Elmsett
Encyclopedia
Elmsett is a village and civil parish
in Suffolk
, England
. Located around three miles north-east of Hadleigh, it is in Babergh
district. In 2005 it had a population of 826.
In 1932 the village made national news when Charles Westren, a farmer at Elmsett Hall, refused to pay his tithe
to the church
. As a result, goods were seized from the hall. This is remembered by the Tithe memorial opposite the church, on which it is inscribed:
The incident was one of many across the country, and the events were documented by George Orwell
in A Clergyman's Daughter
.
Today the village is home to numerous listed buildings, though most of its Elm trees were killed off by Dutch Elm Disease
in the 1960s and 1970s. The parish contains Elmsett Park Wood, an area of Ancient Woodland
classified as an SSSI
. Borley's Wood, Langham Close Wood and Lucy Wood are also protected Ancient Woodland. There is also a grass airfield in the west of the parish, which hosts an annual show.
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
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...
. Located around three miles north-east of Hadleigh, it is in 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...
district. In 2005 it had a population of 826.
History
The first record of Elmsett comes from 995 when it was written Ylmesaeton (Ylme for Elm, Saeten for dwellers). By 1900 the village had around 16 farms and the Elmsett Mill, together employing most of the residents.In 1932 the village made national news when Charles Westren, a farmer at Elmsett Hall, refused to pay his tithe
Tithe
A tithe is a one-tenth part of something, paid as a contribution to a religious organization or compulsory tax to government. Today, tithes are normally voluntary and paid in cash, cheques, or stocks, whereas historically tithes were required and paid in kind, such as agricultural products...
to the church
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
. As a result, goods were seized from the hall. This is remembered by the Tithe memorial opposite the church, on which it is inscribed:
1934. To commemorate the Tithe seizure at Elmsett Hall of furniture including baby's bed and blankets, herd of dairy cows, eight corn stacks and seed stacks valued at £1200 for tithe valued at £385.
The incident was one of many across the country, and the events were documented by George Orwell
George Orwell
Eric Arthur Blair , better known by his pen name George Orwell, was an English author and journalist...
in A Clergyman's Daughter
A Clergyman's Daughter
A Clergyman's Daughter is a 1935 novel by English author George Orwell. It tells the story of Dorothy Hare, the clergyman's daughter of the title, whose life is turned upside-down when she suffers an attack of amnesia...
.
Today the village is home to numerous listed buildings, though most of its Elm trees were killed off by Dutch Elm Disease
Dutch elm disease
Dutch elm disease is a disease caused by a member of the sac fungi category, affecting elm trees which is spread by the elm bark beetle. Although believed to be originally native to Asia, the disease has been accidentally introduced into America and Europe, where it has devastated native...
in the 1960s and 1970s. The parish contains Elmsett Park Wood, an area of Ancient Woodland
Ancient woodland
Ancient woodland is a term used in the United Kingdom to refer specifically to woodland that has existed continuously since 1600 or before in England and Wales . Before those dates, planting of new woodland was uncommon, so a wood present in 1600 was likely to have developed naturally...
classified as an SSSI
Site of Special Scientific Interest
A Site of Special Scientific Interest is a conservation designation denoting a protected area in the United Kingdom. SSSIs are the basic building block of site-based nature conservation legislation and most other legal nature/geological conservation designations in Great Britain are based upon...
. Borley's Wood, Langham Close Wood and Lucy Wood are also protected Ancient Woodland. There is also a grass airfield in the west of the parish, which hosts an annual show.