kids encyclopedia robot

Little Maplestead facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Little Maplestead
St John the Baptist Church, Little Maplestead 3.jpg
Church of St John the Baptist
Little Maplestead is located in Essex
Little Maplestead
Little Maplestead
Population 294 (2001)
270 (2011)
OS grid reference TL8234
Civil parish
  • Little Maplestead
District
  • Braintree
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
UK Parliament
  • Braintree
List of places
UK
England
Essex
51°58′29″N 0°39′17″E / 51.9748°N 0.6546°E / 51.9748; 0.6546

Little Maplestead is a village and civil parish in the Braintree district of Essex, England.

Amenities

Little Maplestead once had a Knights Hospitaller establishment called Little Maplestead Preceptory.

The round parish church, dedicated to St John the Baptist, is one of only four medieval round churches in England now surviving. It was built by the Knights Hospitallers. The circular nave has an arcade of six bays. The church dates from around 1335 but was practically rebuilt 1849–55. The church is a Grade II* listed building.

Much restoration took place in the 1850s, but the original design and composition of the rotunda that forms the nave remains, as do many of the earlier fittings. In March 2013 the church was granted £5,000 by the National Churches Trust, as part of a restoration fundraising effort with a target of £100,000, of which £42,000 had been raised.

In 1836, William Wallen published The History and Antiquities of the Round Church at Little Maplestead, Essex.

On the first Sunday in June, the Order of St John in Essex hold an annual service, where Knights and other officials of The Order from the county process in their formal mantels (ceremonial cloaks).

Notable people

Little Maplestead is the home of X Factor 2010 winner Matt Cardle, actress Barbara Hicks, and former World and European Bridge Champion David Price.

Location grid


kids search engine
Little Maplestead Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.