Southminster
Encyclopedia
Southminster is a town on the Dengie peninsula
in the Maldon district
of Essex
in the East of England
. It lies about three miles north of Burnham-on-Crouch
and ten miles south-east of Maldon
. To the north is the River Blackwater, which is tidal and since Roman times has been the gateway to trading in the area. Saint Lawrence Bay, which is part of the Southminster area, can be accessed by road.
, the nearest large town, the town would be very much in decline if it were not for Southminster railway station
and employment opportunities at the nearby Bradwell nuclear power station. The station is situated on a single-line branch from Wickford
, which was electrified in the 1980s, and provides a service every 45 minutes to Wickford, continuing in peak hours through to Liverpool Street station
in the City of London
, thus including the town in the London commuter belt
.
that once formed a hundred of the same name.
A major horse market used to be held annually in the village.
Southminster marshes were a favourite centre for hare coursing in Victorian times.
Pandole Wood contains ancient earthworks believed to date from the Iron Age. The landscape surrounding the town, and most of the peninsula, is characterized by a pattern of strictly rectangular field boundaries and evidence of a unit of measurement that has been applied to the scheme as a whole. Middle-saxon, or mid-Roman administrations have been suggested as its origin. The late-Roman road leading to St.Peter's chapel cuts across this pattern.
There have been several well-known rectors, including naturalist Rev Walter Henry Hill, and Rev Alexander John Scott
who was personal chaplain to Admiral Lord Nelson.
After the battle of Trafalgar
Nelson died in the arms of Rev Scott.
Several artefacts that once belonged to Rev Scott are found in the church.
Dengie peninsula
Dengie is a peninsula in Essex, England, that once formed a hundred of the same name .The peninsula is formed by the River Crouch to the south, the Blackwater to the north, both of which are tidal, and the North Sea to the east...
in the Maldon district
Maldon (district)
Maldon is a local government district in Essex, England. Its council is based in the town of Maldon, and the next largest centre of population is Burnham-on-Crouch. The district covers the Dengie peninsula as well as an area to the north of the Blackwater Estuary, a total area of...
of Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
in the East of England
East of England
The East of England is one of the nine official regions of England. It was created in 1994 and was adopted for statistics from 1999. It includes the ceremonial counties of Essex, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk. Essex has the highest population in the region.Its...
. It lies about three miles north of Burnham-on-Crouch
Burnham-on-Crouch
Burnham-on-Crouch is a town in the Maldon district of Essex in the East of England. It lies on the north bank of the River Crouch.-History:Historically, it has benefited from its location on the coast - first as a ferry port, later as a fishing port known for its oyster beds, and most recently as a...
and ten miles south-east of Maldon
Maldon, Essex
Maldon is a town on the Blackwater estuary in Essex, England. It is the seat of the Maldon district and starting point of the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation.Maldon is twinned with the Dutch town of Cuijk...
. To the north is the River Blackwater, which is tidal and since Roman times has been the gateway to trading in the area. Saint Lawrence Bay, which is part of the Southminster area, can be accessed by road.
Accessibility
Isolated 20 miles from ChelmsfordChelmsford
Chelmsford is the county town of Essex, England and the principal settlement of the borough of Chelmsford. It is located in the London commuter belt, approximately northeast of Charing Cross, London, and approximately the same distance from the once provincial Roman capital at Colchester...
, the nearest large town, the town would be very much in decline if it were not for Southminster railway station
Southminster railway station
Southminster railway station serves the small town of Southminster in Essex, England. The station, and all trains serving it, are operated by National Express East Anglia...
and employment opportunities at the nearby Bradwell nuclear power station. The station is situated on a single-line branch from Wickford
Wickford
Wickford is a town in the south of the English county of Essex, with a population of more than 32,500. Located approximately 30 miles east of London, it falls within the District of Basildon along with Basildon, Billericay, Laindon and Pitsea....
, which was electrified in the 1980s, and provides a service every 45 minutes to Wickford, continuing in peak hours through to Liverpool Street station
Liverpool Street station
Liverpool Street railway station, also known as London Liverpool Street or simply Liverpool Street, is both a central London railway terminus and a connected London Underground station in the north-eastern corner of the City of London, England...
in the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
, thus including the town in the London commuter belt
London commuter belt
The London commuter belt is the metropolitan area surrounding London, England from which it is practical to commute to work in the capital. It is alternatively known as the Greater South East, the London metropolitan area or the Southeast metropolitan area...
.
Facilities
The town has one primary school, a small library, a handful of pubs, a police station, a few local businesses such as 'Martins' convenience store, a holiday park, a bakery and many takeaways.History
Southminster is a historic village sited in the centre of the Dengie peninsulaDengie peninsula
Dengie is a peninsula in Essex, England, that once formed a hundred of the same name .The peninsula is formed by the River Crouch to the south, the Blackwater to the north, both of which are tidal, and the North Sea to the east...
that once formed a hundred of the same name.
A major horse market used to be held annually in the village.
Southminster marshes were a favourite centre for hare coursing in Victorian times.
Pandole Wood contains ancient earthworks believed to date from the Iron Age. The landscape surrounding the town, and most of the peninsula, is characterized by a pattern of strictly rectangular field boundaries and evidence of a unit of measurement that has been applied to the scheme as a whole. Middle-saxon, or mid-Roman administrations have been suggested as its origin. The late-Roman road leading to St.Peter's chapel cuts across this pattern.
St Leonard's Church
The medieval St Leonard's Church dates mainly from the 15th century, although there are traces of much earlier work.There have been several well-known rectors, including naturalist Rev Walter Henry Hill, and Rev Alexander John Scott
Alexander John Scott
Reverend Dr. Alexander John Scott was a chaplain who served in the Royal Navy during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. He served as Horatio Nelson's personal chaplain at the Battle of Trafalgar, and had previously served as his private secretary...
who was personal chaplain to Admiral Lord Nelson.
After the battle of Trafalgar
Battle of Trafalgar
The Battle of Trafalgar was a sea battle fought between the British Royal Navy and the combined fleets of the French Navy and Spanish Navy, during the War of the Third Coalition of the Napoleonic Wars ....
Nelson died in the arms of Rev Scott.
Several artefacts that once belonged to Rev Scott are found in the church.