Great Maplestead facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Great Maplestead |
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 St. Giles' Church |
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 Great Maplestead
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| Population | 343 (2011 Census) |
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| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Halstead |
| Postcode district | CO9 |
| Dialling code | 01787 |
| Police | Essex |
| Fire | Essex |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| EU Parliament | East of England |
Great Maplestead is a charming village located in the Essex county of England. It's part of the Braintree District. This small community has a rich history, with roots going back centuries. In the 1500s, the Deane family were important landowners here. Later, a famous person named Margaret Tyndal Winthrop got married in Great Maplestead in 1618. She was a key figure in starting the state of Massachusetts in America!
In the 1870s, an old book called the Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales said that Great Maplestead got its name from the many maple trees that used to grow there. It was also known as a very healthy place to live!
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Where is Great Maplestead?
This village is in the northern part of Essex, which is in the South East of England. It's close to the town of Halstead and the villages of Sible Hedingham and Little Maplestead. While Chelmsford is the closest city, the town of Colchester is actually nearer. Great Maplestead is about 46 miles (74 km) away from London. The village covers an area of 1,892 acres. It's located just one mile northeast of the Colne Valley railway and the River Colne.
How Many People Live Here?
According to the 2011 census, 343 people lived in Great Maplestead. The number of people living in the village has stayed quite steady over the last 50 years. For example, in 1961, there were 331 residents, which is very similar to today.
Looking back even further, the population hasn't changed much since 1801, when it was also 331. However, there have been some ups and downs. Between 1801 and 1851, the population slowly grew. It reached its highest number of 494 people in 1851. After that, between 1851 and 1881, the population dropped quite a bit to 394. Since 1881, the number of residents has remained fairly constant, without any big changes.
Homes in the Village
In 1831, there were 88 houses recorded in Great Maplestead. As the population grew, so did the number of homes. In 1851, when the population was at its highest, there were 111 households. Most of these (105) were lived in, and only six were empty.
Over the next few decades, the number of houses went down. In 1881, there were 14 empty houses, which was the highest number recorded. However, the number of homes started to increase again in the middle of the 1900s.
Jobs and Work in Great Maplestead
The types of jobs people do in Great Maplestead have changed a lot between 1881 and 2011. In 1881, many people's jobs were not recorded, especially for women. Back then, most jobs were in farming or making things. For example, about 57 men worked in agriculture (farming). Many women (45) worked in homes doing domestic services, like cleaning and cooking.
By 2011, the main types of jobs had shifted. Now, more people work in service industries. About 95 people in Great Maplestead have jobs as managers, directors, or in technical, administrative, and secretarial roles. This shows a big move away from farming and manufacturing jobs. However, a good number of people, around 30, still work in skilled trades, like manual workers.
St Giles' Church
St Giles' Church is a very important building in Great Maplestead. It's right in the middle of the village. The church tower has three bells, with the oldest one made way back in the 1400s! Reverend Beverley Vincent leads weekly Sunday services there.
The church has two main parts. The older part is a Norman building, built a long time ago. The Deane Chapel was added later in 1626. In 1612, part of the church had to be rebuilt with red bricks because it was hit by lightning!
Learning and Schools
Great Maplestead is home to St Giles C of E Primary School. This school has been around since 1863. It shares its name with St Giles' Church because the church leaders became its trustees. The idea for the school came from Mrs. Mary Gee in 1836. She started a charity school first. Later, she was given land to build the school where it stands today.
The school welcomed both boys and girls from the start. It has grown a lot over the years. It began with just two classrooms, and now it has three more, plus a school hall. Important things like the school's first telephone were added in 1955. The school's leaders are always working to make it even better, aiming to improve its inspection rating from 'Good' to 'Outstanding'.
Famous People From Great Maplestead
- Robert Adams (sculptor and designer) - a sculptor and designer.
- Bernard Stevens - a composer.
- Margaret Tyndal Winthrop - the third wife of John Winthrop, who helped found Massachusetts.
