Tolleshunt D'Arcy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tolleshunt D'Arcy |
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| Village | |
 Tolleshunt D'Arcy maypole |
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 Tolleshunt D'Arcy
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| Population | 1,042 |
| OS grid reference | TL930117 |
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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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Tolleshunt D'Arcy is a small village in Essex, England. It is located near the Blackwater estuary in the Maldon District. The village is about 19 kilometers (12 miles) southwest of Colchester. Around 1,000 people live here.
Contents
Village History
The name Tolleshunt comes from an old Anglo-Saxon word, Tolleshunta. This means "Toll's spring." Toll was an Anglo-Saxon chief who found clearings in the forest where water was easy to find.
After William the Conqueror took over England, he gave the land to Ralph Peverell. Over time, the village name changed as daughters who inherited the land took their husbands' names. It was called Tolleshunt Tregoz, Tolleshunt Valoines, and Tolleshunt de Boys. In the 1400s, the D'Arcy family took over when John D'Arcy married a daughter from the De Boys family. The D'Arcy family owned the estate until 1593.
D'Arcy Hall
During the D'Arcy family's time, they built D'Arcy Hall. This house was built in the early 1500s and is still standing today. Inside, you can see wooden panels with the initials of Anthony D'Arcy and the year 1540. The bridge over the moat and the dovecote (a building for doves) are from the time of Queen Elizabeth I.
A special type of apple, the russet D'Arcy Spice apple, first grew in the gardens here in 1840.
Village Maypole
In the middle of the village, there is a maypole. This is a tall pole used for dancing and celebrations, especially on May Day. It is one of the few real maypoles left in England and is a protected monument. Its base is now covered by a wooden cage to keep it safe.
Famous Residents
D'Arcy House is another old house in the village. It was home to Dr. John Salter from 1864 to 1932. He was a prize-winning gardener and a leader in the Freemasons. He is known for the detailed diary he kept for many years.
From 1935 to 1966, the famous author Margery Allingham lived in D'Arcy House. She wrote detective stories and created the character Albert Campion. Her book The Oaken Heart (1941) was about life in Tolleshunt D'Arcy during World War II. Her husband, Philip Youngman-Carter, was an artist and editor. Margery Allingham's sister, Emily Joyce Allingham, made home movies that showed village life, like the celebration for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.
Today, D'Arcy House has a blue plaque that remembers Margery Allingham. Her sister Joyce unveiled it on May 20, 1992, which was Margery's 88th birthday. Margery Allingham is buried in the village cemetery.
Village Life
Tolleshunt D'Arcy has a village shop, which is very important for local people. There is also a church, a village hall, and one pub called the Queen's Head. This pub is known for its historic interior. Other pubs in the village have closed or changed into restaurants.
Past Transport
From 1904 to 1951, a small train line called the Kelvedon and Tollesbury Light Railway served the village. There was a small station just north of the village. The train stopped carrying passengers in 1951.
St. Nicholas' Church
The village church is called St. Nicholas' Church. It has a tall tower and a beautiful ceiling that was decorated in 1897. The villagers helped to create a special stained glass window to celebrate the year 2000. This window shows parts of the village, the nearby River Blackwater, and local farming. It even shows the unique D'Arcy apple. A local artist named Michael Smee designed this window.
Schools in Tolleshunt D'Arcy
Tolleshunt D'Arcy has one primary school called St. Nicholas C of E School. It is on Tollesbury Road. This school teaches children aged 4 to 11 years old. It serves children from Tolleshunt D’Arcy and nearby villages like Tolleshunt Major and Goldhanger.
The school is in the center of the village. It has large open fields, a playground, and a wildlife area. It is surrounded by farmland and has views of the Blackwater Estuary. The current school building was built in 1983. It has 7 classrooms, including a large one for the youngest students with its own playground. The school also has a big hall, a library, and a computer room.
There is also a pre-school in the village, Tolleshunt D'Arcy Pre-School. It is located in the village hall.
Places to Visit
Old Hall Marshes
Old Hall Marshes is a nature reserve east of Tolleshunt D'Arcy. The RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) owns it. They bought the reserve in 1984 to protect brent geese that spend the winter there. The reserve has large areas of grassy marshes with salty water, saltmarsh, and reedbeds.
You can find many interesting things here:
- Thousands of anthills from yellow meadow ants are in the old grasslands.
- About twenty-four types of butterfly live here.
- Many dragonflies can be seen, including the rare emerald damselfly.
Different birds visit throughout the year:
- In spring, you might see gadwalls, shovelers, and pochards. Birds like lapwings and avocets build their nests in the marshes. Marsh harriers and barn owls also live here.
- In summer, young marsh harriers can be found in the reedbeds. You might also see greenshanks and cuckoos.
- In autumn, teals and wigeons are common in the shallow waters. Flocks of golden plovers and lapwings also appear.
- In winter, hen harriers and brent geese can be seen. Sea ducks like red-breasted mergansers are in the water channels.
Tolleshunt D'Arcy Hall
Tolleshunt D'Arcy Hall is a house surrounded by a moat, located south of St Nicholas' Church. It was the original home of the D'Arcy family. The house was built around 1450. The current bridge over the moat, made of brick and stone, is from about 1585. The entrance to D'Arcy Hall has special apple trees. These are the D'Arcy Spice Apple trees, and this type of apple was first found in the hall's garden in 1880.
Red Hills
Along the Essex coast, there are over three hundred ancient sites where people used to make salt. These are called Red Hills. In Tolleshunt D'Arcy, you can find remains of these sites in the salt-marsh. You can still see pieces of old pottery and charcoal from ancient fires.
Images for kids
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South Street, D'Arcy House is at the far end
See also
In Spanish: Tolleshunt D'Arcy para niños
