Shelley, Suffolk facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Shelley |
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 All Saints' Church, Shelley |
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 Shelley
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| Population | 50 (2005) |
| District |
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| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Ipswich |
| Postcode district | IP7 |
| EU Parliament | East of England |
Shelley is a small, quiet village located in Suffolk, England. It sits on the west side of the River Brett, about three miles south of the town of Hadleigh. Shelley is part of the Babergh area. In 2011, the village had a very small population, and its numbers are now included with the nearby civil parish of Higham.
Contents
Discovering Shelley: A Small English Village
Shelley might be small, but it has some interesting features! Most of the land around the village is part of the beautiful Dedham Vale. This area is so special that it's called an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It means the landscape is protected because it's so lovely and important.
Historic Buildings and Nature Spots
One important building in Shelley is Shelley Hall. This old building is officially protected because of its history. It even has a moat around it, which is like a water-filled ditch that used to protect castles and important homes. The Hall was once owned by the Partridge family.
Another cool spot is Snakes Wood. This wood is very old, known as Ancient Woodland. It's also a special nature reserve, which means it's a protected place for plants and animals to live safely.
Shelley's Long History
Shelley has been around for a very long time! The village was first mentioned even before the Norman conquest of England in 1066. It appeared in an old document from the year 1000 AD.
The famous Domesday Book of 1086 also recorded Shelley. This book was like a big survey of England ordered by William the Conqueror. It showed that Shelley had 42 households. It also listed animals like 8 cattle, 32 pigs, 200 sheep, and other animals. The book also noted that Shelley had 28 acres of meadow, enough woodland to support 1,000 pigs, and two mills. This tells us a lot about what life was like in Shelley almost a thousand years ago!
Unique Hedges in Shelley
Have you ever heard of a hedge made of trees? In Shelley, there's a very long hedge made from lime trees. These trees have been coppiced, which means they were cut back regularly to encourage new growth. This special hedge follows the edges of areas where ancient forests were cleared a long time ago. Hedges like this, which mark old forest clearings, are sometimes called assart hedges.
A Link to American History
Shelley also has a connection to early American history! Elizabeth Gosnold Tilney is buried at All Saints' Church in Shelley. She was the sister of Bartholomew Gosnold, a famous explorer and colonist who helped found Jamestown in America.
Scientists once tried to use DNA from what they thought were Elizabeth's remains to help confirm if a body found in Jamestown was her brother, Bartholomew. However, the results weren't clear enough to be certain. Still, it's a fascinating link between this small English village and the early days of America!
