Tollesbury facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tollesbury |
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 Tollesbury Village sign |
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 Tollesbury
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| Population | 2,621 (2011) |
| OS grid reference | TL958101 |
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| District |
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| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Maldon |
| Postcode district | CM9 |
| Dialling code | 01621 |
| Police | Essex |
| Fire | Essex |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| EU Parliament | East of England |
| UK Parliament |
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Tollesbury is a lovely village located on the coast of Essex, England. It sits right where the River Blackwater meets the sea. This charming village is about nine miles east of the old port town of Maldon and twelve miles south of Colchester.
For hundreds of years, Tollesbury has been known as the "village of the plough and sail." This means its people have always relied on both farming the land and fishing the sea. One of the most important things they traded, and still do today, is oysters!
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Tollesbury's Special Village Sign
The village of Tollesbury has a unique and beautiful village sign on West Street. It tells the story of the village's history and how people lived. The sign has two main sides: the 'Plough' side and the 'Sail' side.
The Plough Side
On the 'Plough' side, you can see a farmer working the land with his horses. This shows how important farming was to the village. The picture even shows the fields going all the way down to the water! On the right, there are fishing boats, called smacks, on the River Blackwater. Look closely, and you'll also spot the village church at the top left. A mallard duck and a hare are carved into the supports of the sign.
The Sail Side
The 'Sail' side of the sign celebrates Tollesbury's connection to the sea. It shows buildings called sail lofts, where sails for boats were made or repaired. In the middle of this side, you'll see the yacht 'Endeavour II'. This famous boat was Britain's challenger for the America's Cup in 1937. On the left, there's another fishing boat, the 'Sallie'. Just like on the other side, the supports show the harvests from the Blackwater: oysters and fish.
A local artist named Sam Rigby painted this wonderful sign.
Cool Places in Tollesbury
Tollesbury used to have many pubs, but now there's only one open, called The King's Head. Besides pubs, there are other places where people gather, like The Royal British Legion and two clubs for boating fans: the Tollesbury Cruising Club and the Tollesbury Sailing Club.
The Village Square
At the heart of the village is 'The Square'. It's also known as 'The Green' but its proper name is Church Street. The King's Head Public House is on the west side of The Square. This pub was a popular spot for sailors. In the early 1900s, when Tollesbury became famous for yachting, the Tollesbury Yacht Skippers Club was started here. During some changes to the pub in 1902, parts of a very old Bible from 1540 were found in the attic! On the east side of The Square, you'll find Saint Mary's church. Many of the cottages around The Square were built with bricks made right in the village.
Woodup Pool
At Woodrolfe Creek, there's a public salt water swimming pool called the Woodup Pool. It's a type of outdoor pool known as a lido, and it first opened way back in 1907.
Tollesbury's Past
From 1904 to 1951, Tollesbury had its own train line, the Kelvedon and Tollesbury Light Railway. There was a small station in the village. The railway even went all the way to Tollesbury Pier, about 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) south-east of the village. People hoped to build houses and a yacht station there, but those plans didn't really happen. The pier extension closed in 1921.
During World War II, the pier was destroyed on purpose to stop any enemy invasions. The area was then used for defense guns and to control special mines in the River Blackwater estuary. In 1943, a Halifax bomber plane carrying French secret agents crashed into the river nearby.
The Old Lock-up
Tucked away in the south-east corner of The Square, near the church wall, is an old wooden building from the 1700s. It's called the village Lock-up or Cage. This was where people who had too much to drink were held until they sobered up. Since Tollesbury once had six pubs, this Lock-up probably saw a lot of action!
Village Churches
Tollesbury has two important churches, each with its own history.
Saint Mary's Church
The main church in Tollesbury is dedicated to Saint Mary the Virgin. It stands on the highest point in the village. Most people believe the church was built around 1090, soon after the Normans came to England. It's possible that some of the materials used to build it came from an even older Saxon church.
In medieval times, this church belonged to a nunnery (a place where nuns live) called Saint Mary's at Barking. They were in charge of choosing the priest for Tollesbury. Later, the church's ownership changed hands many times.
The church tower is very impressive. It might have been a safe place for villagers to hide if attackers came from the North Sea. The lowest part of the tower is from the 11th century. The tower also has windows and brickwork from the 15th and 17th centuries.
In the churchyard, you can find the grave of Admiral Sir Thomas Hugh Binney. He was a high-ranking officer in the Royal Navy and even served as the Governor of Tasmania.
Congregational Church
The other large church in Tollesbury, located across from The Square, is the Congregational Church. This church is believed to have started around 1803. At first, people met in a small cottage, but it became too crowded. So, a new meeting house was built in 1803.
Many ministers have served this church over the years. One famous minister was Revd John Spurgeon, who was the father of the very well-known preacher Charles Haddon Spurgeon. In 1865, a new chapel and a minister's house were built. The church also added to its school room twice. The church celebrated its 150th anniversary in 1953. Today, a team of leaders called deacons helps to run the church.
Tollesbury Granary
In 2006, the Granary building, located by Woodrolfe Creek, was a finalist in a TV show called Restoration Village. This old building has been on a special list of "Buildings at Risk" since 1992, meaning it needs help to be preserved.
Tollesbury Wick Marshes
Just east of Tollesbury, you'll find Tollesbury Wick Marshes. This is a special nature reserve managed by the Essex Wildlife Trust. It covers a huge area of 240 hectares (about 593 acres) and includes grazing marsh, reed beds, saltmarsh, and mudflats. It's a Site of Special Scientific Interest because of its important wildlife.
Long ago, during the Iron Age and Roman times, this area was busy with salt production. You can still find "Red hills" here, which are mounds created by this ancient process.
Filming Location
Tollesbury is so picturesque that it has often been used as a location for filming TV shows and movies! Some of the well-known series filmed here include Liar and Great Expectations.
The 1972 Pop Festival Scare
In 1972, there was a big plan to hold a pop music festival at Hunt's farm in Tollesbury. However, by the end of March, the festival organizers decided the location wasn't suitable. But before that, local people were very worried about the festival. They protested by hanging models of the organizers in the village square! Michael Attfield, who was the chairman of the Tollesbury Association, said that his group would be happy to share what they learned during their protest with any other village that might be "threatened" by a similar festival. The festival eventually took place in a different location, in Bardney, Lincolnshire.
Nearby Places to Explore
See also
In Spanish: Tollesbury para niños
