Historic. "REMAINS OF CROSS IN GARDEN TO THE WEST OF EVERGREEN OAK, Thelnetham - 1031203 | Historic England". historicengland.org.uk. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  13. England, Historic. "THE EVERGREEN OAK, Thelnetham - 1285624 | Historic England". historicengland.org.uk. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  14. Suffolk Heritage Explorer https://heritage.suffolk.gov.uk/hbsmr-web/record.aspx?UID=MSF10706-Evergreen-Oak&pageid=16&mid=9 Retrieved 2019-02-27.
  15. Heritage Explorer, Suffolk (https://heritage.suffolk.gov.uk/Monument/MSF10706).Check date values in: |date= (help); Missing or empty |title= (help); Missing or empty |url= (help)
  16. "The Project Gutenberg eBook of British Popular Customs Present and Past, by T. F. Thistelton Dyer". www.gutenberg.org. Retrieved 27 February 2019.

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