Letheringham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Letheringham |
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 St Mary's Church, Letheringham |
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 Letheringham
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| Area | 9.52 km2 (3.68 sq mi) inc the parish of Hoo, Suffolk |
| Population | 160 (2011) inc the parish of Hoo, Suffolk |
| • Density | 17/km2 (44/sq mi) |
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| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Woodbridge |
| Postcode district | IP13 |
| Police | Suffolk |
| Fire | Suffolk |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| EU Parliament | East of England |
| UK Parliament |
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Letheringham is a small, quiet village in Suffolk, England. It's located right by the River Deben. Even though it's small, it has a long and interesting history!
The village is part of the East Suffolk area. It's known for its tiny church, St Mary's. This church is actually what's left of a much older Priory church. You can find it sitting peacefully in a farmyard.
For more than 1000 years, Letheringham has been part of an old area called Loes Hundred. In 2011, the number of people living in Letheringham was counted as part of the nearby village of Hoo.
Contents
History of Letheringham
Letheringham in the Domesday Book
Letheringham was first written about in a very old book called the Domesday Book. This book was made in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror. It was like a big survey of England to see who owned what.
In 1086, Letheringham was a settlement in the area of Loose. The Domesday Book recorded that about 30 families lived there. Many of the lands were owned by a local lord named William of Bouville.
The Story of Letheringham Priory
Letheringham Priory was a small religious house. It was founded in the late 1100s and was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. A priory is a type of monastery, a place where monks or nuns live and pray.
The de Bovile family supported the priory for many years. Then, in the mid-1300s, the Wingfield family took over its support.
Later, in 1539, the priory was given to Sir Anthony Wingfield. This happened during a time called the Dissolution of the Monasteries. This was when King Henry VIII closed down many monasteries and priories in England.
After a fire in the early 1600s, a relative of Sir Anthony, Sir Robert Naunton, built a large house called Letheringham Abbey. This house was built right where the old church used to be. Sadly, over time, the church fell apart because of damage and neglect.
Today, the site is still very important for history and archaeology. You can still see the old brick gatehouse and the church, which has been repaired.
Famous People from Letheringham
Letheringham has been home to some interesting people throughout history:
- Robert Naunton (1563–1635): He was an English politician and writer. He passed away in Letheringham.
- Sir Robert Wingfield of Letheringham (1403–1454): He was an important knight and a member of the powerful Wingfield family.
- Captain Edward Maria Wingfield (1550–1631): He was a soldier and a Member of Parliament. He was also one of the first English colonists to settle in America. A colonist is someone who helps start a new settlement in another country.
Letheringham in Film
The 1974 film Akenfield was partly filmed in Letheringham. This movie showed what life was like in a Suffolk village.
