Acton, Suffolk facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Acton
All Saints church, Acton
Acton
Population	1,811 (2011)
OS grid reference	TL893449
District	Babergh
Shire county	Suffolk
Region	East
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	SUDBURY
Postcode district	CO10
Dialling code	01787
Police	Suffolk
Fire	Suffolk
Ambulance	East of England
EU Parliament	East of England
UK Parliament	South Suffolk
List of places UK England Suffolk 52°04′15″N 0°45′40″E / 52.07071°N 0.76102°E / 52.07071; 0.76102

Acton village sign

Acton is a village and civil parish in the English county of Suffolk. It's a peaceful place where people live and work. The area also includes two smaller places called Cuckoo Tye and Newman's Green.

What Does the Name Acton Mean?

The name 'Acton' has a cool meaning! According to a language expert named Eilert Ekwall, the name means "Village by the Oaks." This suggests that long ago, there were many oak trees around where the village now stands.

A Look Back at Acton's History

Acton in the Domesday Book

Imagine going back in time to 1086! That's when the Domesday Book was written. It was like a big survey of England. The book tells us that Acton had 83 households. That means 83 families lived there. There was also land for farming, wood for pigs, and even a mill. The village had lots of animals too, like horses, cattle, pigs, and sheep! Before the Norman Conquest, a person named Siward Barn owned the land.

All Saints Church

The main church in the village is called All Saints. It's a very old and important building. Inside the church tower, there are five bells. People use these bells for something called change ringing. This is a special way of ringing bells in a pattern. The heaviest bell weighs about 928 pounds! The oldest bell was made way back in 1659. The church is connected to the Suffolk Guild of Ringers, which is a group for bell ringers.

What Acton Makes: Industry

Did you know that a special car was once made in Acton? Between 2001 and 2002, the famous Reliant Robin car was produced in the village's industrial area. This unique three-wheeled car was a familiar sight on British roads for many years.

How Acton is Governed

Acton is part of the local government system in England.

• It's part of the Sudbury East and Waldingfield area for the Suffolk County Council. A person named Philip Faircloth-Mutton represents this area.
• It's also part of the Long Melford area for the Babergh District Council. Councillors Elisabeth Malvisi and John Nunn represent this area. These councils help make decisions about local services and the community.

Famous People from Acton

William Jennens: The Acton Miser

One of the most famous people from Acton was William Jennens. He was known as "William the Miser" because he was very careful with his money. He made a huge fortune by doing business in London and lending money. When he died in 1798 at 97 years old, he was the richest man in Britain!

However, there was a big problem. William had outlived everyone he named in his will. This led to a super long legal case called Jennens vs Jennens. It started in 1798 and lasted for 117 years, finally ending in 1915! All the money from his estate was used up by legal fees. This real-life case even inspired a famous story by Charles Dickens called Bleak House, which features a similar never-ending lawsuit.

Ronald Blythe: The Writer

Another notable person from Acton is Ronald Blythe. He was a well-known writer and essayist. He is most famous for his book Akenfield: Portrait of an English Village. This book gives a wonderful look into village life in England.

How Acton's Population Has Changed

Let's look at how many people have lived in Acton over the years. The tables below show the population at different times, from the early 1800s to recent years. You can see how the number of residents has changed over time.

See also

In Spanish: Acton (Suffolk) para niños