Capel St Mary facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Capel St Mary
St Mary's church, Capel St Mary
Capel St Mary
Area	7.79 km2 (3.01 sq mi)
Population	2,877  (2001 Census) 2,847 (2011)
• Density	8,280/sq mi (3,200/km2)
OS grid reference	TM092381
District	Babergh
Shire county	Suffolk
Region	East
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	IPSWICH
Postcode district	IP9
Dialling code	01473
EU Parliament	East of England
UK Parliament	South Suffolk
List of places UK England Suffolk 52°00′07″N 1°02′46″E / 52.002°N 1.046°E / 52.002; 1.046

Capel St Mary Village Sign

Capel St Mary, often called Capel, is a village in Suffolk, England. It is located in the Babergh area. The village is about 6 miles (10 km) southwest of Ipswich. It is also close to Dedham Vale, a beautiful natural area. In 2011, about 2,847 people lived in Capel St Mary.

A Look at Capel St Mary's Past

How Old Is Capel St Mary?

Capel St Mary was first mentioned in the Domesday Book. This was a famous survey of England from the 11th century. The village's name comes from the Norman-French and Welsh word capel, which means "chapel".

People have lived in this area for a very long time. There is some evidence of people living here in the Bronze Age. We also know that Romans settled here. In the 1930s, when new houses were being built, people found signs of a Roman villa. They also found Roman coins and tiles.

A strong, fortified house was built nearby between 1260 and 1290. It was one of the first fortified houses made from English brick.

Capel's Railway History

A railway station opened in Capel in 1847. It was part of the line to Hadleigh. The station stopped taking passengers in 1932. Freight trains continued until 1965, when the line closed completely. This was part of a big plan to close many railway lines across the UK.

A famous person, Lieutenant-General Sir Edwin Alderson, was born in Capel in 1859. He was the first leader of the Canadian army in World War I.

Capel in the 20th Century

A road showing the modern, open-plan style of houses in Capel

During World War II, American airmen from a nearby air base often visited the village. People from Capel were also part of local Home Guard groups. These groups helped protect the area. They had hidden dugouts in the woods where they stored supplies.

In the 1960s, the village started to grow a lot. Many new houses were built. The new homes had an "open-plan" design. This meant front gardens were not fenced off, and grass areas separated fences from the paths. A shopping centre was also built in 1974.

What Can You Find in Capel St Mary?

Shops and Services

Most of Capel's shops and services are in the village centre. You can find a Co-Op supermarket there. There are also smaller shops like a bakery, a hairdresser, and a newsagent. The village has a post office and a doctor's surgery with a pharmacy.

Capel has one pub called the White Horse, which also has a petrol station. There is also a bar next to the village hall. This bar hosts fun events like tribute acts and Bingo nights.

Fun and Recreation

Capel has a large playing field. Here you can find football pitches, tennis courts, a cricket ground, and a bowling green. There is also a playground for children. Every year on November 5th, a fireworks display is held here. The football pitches are home to Capel Plough F.C., a local football team.

The village hall and its bar are used by many different groups and clubs. These facilities are looked after by the Capel Community Trust.

Capel also has a Scout troop with its own headquarters. It has many members who enjoy scouting activities.

Schools in Capel

The village has a primary school for younger students. After primary school, most students go to East Bergholt High School. Some students also go to other secondary schools in nearby Ipswich or Colchester.

Churches and Religious Sites

Capel St Mary has three active churches: an Anglican church, a Methodist church, and a Community church. They all work closely together. The Anglican church, St Mary, Virgin and Mother, started being built in the early 13th century. Most of it dates from the 15th century. When the churchyard was extended, Roman cremation urns were found there.

Getting Around Capel

Capel is located next to the A12 road. This road connects the village to larger towns like Ipswich and Colchester. There is also a local bus service that helps people get around.

Who Lives in Capel St Mary?

In 2001, the population of Capel St Mary was 2,877 people. For every 100 females, there were about 95 males. Most people in Capel St Mary were married (59.4%).

The 2001 census also showed that most residents (78.8%) said they were Christian. About 13.8% said they had no religion.

How Capel's Population Has Changed

The table above shows how the number of people living in Capel St Mary has changed over time. You can see a big increase in population between 1961 and 2001.

How People Work in Capel St Mary

In 2001, many people in Capel St Mary worked in shops and wholesale businesses (16.2%). Other popular jobs were in property and business services (13.3%), transport and communications (11.4%), and finance (10.9%). Compared to the rest of England, Capel St Mary had more people working in energy, water supply, transport, communications, and finance.

Where is Capel St Mary?

Settlements surrounding Capel St Mary

		Chattisham
	Raydon		Tattingstone
		Capel St Mary
		Brantham, Manningtree

See also

In Spanish: Capel St Mary para niños