Newbourne facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Newbourne |
|
|---|---|
 The Street, Newbourne |
|
 Newbourne
|
|
| Population | 304 (Including Hemley. 2011 Census) |
| OS grid reference | TM272430 |
| District |
|
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Woodbridge |
| Postcode district | IP12 |
| Dialling code | 01473 |
| Police | Suffolk |
| Fire | Suffolk |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| EU Parliament | East of England |
| UK Parliament |
|
Newbourne is a small village and local area in Suffolk, England. It's located in the East Suffolk district. The village sits on a piece of land between two rivers, the River Orwell and the River Deben. You can find it east of Ipswich and south of Woodbridge.
Contents
A Look Back: Newbourne's Story
The name Newbourne probably comes from old English words meaning 'new stream'. But some people think it might come from old Norse words meaning 'nine springs'. This idea makes sense because there are many springs nearby. Also, other villages in the area have names from old Norse.
We don't know exactly how long people have lived in Newbourne. But the village was mentioned in the Domesday Book in 1086. It was called Neubrunna back then.
In 1881, a count of the population (a census) showed 141 people lived in Newbourne. This number went down in each census after that. It reached a low of 81 people in 1931. Then, in 1951, the population grew a lot to 291 people. This big increase happened because of a special program called the Land Settlement Association.
The Land Settlement Association
The Land Settlement Association started in 1934. It was an experiment to help people who didn't have jobs in industrial areas. The program gave them work on farms. People who joined got training in farming. They also received land in the countryside and animals to raise.
The program stopped taking new people when World War II began. Eventually, these farming communities were closed down in 1983. Newbourne was one of the places involved in this program. Today, you can still see its impact. There are many commercial greenhouses, plant nurseries, and roadside stands selling fresh produce in the village.
Church of St Mary: A Historic Building
The Church of St Mary is the main church for Newbourne. It's a very old building, listed as Grade I, which means it's super important. The main parts of the church, like the nave and chancel, were built in the 12th century. Over the years, more parts were added and fixed up.
In 1987, a very strong storm called the Great Storm of 1987 hit. The beautiful stained glass windows at the east end of the church were blown out. Instead of making new windows look exactly the same, they decided on a more modern design. A cool fact is that a piece of the original window, showing the face of Christ, was found whole after the storm. This piece was put into the new window.
In the churchyard, two brothers named George and Meadows Page are buried. In the 1800s, they were known as the Newbourne Giants. They were part of a travelling circus. When George passed away in 1870, he was said to be about 7 feet 7 inches (2.31 m) tall. Meadows was a bit shorter, at 7 feet 4 inches. He stopped working in the circus in 1875 and died in 1917.
Newbourne Hall: The Old Manor House
Newbourne Hall is the old manor house of Newbourne. It's also a very important historic building, listed as Grade II*. The oldest parts of the hall date back to the 14th century. It's built with a mix of wooden frames and red brick. The house has a 'T' shape, with parts added in the 17th century and a new section in the 21st century. You can visit the hall, but you need to make an appointment first.
Village Life: What Newbourne Offers
Newbourne has several places where the community can gather. These include the Church of St Mary and the village hall. There's also The Fox Inn public house, which is an old pub from the late 1600s or early 1700s.
You can find plant nurseries in the village. There's also a farm shop that sells local food and craft items. A mobile library also visits the village, bringing books to everyone.
Newbourne Springs: A Nature Spot
Newbourne Springs is a small nature reserve right next to the village. It's also a SSSI, which means it's a special place for wildlife. The reserve has different types of natural areas. These include woodland with broadleaf trees, and areas of marsh, fen, and heathland.
The Suffolk Wildlife Trust helps manage this reserve. They work for Anglian Water, who owns the land. Newbourne Springs has many natural springs. Because of this, it was used to provide water for Felixstowe and nearby areas until the 1980s. The old pumping station building has now been turned into a visitor center for the reserve.
During autumn and winter, volunteers often help take care of the reserve. There are also many public footpaths that start in the village and go through Newbourne Springs. These paths are great for exploring nature!
