East Bergholt facts for kids
Quick facts for kids East Bergholt |
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 Church of St Mary the Virgin |
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 East Bergholt
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| Population | 2,765 (Including Flatford 2011 Census) |
| OS grid reference | TM072351 |
| District |
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| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | COLCHESTER |
| Postcode district | CO7 |
| Dialling code | 01206 |
| Police | Suffolk |
| Fire | Suffolk |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| EU Parliament | East of England |
| UK Parliament |
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East Bergholt is a lovely village in Suffolk, England. It is located close to the border with Essex.
The village is about 16 kilometers (10 miles) north of Colchester and 13 kilometers (8 miles) south of Ipswich. The nearest train station is in Manningtree, Essex. East Bergholt has schools, including a high school for students aged 11 to 16, and a primary school.
In the 1500s, some people in East Bergholt were known for their strong religious beliefs. A few villagers faced difficulties during the time of Queen Mary I. Their stories were written down by John Foxe in his famous book, Foxe's Book of Martyrs.
East Bergholt is also famous as the birthplace of the well-known painter John Constable. His father owned Flatford Mill nearby. You can easily walk to Flatford and Dedham, Essex from East Bergholt. These places became famous because John Constable painted them in his beautiful artworks.
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St Mary's Church and Its Unique Bell Cage
The Church of St Mary the Virgin was built a long time ago, in the 1400s and 1500s. What makes it special is that it doesn't have a tall tower or spire for its bells.
Work on a tower started in 1525. However, it stopped in 1530 when a powerful leader named Cardinal Wolsey lost his position. The next year, a wooden bell cage was built in the churchyard. This cage was meant to be a temporary home for the bells until the tower could be finished.
Today, this wooden bell cage is still there! It holds five large bells. One of the bells is very heavy, weighing over 1,300 kilograms (about 1.3 tons). There are stories that the bell cage was moved in the 1600s because someone living nearby didn't like the noise. However, the only real proof is an old map from 1731 that shows the cage in a different spot.
These bells are quite unusual. Instead of being rung by ropes from below, the bell ringers stand next to the bells and move them by hand. The bells in East Bergholt are thought to be the heaviest set of five bells rung this way in England. Their total weight is over 4,300 kilograms (about 4.25 tons).
Other Important Buildings in East Bergholt
East Bergholt has several other interesting old buildings:
- Old Hall has had many uses over the years. It has been a large house, a place for nuns, army barracks, and a friary (a home for monks). Today, it is home to the Old Hall Community. This is a group of about 60 people who live and farm together.
- Lambe School is a historic building that was founded in 1594. It is now used as the village hall for community events.
- East Bergholt Lodge is another old building from the 1500s. For many years, it was home to the Hughes and Wake-Walker families.
- East Bergholt Place belongs to the Eley family. It is known for its beautiful gardens, especially its camellia flowers. It also has a garden center called The Place for Plants.
- Stour House was once the home of Randolph Churchill. He was the son of the famous Prime Minister, Winston Churchill.
- Bridge Cottage is a 16th-century cottage. It was one of the places that the painter John Constable used in his artworks.
How East Bergholt is Governed
East Bergholt has its own local government, called a parish council. This council has 13 members who help manage village matters. The village is part of the Babergh District council and the Suffolk County Council.
East Bergholt is also connected to a village in France called Barbizon. They are "twinned" villages, which means they have a special friendship and cultural exchange.
Even though East Bergholt is in Suffolk, its postal address and postcode are linked to Colchester, which is in Essex. This is common for some villages located near county borders.
Climate in East Bergholt
East Bergholt has a weather station that collects climate information. The village has a mild climate, meaning temperatures don't change too much. Rainfall is spread out evenly throughout the year. You can find more climate details by looking at the Ipswich Climate data.
Village Activities
The East Bergholt Dramatic Society started in the 1960s. This group puts on plays and performances. They meet regularly at the Constable Memorial Hall. It's a great way for people in the village to get involved in acting and theater.
New Homes in the Village
In 2014, there were plans to build 144 new homes in the north part of the village. Many local people were against this idea. They put up signs around the village to show their opposition.
In March 2016, the Babergh District Council approved the plans for the new homes. This happened despite strong objections from a group called Action East Bergholt and many concerned residents. Because of this, some residents even thought about trying to become part of the neighboring county of Essex instead of Suffolk.
The parish council has also supported a large development in the East End area of the village. This decision might lead to more large developments in East Bergholt in the future.
Notable People from East Bergholt
- John Constable (1776–1837), a famous landscape painter
- William Branwhite Clarke (1798–1878), a geologist and clergyman
- Louisa Lane Clarke (1812–1883), a botanist and travel writer
- Frederic Wake-Walker (1888–1945), a naval officer
- Lucy Harwood (1893–1972), an artist
- Maxwell Eley (1902–1983), a rower and businessman
- Paul Jennings (1918–1989), an author
- Paul Goddard (born 1959), a footballer
- Paul Curry (born 1961), a golfer
See also
In Spanish: East Bergholt para niños
