Saxmundham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Saxmundham |
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 St.John the Baptist Church, Saxmundham |
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 Saxmundham
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| Population | 3,644 (2011 Census) |
| OS grid reference | TM381632 |
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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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Saxmundham is a lively market town located in the Suffolk county of England. It sits in the valley of the River Fromus. The town is about 18 miles (29 km) north-east of Ipswich. It is also about 5 miles (8 km) west of the coast at Sizewell.
The main A12 road goes around the town. This road connects London and Lowestoft. Saxmundham also has its own Saxmundham railway station. This station is on the East Suffolk Line, which runs between Ipswich and Lowestoft. In 2011, about 3,644 people lived in Saxmundham.
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How Saxmundham is Governed
Saxmundham has its own local government. This is called the Saxmundham Town Council. It helps manage the town and make decisions for its residents.
The Town Council is made up of several councillors. These are people elected by the community. They work together to improve the town. The Town Clerk, Mrs Sharon Smith, helps the council with its official duties.
Over the years, Saxmundham's local government has changed. It became an urban district in 1900. This meant it had its own local council. In 1974, it became part of the Suffolk Coastal district. Then, in 2019, it joined the new East Suffolk district.
Saxmundham's History and Name
The name Saxmundham has a long history. It first appeared in the Domesday Book in 1086. Back then, it was called Sasmunde(s)ham. Later, in 1213, it was written as Saxmundham. The name means "Seaxmund's village or estate." This suggests it was once owned by someone named Seaxmund.
The Parish Church of St John the Baptist is very old. It dates back to the 11th century. Some parts of the church are still from the medieval period. However, most of what you see today was built in the 1800s.
What Can You Do in Saxmundham?
Saxmundham offers places to stay overnight. You can find bed-and-breakfasts and camping sites.
The town has been a market town since at least 1272. This means it has held markets for a very long time. Today, a market is held every Wednesday. It takes place in the Market Place, just off the High Street. You can find both indoor and outdoor stalls there.
Famous People from Saxmundham
Many interesting people have connections to Saxmundham. Here are a few:
- John Shipp (1784–1834) was born here. He was an army officer. His stories about his military life were very popular.
- Henry Bright (1810–1873) was a painter.
- Thomas Thurlow (1813–1899) was a sculptor.
- Hamlet Watling (1818–1908) was an archaeologist, artist, and teacher.
- Bernard Collins (1880–1951) was a county cricketer.
- Buck Read (1880–1970), an American basketball coach, was born in Saxmundham.
- Herbert Heyner (1882–1954), a baritone singer, passed away here.
- Jennifer Toombs (1940-2018) was a designer of stamps.
- Eleanor Berwick (born 1943) is known for growing wine.
- Maggi Hambling (born 1945), a famous artist, has lived near Saxmundham since the 1980s.
- Sam Miller (born 1962) works as a television director.
- Ray Allen (born 1975), a well-known NBA basketball player, spent some of his childhood years in Saxmundham.
Saxmundham in Stories
Saxmundham is famous in fiction because of a character named Brother Eadulf. He appears in the popular Sister Fidelma mystery books. These books are written by Peter Tremayne. Brother Eadulf is a helpful assistant to Sister Fidelma. He often plays a key role in solving mysteries.
Brother Eadulf is from "Seaxmund's Ham," which is Saxmundham. He attends an important meeting called the Synod of Whitby in AD 664. There, he helps Sister Fidelma solve a murder. He has appeared in most of the books and short stories in the series.
The author chose Saxmundham because of his own connections to the area. It is also close to an old royal burial site. The series now has 31 books and is translated into many languages. There is even a fan club for the Sister Fidelma series!
See also
In Spanish: Saxmundham para niños
