Rendham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rendham |
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 Entering Rendham from the south on the B1119 |
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 Rendham
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| Population | 216 (2011 Census) |
| OS grid reference | TM350645 |
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| District |
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| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Saxmundham |
| Postcode district | IP17 |
| Dialling code | 01728 |
| Police | Suffolk |
| Fire | Suffolk |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| EU Parliament | East of England |
| UK Parliament |
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Rendham is a small village and civil parish located on the B1119 road in the East Suffolk area of Suffolk, England. It is close to the town of Saxmundham and the village of Sweffling.
Contents
What's in a Name? The Meaning of Rendham
The name Rendham comes from very old languages: Old English and Saxon. The first part, "Rend," comes from the Old English word "rymed," which means "cleared." The second part, "Ham," is a Saxon word meaning "village."
So, Rendham means "cleared village." This name likely came about because the village was built in a cleared area near the River Alde, surrounded by forests.
Where is Rendham Located?
Rendham is situated right by the River Alde. A smaller stream called The Gull also joins the Alde nearby. The area around Rendham is mostly countryside, with farms and small patches of woodland.
The village has two special green spaces called Rendham Green and The Knoll. These areas are owned by the local Parish, which is like the village's local government.
In the past, around 1870, a book called Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales described Rendham. It said the village was on a river that flows into the Alde. It was also about three miles northwest of the Saxmundham train station and had its own post office.
Who Lives in Rendham?
Rendham is a small community. In 2011, there were 216 people living there. Most people in Rendham reported being in very good or good health. Only a small number said their health was fair, bad, or very bad.
Many people in Rendham have good qualifications from school or college. In 2011, only 32 people did not have any qualifications. A large number, 77 people, had a high level of education, like a university degree.
Most people in Rendham in 2001 were adults between 30 and 59 years old. There were fewer young people, with only 60 residents aged 19 or younger. In 2011, about 61% of the people in Rendham were Christian.
Jobs in Rendham: Then and Now
Historically, Rendham was a farming village. In the 18th century, almost everyone worked in agriculture, either as farm workers or farmers. By 1881, farming was still the main job for men, with 46 men working in agriculture. This was more than all other jobs combined! Farming was very important because the village was quite far from market towns like Saxmundham, so they needed to grow their own food.
For women in 1881, most of their jobs were not recorded. However, 19 women worked in domestic service, which means they worked in people's homes.
Today, the types of jobs in Rendham have changed a lot. In 2011, most people worked in professional jobs, like doctors, teachers, or engineers. The next largest group worked in technical jobs. This is very different from 1881.
This change happened for two main reasons. First, the number of people living in Rendham decreased from 367 in 1881 to 216 in 2011. This meant less food was needed. Second, the economy of the United Kingdom changed a lot. In the past, it was mostly about farming and fishing (called the primary sector). Now, it's mostly about services, like healthcare, education, and retail (called the tertiary sector). So, people moved from farming jobs to service jobs.
Homes in Rendham
Most of the houses in Rendham are detached, meaning they stand alone. In 2011, there were 76 detached houses and 24 semi-detached houses (which are joined to one other house). Having many detached houses often means a village is quite well-off.
Most homes in Rendham have three or more bedrooms. In 2011, 89 houses had three or more bedrooms, with 51 of those having exactly three. Only 12 houses had one or two bedrooms. This suggests that many homes have extra space, perhaps for visitors, as there are not many children in the village.
A Look Back: Rendham's History
People are thought to have first settled in Rendham around the 1st century. The River Alde was important because it provided food like fish, fertile soil for farming, and a way to travel by boat.
Around AD 60, Queen Boudicca, a famous leader of the Iceni tribe, ruled the area of Suffolk. This was about 20 years after the Romans invaded Britain. There is evidence that people from Rendham might have joined Boudicca's army. They may have even been there when her army attacked the Temple of Claudius in Colchester.
In 1907, two schoolboys from Rendham, Arthur Baxter and Arthur Godbold, found something amazing in the River Alde. Years later, a schoolmaster bought it for a small amount of money. It turned out to be the head of the Emperor Claudius from a bronze statue! It was believed to have been taken by the Iceni from Colchester. This valuable head was later sold for a lot of money to the British Museum, where you can see it today. People in Rendham were a bit upset because they weren't mentioned in the story! A copy of the head is now in St Michael's church in the village.
After the king was brought back to power in England in 1660 (this was called the Restoration), Rendham became a popular place for people who didn't follow the main church. A special chapel was built in 1680. By 1740, it was so popular that people came from far away to attend. A new, bigger chapel was built in 1750. A famous hymn writer, Dr. Isaac Watts, even donated money for it. The painter Henry Bright later attended Rendham Chapel. This chapel eventually became the United Reform Church and closed in 1977.
Images for kids
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Rendham shown on an Ordnance Survey map from the 20th century.
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This graph shows how Rendham's population changed between 1801 and 2011.
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This chart shows the types of jobs people had in Rendham in 1881.
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This chart shows the types of jobs people had in Rendham in 2011.
