Dedham, Essex facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dedham |
|
|---|---|
 River Stour, Dedham, Essex (September 2007) |
|
 Dedham
|
|
| Population | 1,907 (2011) |
| OS grid reference | TM057331 |
| District |
|
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | COLCHESTER |
| Postcode district | CO7 |
| Dialling code | 01206 |
| Police | Essex |
| Fire | Essex |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| EU Parliament | East of England |
| UK Parliament |
|
Dedham is a lovely village in Essex, England. It's located near the River Stour, which forms the border between Essex and Suffolk. The closest town to Dedham is Manningtree, a small market town. Dedham is famous for its beautiful countryside, often called 'Constable Country', because the famous painter John Constable lived and painted here.
Contents
Village Life and Location
Dedham is part of an area called Dedham and Langham for local elections. In 2011, about 2,943 people lived in this area.
Beautiful Scenery
Dedham is known for having some of England's most beautiful flat landscapes. You can see amazing water meadows along the River Stour. This river flows along the northern edge of the village and marks the border between Essex and Suffolk.
The village center is built around its church and the main roads. Dedham also includes smaller areas called The Heath and Lamb Corner. The whole village is a key part of the Dedham Vale, a protected area known for its natural beauty.
A Look Back in Time
Early records show Dedham was once called Diddsham. For many centuries, Dedham was part of an old administrative area called the Hundred of Lexden.
Early Religious Groups
Between 1582 and 1587, a group of Christians called the Dedham Classis was active here. They were Presbyterians, meaning they had different ideas about church practices than the main church at the time. This group held secret meetings and prayer groups in and around Colchester and villages like Dedham. They shared copies of the Wycliffe's Bible and other religious texts. The Dedham Classis is one of the best-known groups from that time.
Settlers in America
In 1635, some people from Dedham, who also had different religious beliefs, left England. They sailed to the Massachusetts Bay Colony in America and founded a new town called Dedham. They were led by John Rogers, a preacher who was not allowed to work in England. Their new settlement, now a suburb of Boston, became very successful. Many famous American families can trace their family history back to these early settlers from Dedham. For example, the family of General William Tecumseh Sherman came from here.
Famous Artists and Dedham
Dedham is at the heart of 'Constable Country'. This is the area where the famous English painter John Constable lived and created many of his artworks. Constable went to the Grammar School in Dedham. Every morning, he would walk to school along the River Stour from his family's home in East Bergholt.
Many of Constable's paintings show scenes from Dedham. These include Dedham Mill, which his father owned, and Dedham Parish Church. The church's tall tower is a key feature of the beautiful Dedham Vale landscape.
Other Artists in Dedham
In 1937, artists Cedric Morris and Arthur Lett-Haines started the East Anglian School of Painting and Drawing in Dedham. Later, after a fire, they moved their school to Hadleigh, Suffolk.
Another important artist in Dedham was Sir Alfred Munnings, who painted horses. He became the President of the Royal Academy. His house in Dedham, Castle House, is now a museum where you can see his paintings and visit his studio.
Tom Keating, a well-known art restorer and art forger, lived in Dedham until he passed away in 1984. He is buried in the churchyard of St Mary's Church. One of Keating's most famous paintings, The Haywain in Reverse, which looks like a Constable painting but is different, is said to be on display at the Granary Barn and Museum in Flatford. Keating also painted the sign for the local Sun Inn, which shows the Greek sun god Helios in his chariot.
Buildings and History
Dedham has many old and well-kept buildings:
- Dedham Parish Church – St. Mary the Virgin, Dedham: This church was built in the late 1400s. It was one of the last 'wool churches' to be finished, built with money from the wool trade. A painting by John Constable called The Ascension is always on display inside. You can climb to the top of the tower (open from Easter to Harvest) for amazing views of the Stour valley. The tower is about 118 feet (36 meters) tall.
- Sherman's Hall: This is a beautiful Georgian-style house that was once a school until 1873. It is now owned by the National Trust.
- The Old Grammar School: This school was started by Elizabeth I. The building you see today was built in 1732. John Constable went to school here. It is now private homes.
- The Sun Inn: This is a medieval building that still has its old archway where horse-drawn coaches used to pass through.
- A church built in 1739, which was for a group called Congregationalists, is now the Dedham Art and Craft Centre.
- Southfields: This is one of the most impressive medieval buildings in the village. It used to be a factory when Dedham was a rich wool town. Now, it's a group of cottages.
- Castle House: This was the home of Sir Alfred Munnings and is now the Sir Alfred Munnings Art Museum.
- Assembly Rooms: This building looks Victorian from the outside, but it's much older, built around 1745. It was known as the 'Hewitt Memorial Hall' for a while but has gone back to its original name.
A famous expert on old buildings, Nickolaus Pevsner, wrote in 1954 that "There is nothing at Dedham to hurt the eye." This means he thought everything looked beautiful. In 1938, the Dedham Vale Society was created to help protect the village's look, with local architect Raymond Erith as its first chairman.
What Dedham Offers Today
Dedham was once a busy wool and market town. Today, it's a lively village with many shops, including a post office, butcher, a Co-op store, a grocer, a deli, a cafe, and art shops. Farming is still important, with fields growing sugar beet and wheat. There are also cows grazing in the water meadows and sheep on Grove Hill. An industrial area is located near the A12 road, which passes west of the village. Recently, a business center and a nursing home have opened.
Fun Things to Do in Dedham
- Boat Hire: You can rent boats to enjoy the River Stour.
- Tennis Club: Dedham has a tennis club with three all-weather courts and a clubhouse.
- Cricket Club: The cricket club is on Duchy Field, south of the church, and has its own pavilion.
- Football Clubs: Dedham Old Boys Football Club, started in 1877, plays its home games on the Recreation Field. Dedham Junior Football Club is also a well-known club for younger players.
- Restaurants and Hotels: Dedham has many restaurants and hotels for a village its size. The Maison Talbooth is an old house that offers both places to stay and a restaurant.
- Dedham Primary School: This school is rated "Outstanding" and is located a short walk from the village center.
Getting Around
You can easily reach Manningtree by bike or by walking along the River Stour. Manningtree railway station has fast trains to London and Norwich. You can get to Colchester by bus; the number 81 bus goes through the village and connects to Colchester North Station and the city center. School buses also serve schools in Colchester and Ipswich.
Famous People from Dedham
Dedham has been home to many interesting people:
- John Bond (1932–2012) was a famous footballer and later a manager.
- Roger A. Freeman (1928–2005) was a farmer from Dedham who became a world expert on the US Eighth Air Force during World War II.
- William Haggar (1851–1925) was born here. He was a pioneer in filmmaking in the early 1900s and became one of Britain's top directors.
- Samuel Meredith (1796–1873) was the first person ever to be given the rank of Chief Constable (a high-ranking police officer).
- Liza Picard (1927–2022) was a lawyer and historian.
- Osborne Reynolds (1842–1912) was an engineer and physicist. He helped us understand electricity, magnetism, and how fluids flow. The "Reynold's Number," which helps figure out if a fluid flow is smooth or turbulent, is named after him. His father was a headmaster at Dedham Grammar School.
- Rear Admiral Ernest Roberts (1878–1933) was a rugby player who played for England.
- John Rogers (c.1570–1636), sometimes called "Roaring" Rogers, was a very famous preacher. He was the Vicar and Lecturer of Dedham from 1605 to 1636 and led the settlers to Massachusetts.
- Dedham is the ancestral home of General William Tecumseh Sherman, famous from the American Civil War, and Roger Sherman, who was the only person to sign all four important founding documents of the United States. Their families moved to Massachusetts in the 1630s.
Images for kids
-
Granary Barn and Museum, Flatford, Suffolk
