Pakefield
Encyclopedia
Pakefield is a suburb of the town of Lowestoft
in the Waveney District
of the English
county
of Suffolk
. Pakefield is located around 2 miles (3 km) south of the centre of the town. Although today it forms a suburb of the urban area of Lowestoft, it was until 1934 a village and parish in its own right. Pakefield lies along the North Sea
coast. The former parish church, All Saints and St Margarets, is located on the coast.
Pakefield has boundaries with Carlton Colville
and Kirkley
, both also districts or suburbs of Lowestoft
. It forms the southern boundary of the Lowestoft
urban area with Kessingland
about 2½ miles (4 km) to the south.
and Homo Heidelbergensis
.
Bloodmoor Hill, between Pakefield and Carlton Colville, was the site of settlement in the 2nd and 3rd centuries and the 7th and 8th centuries. The Saxon period consisted of a relatively dense settlement as well as a cemetery which included at least one rich barrow burial. Artefacts were discovered at the site in the 18th Century and the Saxon cemetery site was the subject of archaeological investigations between 1998 and 2006.
In the Domesday book
Pakefield is called “Pagefella”., the name probably coming from the Pagan settlement name of Pagga's or Pacca's field. The village was part of the King's holdings and was part of the Hundred of Lothing
. It had a population of about 17 households, including a number of freemen. Part of the tax payment made by the village was 600 herrings.
Pakefield later developed as a fishing community. The former terminus of the Tram Service from Lowestoft
is located in the centre of Pakefield and is now the site of the Tramway Hotel. In the modern era, the area played an important role in the Kindertransport
programme nine months before the start of World War II
. Many children who had not found prearranged foster families
were given temporary shelter in the local holiday camp.
.
The map image below shows how erosion occurred between 1882 and 1955. The photos show the extent of the erosion and damage to property which occurred.
s to Suffolk County Council
and Waveney District Council
. The Member of Parliament is elected through the Waveney
seat which is currently held by Peter Aldous
. For county council elections Pakefield is part of a larger constituency with the neighboring suburb of Carlton Colville
.
.
The area has a number of local shops and businesses, including The Seagull theatre and cinema in Morton Road. As well as the church of All Saint's and St Margaret's, Pakefield has a catholic church dedicated to St Nicholas.
At present Pakefield has two schools Pakefield Primary and Pakefield Middle. The primary school was awarded a grant by the Royal Society
in 2009 to develop a project called 'What has the sea ever done for us'. A fourth high school
for Lowestoft is planned for the Middle School site following a reorganisation of the school system in Suffolk. There has been local opposition to the plan to build at Pakefield.
The Promoting Pakefield Group was formed in 2004 to attempt to promote the area and its interests. A variety of local improvements have been made, including providing a Christmas tree, noticeboards and making improvements to the local war memorial. The group is made up of a number of local businesses and other organisations.
was born in Pakefield in 1938 and attended Pakefield Primary School. He has written about Pakefield in his books.
Lowestoft
Lowestoft is a town in the English county of Suffolk. The town is on the North Sea coast and is the most easterly point of the United Kingdom. It is north-east of London, north-east of Ipswich and south-east of Norwich...
in the Waveney District
Waveney
Waveney is a local government district in Suffolk, England, named after the River Waveney that forms its north-west border. The district council is based in Lowestoft, the major settlement in Waveney, which is the only unparished area in the district...
of the English
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...
county
County
A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain modern nations. Historically in mainland Europe, the original French term, comté, and its equivalents in other languages denoted a jurisdiction under the sovereignty of a count A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain...
of 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...
. Pakefield is located around 2 miles (3 km) south of the centre of the town. Although today it forms a suburb of the urban area of Lowestoft, it was until 1934 a village and parish in its own right. Pakefield lies along the North Sea
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
coast. The former parish church, All Saints and St Margarets, is located on the coast.
Pakefield has boundaries with Carlton Colville
Carlton Colville
Carlton Colville is an area in the suburbs of Lowestoft in the Waveney District of the English county of Suffolk, located south-west of the centre of the town. Significant residential development has occurred in the area since the 1960s, including more than 1,000 homes built in Carlton Park...
and Kirkley
Kirkley
Kirkley is a place within the town of Lowestoft in the Waveney District of the English county of Suffolk. Kirkley is located south of the centre of the town. Although today it forms part of the urban area of Lowestoft, it was originally a village....
, both also districts or suburbs of Lowestoft
Lowestoft
Lowestoft is a town in the English county of Suffolk. The town is on the North Sea coast and is the most easterly point of the United Kingdom. It is north-east of London, north-east of Ipswich and south-east of Norwich...
. It forms the southern boundary of the Lowestoft
Lowestoft
Lowestoft is a town in the English county of Suffolk. The town is on the North Sea coast and is the most easterly point of the United Kingdom. It is north-east of London, north-east of Ipswich and south-east of Norwich...
urban area with Kessingland
Kessingland
Kessingland is a large village in the Waveney District of the English county of Suffolk. It is located around south of Lowestoft. It is of interest to archaeologists as Palaeolithic and Neolithic implements have been found here; the remains of an ancient forest lie buried on the seabed.There has...
about 2½ miles (4 km) to the south.
History
Pakefield is the site of one of the earliest known areas of human habitation in the United Kingdom. In 2005 flint tools and teeth from the water vole Mimomys Savini, a key dating species, were found in the cliffs. This suggests that hominins can be dated in England to 700,000 years ago, potentially a cross between Homo AntecessorHomo antecessor
Homo antecessor is an extinct human species dating from 1.2 million to 800,000 years ago, that was discovered by Eudald Carbonell, Juan Luis Arsuaga and J. M. Bermúdez de Castro. H. antecessor is one of the earliest known human varieties in Europe. Various archaeologists and anthropologists have...
and Homo Heidelbergensis
Homo heidelbergensis
Homo heidelbergensis is an extinct species of the genus Homo which may be the direct ancestor of both Homo neanderthalensis in Europe and Homo sapiens. The best evidence found for these hominins date between 600,000 and 400,000 years ago. H...
.
Bloodmoor Hill, between Pakefield and Carlton Colville, was the site of settlement in the 2nd and 3rd centuries and the 7th and 8th centuries. The Saxon period consisted of a relatively dense settlement as well as a cemetery which included at least one rich barrow burial. Artefacts were discovered at the site in the 18th Century and the Saxon cemetery site was the subject of archaeological investigations between 1998 and 2006.
In the Domesday book
Domesday 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...
Pakefield is called “Pagefella”., the name probably coming from the Pagan settlement name of Pagga's or Pacca's field. The village was part of the King's holdings and was part of the Hundred of Lothing
Mutford and Lothingland (hundred)
Mutford and Lothingland was a hundred of Suffolk, with an area of . Lowestoft Ness, the most easterly point of Great Britain fell within its bounds.Мutford and Lothingland Hundred formed the north-eastern corner of Suffolk...
. It had a population of about 17 households, including a number of freemen. Part of the tax payment made by the village was 600 herrings.
Pakefield later developed as a fishing community. The former terminus of the Tram Service from Lowestoft
Lowestoft Corporation Tramways
Lowestoft Corporation Tramways was the operator of the electric tramway system that served Lowestoft from 22 July 1903 until 8 May 1931.-History:...
is located in the centre of Pakefield and is now the site of the Tramway Hotel. In the modern era, the area played an important role in the Kindertransport
Kindertransport
Kindertransport is the name given to the rescue mission that took place nine months prior to the outbreak of the Second World War. The United Kingdom took in nearly 10,000 predominantly Jewish children from Nazi Germany, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Poland and the Free City of Danzig...
programme nine months before the start of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Many children who had not found prearranged foster families
Foster care
Foster care is the term used for a system in which a minor who has been made a ward is placed in the private home of a state certified caregiver referred to as a "foster parent"....
were given temporary shelter in the local holiday camp.
Coastal erosion
Coastal erosion has been an issue in the area for a number of years, although this may have begun to stabilise. A former lighthouse still stands on the coastline and is used by Pakefield CoastwatchNational Coastwatch Institution
The National Coastwatch Institution is a voluntary organisation and registered charity providing a visual watch along the UK's coasts, and is not to be confused with HM Coastguard.-History:...
.
The map image below shows how erosion occurred between 1882 and 1955. The photos show the extent of the erosion and damage to property which occurred.
Governance
Pakefield sends two councillorCouncillor
A councillor or councilor is a member of a local government council, such as a city council.Often in the United States, the title is councilman or councilwoman.-United Kingdom:...
s to Suffolk County Council
County council
A county council is the elected administrative body governing an area known as a county. This term has slightly different meanings in different countries.-United Kingdom:...
and Waveney District Council
Non-metropolitan district
Non-metropolitan districts, or colloquially shire districts, are a type of local government district in England. As created, they are sub-divisions of non-metropolitan counties in a so-called "two-tier" arrangement...
. The Member of Parliament is elected through the Waveney
Waveney (UK Parliament constituency)
Waveney is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.-Boundaries:...
seat which is currently held by Peter Aldous
Peter Aldous
Peter James Guy Aldous is a Conservative Party politician in England. A former local councillor, he has been the Member of Parliament for the Waveney constituency in Suffolk since winning the seat at the 2010 general election....
. For county council elections Pakefield is part of a larger constituency with the neighboring suburb of Carlton Colville
Carlton Colville
Carlton Colville is an area in the suburbs of Lowestoft in the Waveney District of the English county of Suffolk, located south-west of the centre of the town. Significant residential development has occurred in the area since the 1960s, including more than 1,000 homes built in Carlton Park...
.
Modern Pakefield
The coast is an important tourist destination with a number of holiday destinations, including a Pontins holiday camp. In November 2010 Pontins entered administration, being taken over by the Brittania Hotel GroupBritannia Hotels
Britannia Hotels is a United Kingdom based hotel company with 37 hotels across the country. Britannia operates at the budget end of the market, with hotels varying in price and star ratings around the country...
.
The area has a number of local shops and businesses, including The Seagull theatre and cinema in Morton Road. As well as the church of All Saint's and St Margaret's, Pakefield has a catholic church dedicated to St Nicholas.
At present Pakefield has two schools Pakefield Primary and Pakefield Middle. The primary school was awarded a grant by the Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
in 2009 to develop a project called 'What has the sea ever done for us'. A fourth high school
Pakefield High School
The Pakefield High School is a high school as well as specialist arts and engineering; college in Pakefield a suburb of Lowestoft in the English county of Suffolk. It is being built on the present Pakefield Middle School site. The school is expected to cater for around 900 students aged from 11 to...
for Lowestoft is planned for the Middle School site following a reorganisation of the school system in Suffolk. There has been local opposition to the plan to build at Pakefield.
The Promoting Pakefield Group was formed in 2004 to attempt to promote the area and its interests. A variety of local improvements have been made, including providing a Christmas tree, noticeboards and making improvements to the local war memorial. The group is made up of a number of local businesses and other organisations.
Notable people
The author and illustrator Michael ForemanMichael Foreman (author / illustrator)
Michael Foreman is an award-winning British author and illustrator, mainly for children. He lives in London. He is one of the best-known and most prolific writer-illustrators of children's books. He was born and grew up in the seaside village of Pakefield, near Lowestoft, Suffolk, where his mother...
was born in Pakefield in 1938 and attended Pakefield Primary School. He has written about Pakefield in his books.