Capel St. Mary
Encyclopedia
Capel St. Mary – commonly known as Capel – is a village
in Suffolk
, England
. It is about 6 miles (10 km) southwest of Ipswich
and 2 miles (3 km) from Dedham Vale
, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
.
as part of the manor of Boynton. A 13th Century document was the first to mention it by its current name, derived from the Latin capele, meaning "chapel".
Tentative evidence of Bronze Age habitation has recently been discovered just outside the boundaries of the village, and well-documented human settlement in the area dates from the Roman period. Evidence of a villa was found during construction of council houses on Windmill Hill at the west end of the village in the 1930s, along with remains of a kiln nearby, and smaller artefacts such as coins and tiles.
A fortified house
was built in nearby Little Wenham between 1260 and 1290. It is believed to be one of the first examples of fortified houses made from English brick.
A railway station
was built as part of the Hadleigh branch line in 1847. The station was closed to passengers in 1932 but freight services continued until 1965, when the line was closed as a result of the Beeching Axe
.
. Men from the village were involved in two local Auxiliary Units
, Wenham and Capel, part of the 202nd battalion of the Home Guard. The Wenham unit was based at a dugout under Jermyn's Farm to the north of the village, and a dugout a short distance away housed their supply of explosives. The Capel unit was based in woods near Bentley
; the three dugouts at their disposal housed ammunition, a field telephone, and their supplies of gelignite and plastic explosive. The explosives were destroyed in-situ after the end of hostilities because they were deemed too dangerous to move.
In 1960, initial plans were drawn up for significant housing development and mains sewerage in the village — the latter was needed following the introduction of mains water in 1951. These were finalised by 1963, initiating an expansion of the village from some 632 people in 1961 to a peak of 3,176 people in 1991. The new houses were built with an open-plan design: front gardens were not to be enclosed, and grass verges were to separate fences from the pavement. Plans for the village shopping centre were approved in 1974.
and independent shops such as a bakery, hairdresser, greengrocery, and a newsagent. There is also a post office and doctors' surgery with a pharmacy.
Capel's only pub – the White Horse – and a Jet
petrol station are at the east end of the village. A second pub – the Plough – closed in 1996.
Currently the White Horse is closed awaiting new owners.
. The pitches are home to Capel Plough F.C. who play in the Suffolk and Ipswich Football League
. The village hall and the attached bar are used by many societies, including several tiers of the Scouting movement.
, although some go to selective or private secondary schools in nearby Ipswich
or Colchester
.
There is also a Methodist church and a Community church in the village. Roman Catholic services used to be conducted in St Mary's, but declining numbers of priests meant these became unfeasible. All churches are very active and work closely together.
According to the Office for National Statistics
, at the time of the United Kingdom Census 2001
, Capel St Mary had a population of 2,877. The 2001 population density was 8280 PD/sqmi, with a 100 to 94.9 female-to-male ratio. Of those over 16 years old, 19.1% were single (never married), 59.4% married, and 5.5% divorced. Capel St Mary's 1,105 households included 17.1% one-person, 58.1% married couples living together, 4.2% were co-habiting
couples, and 6.5% single parents with their children. Of those aged 16–74, 19.1% had no academic qualifications
, much lower than the averages of Babergh (27.8%) and England (28.9%).
As of the 2001 UK census, 78.8% of Capel St Mary's residents reported themselves as being Christian, 0.2% Hindu, 0.2% Jewish, and 0.1% Buddhist. The census recorded 13.8% as having no religion, 0.2% had an alternative religion and 6.8% did not state their religion.
According to the 2001 UK census, the industry of employment of residents aged 16–74 was 16.2% retail and wholesale, 13.3% property and business services, 11.4% transport and communications, 10.9% finance, 9.7% manufacturing, 8.1% health and social work, 6.9% education, 6.1% construction, 5.7% public administration, 5.3% hotels and restaurants, 1.4% agriculture, 1.3% energy and water supply, and 3.8% other. Compared with national figures, Capel St Mary had a relatively high percentage of residents working in energy and water supply (0.9% nationally); transport and communications (7.0% nationally); and finance (5.1%); and a relatively low percentage working in manufacturing (17.6% nationally). Although the proportion of people in Capel St Mary was similar to the national average (1.5%), it was below the average for the borough (3.5%). The census recorded the economic activity of residents aged 16–74, 3.1% students were with jobs, 2.8% students without jobs, 6.1% looking after home or family, 2.5% permanently sick or disabled, and 1.1% economically inactive for other reasons.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
in Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It is about 6 miles (10 km) southwest of Ipswich
Ipswich
Ipswich is a large town and a non-metropolitan district. It is the county town of Suffolk, England. Ipswich is located on the estuary of the River Orwell...
and 2 miles (3 km) from Dedham Vale
Dedham Vale
Dedham Vale is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty on the Essex-Suffolk border in east England. It comprises the area around the River Stour between Manningtree and Bures, including the village of Dedham in Essex. It is part of the area known since the artist's lifetime as Constable...
, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is an area of countryside considered to have significant landscape value in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, that has been specially designated by the Countryside Agency on behalf of the United Kingdom government; the Countryside Council for Wales on...
.
Early history
The village was listed in the Domesday BookDomesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
as part of the manor of Boynton. A 13th Century document was the first to mention it by its current name, derived from the Latin capele, meaning "chapel".
Tentative evidence of Bronze Age habitation has recently been discovered just outside the boundaries of the village, and well-documented human settlement in the area dates from the Roman period. Evidence of a villa was found during construction of council houses on Windmill Hill at the west end of the village in the 1930s, along with remains of a kiln nearby, and smaller artefacts such as coins and tiles.
A fortified house
Manor house
A manor house is a country house that historically formed the administrative centre of a manor, the lowest unit of territorial organisation in the feudal system in Europe. The term is applied to country houses that belonged to the gentry and other grand stately homes...
was built in nearby Little Wenham between 1260 and 1290. It is believed to be one of the first examples of fortified houses made from English brick.
A railway station
Capel railway station
Capel railway station was a station in Capel St Mary, Suffolk, on a short branch line from Bentley Junction to Hadleigh.Former ServicesThe line opened in 1847 and closed to passenger traffic in 1932, with freight services lingering on until 1965....
was built as part of the Hadleigh branch line in 1847. The station was closed to passengers in 1932 but freight services continued until 1965, when the line was closed as a result of the Beeching Axe
Beeching Axe
The Beeching Axe or the Beeching Cuts are informal names for the British Government's attempt in the 1960s to reduce the cost of running British Railways, the nationalised railway system in the United Kingdom. The name is that of the main author of The Reshaping of British Railways, Dr Richard...
.
20th century
During the second World War, the village was frequented by American airmen from nearby RAF RaydonRAF Raydon
RAF Raydon is a former United States Army Air Force station in England. It is located just to the northeast of the village of Raydon, about 6 miles from Ipswich on the B1070 in Suffolk.-Origins:...
. Men from the village were involved in two local Auxiliary Units
Auxiliary Units
The Auxiliary Units or GHQ Auxiliary Units were specially trained, highly secret units created by the United Kingdom government during the Second World War, with the aim of resisting the expected occupation of the United Kingdom by Nazi Germany, after a planned invasion codenamed Operation Sea Lion...
, Wenham and Capel, part of the 202nd battalion of the Home Guard. The Wenham unit was based at a dugout under Jermyn's Farm to the north of the village, and a dugout a short distance away housed their supply of explosives. The Capel unit was based in woods near Bentley
Bentley, Suffolk
Bentley is a village and civil parish in the Babergh district of Suffolk, England. Located a few miles south-west of Ipswich, in 2005 it had a population of 750.Bentley has a primary school, a church and a pub, 'The Case is Altered', but it has no shop....
; the three dugouts at their disposal housed ammunition, a field telephone, and their supplies of gelignite and plastic explosive. The explosives were destroyed in-situ after the end of hostilities because they were deemed too dangerous to move.
In 1960, initial plans were drawn up for significant housing development and mains sewerage in the village — the latter was needed following the introduction of mains water in 1951. These were finalised by 1963, initiating an expansion of the village from some 632 people in 1961 to a peak of 3,176 people in 1991. The new houses were built with an open-plan design: front gardens were not to be enclosed, and grass verges were to separate fences from the pavement. Plans for the village shopping centre were approved in 1974.
Shopping and health
Most facilities are located in the centre of the village, including the Co-OpThe Co-operative Group
The Co-operative Group Ltd. is a United Kingdom consumer cooperative with a diverse range of business interests. It is co-operatively run and owned by its members. It is the largest organisation of this type in the world, with over 5.5 million members, who all have a say in how the business is...
and independent shops such as a bakery, hairdresser, greengrocery, and a newsagent. There is also a post office and doctors' surgery with a pharmacy.
Capel's only pub – the White Horse – and a Jet
Jet (brand)
Jet is the filling station brand of ConocoPhillips, used in Europe.Jet filling stations are located in Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, Sweden, Thailand and the United Kingdom....
petrol station are at the east end of the village. A second pub – the Plough – closed in 1996.
Currently the White Horse is closed awaiting new owners.
Recreation
There is a large playing field which hosts football pitches, tennis courts, a cricket ground and a bowling green. There is also a children's playground at the same site. A fireworks display is held here each year on the 5th of NovemberGuy Fawkes Night
Guy Fawkes Night, also known as Guy Fawkes Day, Bonfire Night and Firework Night, is an annual commemoration observed on 5 November, primarily in England. Its history begins with the events of 5 November 1605, when Guy Fawkes, a member of the Gunpowder Plot, was arrested while guarding...
. The pitches are home to Capel Plough F.C. who play in the Suffolk and Ipswich Football League
Suffolk and Ipswich Football League
The Suffolk and Ipswich Football League is a football competition based in Suffolk, England. The league has a total of nine divisions; the Senior Division, divisions 1–6 and two reserve divisions. The Senior Division is at step 7 of the National League System.The Senior Division champions may...
. The village hall and the attached bar are used by many societies, including several tiers of the Scouting movement.
Education
There is a primary school in the village. Most children then go to East Bergholt High SchoolEast Bergholt High School
East Bergholt High School and Science College is in Heath Road, East Bergholt, Suffolk, north of Colchester, Essex, and nine miles south of Ipswich, Suffolk. It has 880 students. The current headteacher is Mr Colin Turner.-History:...
, although some go to selective or private secondary schools in nearby Ipswich
Ipswich
Ipswich is a large town and a non-metropolitan district. It is the county town of Suffolk, England. Ipswich is located on the estuary of the River Orwell...
or Colchester
Colchester
Colchester is an historic town and the largest settlement within the borough of Colchester in Essex, England.At the time of the census in 2001, it had a population of 104,390. However, the population is rapidly increasing, and has been named as one of Britain's fastest growing towns. As the...
.
Religious sites
The village is in the Anglican parish of Capel St. Mary with Lt Wenham and Gt Wenham. The parish church is St Mary Virgin and Mother. Construction started in the early 13th Century, but most of the building dates from the 15th Century. However, the churchyard was found to contain Roman cremation urns when digging took place for a northern extension in the late 1990s.There is also a Methodist church and a Community church in the village. Roman Catholic services used to be conducted in St Mary's, but declining numbers of priests meant these became unfeasible. All churches are very active and work closely together.
Transport
Capel sits next to the A12 road, which links the village to Ipswich and Colchester. There is also a local bus service.Demography
| Capel St Mary compared | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 UK census | Capel St Mary | Babergh Babergh Babergh is a local government district in Suffolk, England. Its council headquarters is based in Hadleigh, whilst its largest town is Sudbury.The district was formed on 1 April 1974 by the merger of the Borough of Sudbury, Hadleigh urban district, Cosford Rural District, Melford Rural District and... |
England |
| Total population | 2,877 | 83,461 | 49,138,831 |
| White | 98.3% | 98.7% | 91% |
| Asian | 0.4% | 0.3% | 4.6% |
| Black | 0.2% | 0.2% | 2.3% |
According to the Office for National Statistics
Office for National Statistics
The Office for National Statistics is the executive office of the UK Statistics Authority, a non-ministerial department which reports directly to the Parliament of the United Kingdom.- Overview :...
, at the time of the United Kingdom Census 2001
United Kingdom Census 2001
A nationwide census, known as Census 2001, was conducted in the United Kingdom on Sunday, 29 April 2001. This was the 20th UK Census and recorded a resident population of 58,789,194....
, Capel St Mary had a population of 2,877. The 2001 population density was 8280 PD/sqmi, with a 100 to 94.9 female-to-male ratio. Of those over 16 years old, 19.1% were single (never married), 59.4% married, and 5.5% divorced. Capel St Mary's 1,105 households included 17.1% one-person, 58.1% married couples living together, 4.2% were co-habiting
Cohabitation
Cohabitation usually refers to an arrangement whereby two people decide to live together on a long-term or permanent basis in an emotionally and/or sexually intimate relationship. The term is most frequently applied to couples who are not married...
couples, and 6.5% single parents with their children. Of those aged 16–74, 19.1% had no academic qualifications
National Qualifications Framework
The National Qualifications Framework is a credit transfer system developed for qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland....
, much lower than the averages of Babergh (27.8%) and England (28.9%).
As of the 2001 UK census, 78.8% of Capel St Mary's residents reported themselves as being Christian, 0.2% Hindu, 0.2% Jewish, and 0.1% Buddhist. The census recorded 13.8% as having no religion, 0.2% had an alternative religion and 6.8% did not state their religion.
Population change
| Population growth Population growth Population growth is the change in a population over time, and can be quantified as the change in the number of individuals of any species in a population using "per unit time" for measurement.... in Capel St Mary since 1881 |
||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | 1871 | 1881 | 1891 | 1901 | 1911 | 1921 | 1931 | 1951 | 1961 | 2001 |
| Population | 593 | 567 | 605 | 526 | 516 | 480 | 504 | 582 | 632 | 2,877 |
| Source: A Vision of Britain through Time | ||||||||||
Economy
| Capel St Mary compared | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 UK Census United Kingdom Census 2001 A nationwide census, known as Census 2001, was conducted in the United Kingdom on Sunday, 29 April 2001. This was the 20th UK Census and recorded a resident population of 58,789,194.... |
Capel St Mary | Babergh | England |
| Population of working age | 2,136 | 59,886 | 35,532,091 |
| Full time employment | 41.3% | 40.3% | 40.8% |
| Part time employment | 16.5% | 13.5% | 11.8% |
| Self employed | 9.6% | 11.7% | 8.3% |
| Unemployed | 1.5% | 2.2% | 3.3% |
| Retired | 15.5% | 15.5% | 13.5% |
According to the 2001 UK census, the industry of employment of residents aged 16–74 was 16.2% retail and wholesale, 13.3% property and business services, 11.4% transport and communications, 10.9% finance, 9.7% manufacturing, 8.1% health and social work, 6.9% education, 6.1% construction, 5.7% public administration, 5.3% hotels and restaurants, 1.4% agriculture, 1.3% energy and water supply, and 3.8% other. Compared with national figures, Capel St Mary had a relatively high percentage of residents working in energy and water supply (0.9% nationally); transport and communications (7.0% nationally); and finance (5.1%); and a relatively low percentage working in manufacturing (17.6% nationally). Although the proportion of people in Capel St Mary was similar to the national average (1.5%), it was below the average for the borough (3.5%). The census recorded the economic activity of residents aged 16–74, 3.1% students were with jobs, 2.8% students without jobs, 6.1% looking after home or family, 2.5% permanently sick or disabled, and 1.1% economically inactive for other reasons.