Thorpe-le-Soken facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Thorpe-le-Soken |
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 Thorpe-le-Soken
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| Population | 1,961 (2011) |
| OS grid reference | TM178223 |
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| Shire county | |
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| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | CLACTON-ON-SEA |
| Postcode district | CO16 |
| Police | Essex |
| Fire | Essex |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| EU Parliament | East of England |
| UK Parliament |
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Thorpe-le-Soken is a village and civil parish in the Tendring area of Essex, England. It is located in the eastern part of Essex. You can find it east of Colchester, west of Walton-on-the-Naze and Frinton-on-Sea, and north of Clacton-on-Sea.
Contents
A Look Back in Time: Thorpe-le-Soken's History
Ancient Discoveries and Saxon Beginnings
Since 2002, experts have been exploring the ground in Thorpe-le-Soken. They found signs of very old settlements. These include traces from the Stone Age (Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, and early Neolithic periods) and the Roman times.
The village's continuous story goes back to the Saxons. Around the year 970, King Æthelstan gave a large estate to St Paul’s. This estate included Kirby, Thorpe, and Walton. The word "Soken" means an area with its own rules for taxes and management.
Thorpe Hall: A Historic Home
There has been a manor house in Thorpe since about 1150. The old manor house, called Thorpe Hall, was once owned by the Leake family. A rich lawyer named J.M. Leake rebuilt it in the 1820s.
Later, important people lived at Thorpe Hall. One famous resident was Viscount Byng of Vimy. He was the Governor General of Canada from 1921 to 1926. His wife, Evelyn Byng, Viscountess Byng of Vimy, helped redesign the gardens.
Huguenots and Famous Authors
Between 1690 and 1720, many Huguenot refugees lived in Thorpe. These were people who had to leave France because they were being treated unfairly for their beliefs. They are thought to have stayed at a large house called Comarques.
This house was also home to the well-known author Arnold Bennett. He lived there just before and during the First World War.
St Michael's Church and TV Shows
The local church, St Michael's, has even been on TV! It was featured in the BBC show Who Do You Think You Are?. In the show, comedian Julian Clary traced one of his family members back to this church.
Life in Thorpe-le-Soken: Facilities and Transport
Thorpe-le-Soken has schools for young people. These include Rolph CofE Primary School and the Thorpe Campus of Tendring Technology College. The college campus is for students in Years 7, 8, and 9.
The village has its own train station, Thorpe-le-Soken railway station. This makes it easy for people to travel to and from the village. There are also several shops, pubs, and places to eat in Thorpe-le-Soken.
Notable People from Thorpe-le-Soken
Many interesting people have lived in Thorpe-le-Soken over the years:
- Field Marshal Lord Byng of Vimy (1862–1935): He was a brave officer who served during World War I. He also held the important role of Governor General of Canada. Lord Byng lived in Thorpe-le-Soken after he retired. He is buried in a nearby church.
- Sir William Gull (1816–1890): He was a doctor to the Royal Family. He is buried in St Michael's churchyard.
- Arnold Bennett (1867–1931): A famous writer who wrote novels and plays.
- Nigel Henderson (artist) (1917–1985): A talented artist and photographer.
- Sir Eduardo Luigi Paolozzi (1924–2005): A well-known sculptor and artist.
Images for kids
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The village sign for Thorpe-le-Soken.
See also
In Spanish: Thorpe-le-Soken para niños
