Tillingham facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tillingham
St Nicholas' Church
Tillingham
Population	1,058 (2011)
OS grid reference	TL993038
Civil parish	Tillingham
District	Maldon
Shire county	Essex
Region	East
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	SOUTHMINSTER
Postcode district	CM0
Dialling code	01621
Police	Essex
Fire	Essex
Ambulance	East of England
EU Parliament	East of England
UK Parliament	Maldon
List of places UK England Essex 51°41′53″N 0°52′59″E / 51.698°N 0.883°E / 51.698; 0.883

Tillingham is a small village in Essex, England. It is home to about 1,058 people, based on the 2011 Census. The village is located on the Dengie Peninsula. This area is part of the Maldon District.

Tillingham is about 8 miles (13 km) from Burnham-on-Crouch. It is also 3 miles (5 km) from Bradwell-on-Sea. The Dengie Peninsula is surrounded by the North Sea, the River Blackwater, and the River Crouch. Tillingham is one of the old villages that form the historic Dengie Hundred.

The village has strong ties to St Paul's Cathedral in London. The Cathedral owns several farms and properties here. They also own a lot of the land around the village.

The Village Sign in Tillingham, showing the dome of St Paul’s Cathedral in London.

Tillingham village is built around its main street. The oldest part of the village is a special "conservation area." This means its historic look is protected.

The conservation area was created on July 15, 1969. It covers most of the village's historic buildings. This area includes the parish church of St. Nicholas and The Square. It also stretches along North Street and South Street. Some smaller roads like Brook Road and Bradwell Road are also included.

Village Government

Tillingham is part of an electoral ward. This ward also includes Bradwell-on-Sea. In 2011, this ward had a total population of 2,182 people.

Who Lives in Tillingham? (2021 Census)

Here's a quick look at the people in Tillingham:

Weather in Tillingham

Here are the average monthly daytime temperatures for 2023:

Things to Do and See

Tillingham has many useful places and activities.

• There are two schools: Tillingham Pre-School and St Nicholas C of E Primary School.
• You can find a fire station and a medical centre.
• The village has a Post Office and a Londis shop.
• There's also a hairdressers and a care home.
• The village hall is a community hub.
• Tillingham West Field is a recreation ground.
• There are sports clubs and 18 allotment plots for gardening.
• A mobile library visits the village regularly.
• You can find an Airbnb for visitors.
• The village hosts an annual flower show.

There are also several historic buildings:

• Two chapels: the Peculiar People's chapel and the Congregational Chapel.
• The 14th-century parish church of St Nicholas.
• Two pubs: "The Fox and Hounds" and "The Cap and Feathers."

Fox and Hounds, Tillingham, Essex.

"The Cap and Feathers" pub won a national award in 1998. It also won "most improved pub" in 2023. Some people say this old pub is haunted! It used to be a lodging house for pilgrims in the 12th century.

The Cap and Feathers, Tillingham.

You can enjoy walking on many footpaths. These paths go through farms and along the sea wall. The popular ‘St Peters Way’ footpath also goes through Tillingham.

St Nicholas Church

The Church of St Nicholas is a very old building. It is located on The Square. This church is listed as Grade II*, meaning it's very important.

St Nicholas’s Parish Church sits on the beautiful village square.

The church dates back to Norman times. It is a key part of the conservation area. The church has a 14th-century tower. Many parts of the church are from the 13th and 14th centuries. It has a Norman doorway and a font.

Inside, there is a Victorian rood screen. This screen separates the nave from the chancel. The church's special design shows its connection to St Paul's Cathedral.

The church has very strong links with St Paul's Cathedral in London. St Paul's Cathedral has owned land in Tillingham since about 720 AD. They still have the right to choose the local vicar. This land ownership brought wealth from sheep farming and crops.

In the churchyard, there are two Commonwealth War Graves. These are for soldiers who died in World War One. William Bowtle died in 1918 at age 24. Private Henry Sandford died in 1917 at age 18.

Tillingham Marshes

Tillingham Marshes help protect the coast from the sea. A long dyke separates fields from the salt marsh. These marshes help to calm the tides.

Tillingham Marshes - far eastern edge.

St Paul's Cathedral owns these marshes. They were given the land in 604 AD by the King of Kent.

In 2005, there were plans for a large wind farm here. But the plans were stopped. St Paul's Cathedral did not allow it to go ahead. Local people and wildlife groups were also against the idea.

St Peters Way.

Tillingham to Dengie Nature Reserve Trail

This is a 9.9-mile (15.9 km) walking trail. It usually takes about 3 hours and 16 minutes to complete. It's an easy route, great for birdwatching and hiking. You probably won't see many other people on this trail. It's open all year round.

This circular route is on the Dengie Peninsula. It takes you along the coast and through the Dengie National Nature Reserve. You'll also visit the Chapel of Saint-Peter-on-the-Wall.

The trail starts in Tillingham. It goes across farmland to Bradwell on Sea. Then it continues to the Chapel of St-Peter-on-the-Wall. This chapel is very old, dating back to about 654 AD. It's a Grade I listed building. It is one of England's oldest churches. It was built on the wall of an old Roman fort called "Othona."

After seeing the chapel, you walk along the edge of the Dengie National Nature Reserve. This reserve is huge, covering 3,105 hectares. It has saltmarsh and tidal mudflat. It's a special place for birds. Keep an eye out for wildfowl and waders!

Finally, you follow the coastline and then head back across farmland to Tillingham.

The West Field

The West Field is a large recreation area. It's on Vicarage Lane, close to the village centre. In 2004, it won an award for "Best Kept Playing Field." In 2005, it won "Best Kept Children's Play Ground."

Playing Field and St Peters Way.

The Tillingham Village Council owns and maintains this area. It's used by several sports clubs. These include Tillingham Hotspur Football Club and Tillingham Cricket Club. The annual Tillingham Flower Show is also held here.

The Sports Pavilion building is used by the cricket and football clubs. The Tillingham Bowls Club leases its own area. There's a children's play area in the north-west corner. There's also a "multi track area" for bikes and scooters. It's a free place for kids to practice riding and skating.

A multi-use games area was built in 2014. Young people in the village asked for it. It was built with grants and help from volunteers.

The public West Field Car Park is nearby. It's behind St Nicholas Primary School. It is also opposite St Nicholas Church.

Sports and Social Clubs

Tillingham has many sports clubs:

• Cap & Feathers Pool Team
• Fox and Hounds Pool Team
• Tillingham Bowls Club
• Tillingham Cricket Club
• Tillingham Darts Team
• Tillingham Hotspur Football Club (including a veterans team)
• Tillingham Tigers Youth Football Club

Mobile Library Service

Essex Libraries offers a mobile library service in Tillingham. This helps people who can't easily get to libraries in Burnham on Crouch or Southminster. The mobile library visits the village square every three weeks.

Tillingham Flower Show

Tillingham has an exciting annual flower show. It takes place at the West Field. The show starts with a fun procession through the village. It begins at Manor Road in Dengie. The procession includes the Tillingham fire engine, old cars, tractors, dancers, and fancy dress.

There's lots to do at the show! You can see a Dog Show and dog races. There are dance performances and a penalty shoot-out with Tillingham Tigers FC. You can try the Tillingham Stocks or enjoy donkey rides. There's also a tug of war. Two tents are filled with amazing flowers, plants, and handmade crafts.

Visitors can enjoy drinks from a Pimms and Prosecco tent. There's also a horsebox bar, ice cream, barbecue, and Hog Roast.

A "Best Dressed House" and "Scarecrow" competition also happens during the weekend.

Historic Buildings in Tillingham

Tillingham has many buildings with special historical importance. These are called "listed buildings."

Grade II Listed Buildings

These buildings are important and protected:

• Blackbirds, Bradwell Road
• The Cap and Feathers Public House, South Street
• Chancel Mead
• The Fox and Hounds Public House, The Square
• L Plan Outbuilding Range to South of the Cap and Feathers Public House
• Latchkey Cottage
• Little Savages, Bradwell Road

Little Savages.

• Little Seas
• The Manse, Brook Road

Weather-boarded cottage at Tillingham.

• Merchants House
• The Olde House, North Street

The Olde House, North Street, Tillingham.

• Pump (about 3 meters South of Sports Pavilion)

Water pump, Willow, Cottage.

• Pump (opposite and about 20 meters South West of Brook Cottage)
• Quinneys
• Rose Cottage and Attached Former Butchers Shop
• Shop Formerly a Butchers Shop and Adjoining Number 19 to the North
• Stow Cottage
• Stows Farmhouse
• Telephone Kiosk, The Square
• Thatched Cottage

Thatched Cottage, Vicarage Lane.

• Tillingham Post Office and House, South Street
• Village Pump, on Green (about 30 meters West of Fox and Hounds Public House)
• Numbers 1, 2, 7, 9, 16, 18, 52 and 54 The Square
• Numbers 13 and 25 North Street
• Numbers 1-5, 7, 9 and 12 South Street
• Number 3 Vicarage Lane

Grade II* Listed Buildings

These buildings are especially important:

• Church of St Nicholas, 18 The Square Tillingham CM0 7SU

St Nicholas, Tillingham.

Getting to Tillingham

You can reach Tillingham in several ways.

By Car

The distance from London to Tillingham is about 57 miles (93 km). It takes about 1 hour and 14 minutes by car. You would use the A13 road.

By Train

The closest train stations are at Southminster and Burnham-on-Crouch. Trains run often to South Woodham Ferrers, Billericay, and London Liverpool Street. The fastest trains to London take about 1 hour and 15 minutes.

By Bus

Local buses include the Dengie route D4. This bus goes to Southminster and Burnham-on-Crouch. Fords Coaches also run a bus service (route 3) to Chelmsford every two weeks.

By Air

Three airports are fairly close to Tillingham:

• London Southend Airport: 28 miles away, about 45 minutes by car.
• London Stansted Airport: 40 miles by road, just over an hour's drive.
• London City Airport: 50 miles by road, about 1 hour 10 minutes by car. It's about 1 hour 25 minutes by train from Southminster.

Tillingham Private Airstrip

Tillingham has a private airstrip at Stowes Farm. This airstrip has been used since 1984. It is still active today. It doesn't have a regular airport code, but uses GB-0433 as a reference.

A public footpath runs through the farm. It goes next to the runway. You can also see the runway from Tillingham Road to the south.

Famous People from Tillingham

• Thomas Causton was born in Tillingham. He was a Protestant who faced difficulties for his beliefs in 1555.
• Major Baker founded four almshouses (special homes for poor people) in the village. He was a supporter of the King during the Siege of Colchester in 1648.

Tillingham lost many young men in wars. 23 men from the village died in World War One. Another four died in World War Two.

See also

In Spanish: Tillingham para niños