Hartest facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hartest |
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 Bright cottages lining the green at Hartest |
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 Hartest
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| Population | 446 {2011} |
| OS grid reference | TL834524 |
| District |
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| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | BURY ST EDMUNDS |
| Postcode district | IP29 |
| Dialling code | 01284 |
| Police | Suffolk |
| Fire | Suffolk |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| EU Parliament | East of England |
| UK Parliament |
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Hartest is a charming small village in the Suffolk county of England. You can find it right in the middle of Bury St. Edmunds and Sudbury. It sits along the B1066 road in the beautiful Glem valley. Another village, Brockley, is just two miles north.
Hartest is a really old village, first mentioned way back in the Domesday Book of 1086. The name 'Hartest' might mean 'Stag Hill' or 'Stag Wood'. What's cool is that people say there's no other place in the world with the exact same name!
The heart of the village is its big, open village green. Brightly colored cottages line the edges of the green. You'll also find the village hall, the old All Saints church, and The Crown public house here. The Crown used to be Hartest Hall, where the local landowner lived. Every year in late August, the village holds a fun fete (a type of festival) on the green.
Just east of the village center is Hartest Hill. It's known as the steepest hill in all of Suffolk!
Did you know that Terry Waite lives in Hartest? He's famous for being a special helper for the Archbishop of Canterbury. He once worked to free people who were held captive.
Contents
Exploring Hartest's Unique Spots
The Mysterious Hartest Stone
On the north side of the village green, there's a huge rock called the 'Hartest Stone'. People think it was placed there in the early 1700s. No one is quite sure where it came from!
One idea is that the stone was moved from a nearby hill called Somerton Hill. This might have been to celebrate a peace treaty called the Peace of Utrecht. It also could have celebrated the Duke of Marlborough's wins in a big war. Another idea is that it came from Somerton Common for the same reasons. A third story says a man named Mr. Carter found it in a clay pit. He then had it moved to where it is now.
Local stories say the boulder turns over at midnight. Some even believe that sitting on it at midnight will bring you good luck or help you find a partner!
Hartest Wood: A Green Legacy
Just outside Hartest, you'll find Hartest Wood. This forest was planted in 1999. It was part of a special project by the Woodland Trust. The project was called 'Woods on your doorstep' and celebrated the new millennium.
The wood has 187 oak trees. Each tree represents one household that lived in Hartest at that time. In the very center of the woods, there's a cool art piece. It's called 'The Gift' and was designed by Geoffrey Clarke.
The Historic Crown Pub
The village pub, The Crown, is on the south side of the green. It used to be called 'the Crown Inn'. This building is very old, dating back to the 1500s. It's so important that it's listed as a Grade II building. This means it's protected because of its history. The Crown was once used as a Moot Hall. This was a place where village meetings and local court sessions were held for Hartest and the areas around it.
