Elmley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Elmley |
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 Kings Hill Farm buildings and the Elmley Marshes |
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 Elmley
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| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Police | Kent |
| Fire | Kent |
| Ambulance | South East Coast |
| EU Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament |
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Elmley is a special place on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent, England. It's often called the Isle of Elmley. This area was once home to a busy industrial village in the late 1800s. Today, Elmley is famous for its large national nature reserve, which is a safe home for many birds and other wildlife. This nature reserve is much bigger than the original island area.
Contents
A Look Back: Elmley's Past
The Rise and Fall of Elmley Village
The village of Elmley changed a lot over time. Its size varied between 1,640 and 2,341 acres. At its busiest, in 1891, the village had 219 people living there. This was mainly because of the Turkey Cement Works, which was the biggest employer. The village also had a school, a church, a pub, and about 30 homes.
However, the cement works started to struggle and closed in 1902. After that, the number of people living in Elmley quickly dropped. By 1911, only 50 people remained, and by 1961, there were just 8 residents. The Elmley School closed in the 1920s, and the church was taken down in the 1960s, though some graves still remain. On April 1, 1968, the village area became part of Queenborough in Sheppey.
Old Connections and Lasting Buildings
In the past, there was a ferry service that crossed the Swale river from Elmley to Murston, near Sittingbourne. This helped people travel and trade.
Today, only a few buildings from the old village are still standing. These are the 'Kingshill Farmhouse' and the 'Kingshill Farmhouse Barn'. They are very old and important, so they are protected as Grade II listed buildings.
Elmley Today: A Haven for Wildlife
The Elmley National Nature Reserve
In the 1970s, a special bird reserve was created on the marshes of Elmley. This reserve is now the main part of the Elmley National Nature Reserve. It is owned and looked after by the Elmley Conservation Trust.
The reserve covers about 3,250 acres (which is about 13 square kilometers). This makes it one of the largest bird reserves in all of England. It's a fantastic place for many different types of birds to live, feed, and raise their young.
