Alderton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Alderton (summertown) |
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 St Andrew's Church, Alderton |
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 Alderton (summertown)
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| Population | 423 (2011) |
| OS grid reference | TM3441 |
| District |
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| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | WOODBRIDGE |
| Postcode district | IP12 |
| Police | Suffolk |
| Fire | Suffolk |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| EU Parliament | East of England |
| UK Parliament |
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Alderton is a small village in Suffolk, England. It's located in the East Suffolk area. You can find it near the North Sea coast. The village is part of a beautiful natural area called the Suffolk Coast and Heaths. In 2011, about 423 people lived in Alderton. It's a quiet place, perfect for exploring nature.
Contents
Alderton's Past
Early History
Alderton has a long history. It was first written about in the Domesday Book. This was a big survey of England made in 1086. In the book, Alderton was called "Alretuna". This shows the village has been around for a very long time.
Defending the Coast
The area around Alderton has always been important for defence. You can still see three old Martello towers here. These strong, round forts were built during the time of Napoleon. They helped protect the coast from possible attacks. There are also other old military buildings from the 20th century.
Old Buildings and Secrets
For a long time, a mill stood in Alderton. It was built in 1796 and was used until 1956. Mill Lane is named after it. People have also found signs of a very old settlement. These signs were seen from the air, but you can't see them on the ground today.
Alderton Hall is a very old building in the village. It has some exciting secrets. There's a "priest's hole" inside. This was a hidden room where priests could hide a long time ago. There's also a secret passage. It's said to lead to the nearby St. Andrew's Church. Some people even believed the passage was haunted!
Smuggling Tales
The coast near Alderton was a popular spot for smugglers. These were people who secretly brought goods into the country. They tried to avoid paying taxes on them. Many exciting stories about smugglers come from this area.
One famous story is about Margaret Catchpole. She tried to help her lover, who was a smuggler. Much of her adventure happened around Alderton. It's even possible that smuggled goods were hidden in Alderton Hall's secret passage. Customs officers tried to stop the smugglers, leading to many thrilling chases and battles.
Famous Residents
A poet named Giles Fletcher lived in Alderton. He was the rector, or priest, of St. Andrew's Church. He lived here from 1619 until he passed away in 1623.
Village Life Today
Alderton is a small but active village. It has a local shop where you can buy things. There's also a doctor's surgery for healthcare. The village hall is a place where people meet for events and activities.
The village church, St. Andrew's, is quite unique. It doesn't have a steeple! A big storm destroyed it in the 18th century. The people of Alderton were too poor to replace it.
You can see the sea from the edge of the village. There's a path that leads right to the coast. It goes past the recreation ground, where people can play. A local writer, Jon Fields, once called Alderton "a place of sun."
