Wrabness facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wrabness |
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 All Saints, Wrabness |
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 Wrabness
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| Population | 401 (2011) |
| OS grid reference | TM222417 |
| Civil parish |
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| District |
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| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Manningtree |
| Postcode district | CO11 |
| Dialling code | 01255 |
| Police | Essex |
| Fire | Essex |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| EU Parliament | East of England |
| UK Parliament |
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Wrabness is a small village in Essex, England. It's located close to Manningtree and about 10 kilometers (6 miles) west of Harwich. Around 400 people live in Wrabness. You can reach Wrabness by train, as it has its own station on the Mayflower Line.
Contents
Discovering All Saints' Church
The oldest building in Wrabness is All Saints' Church. It was built around the year 1100, which makes it over 900 years old! Long ago, in the 1600s, the church's bell tower fell down. The church bell was then moved to a special wooden cage in the churchyard. This unique wooden bell cage is still there today.
Wrabness: A Former Mine Depot
For many years, the biggest workplace in Wrabness was the Royal Navy Mine Depot. This is where thousands of naval mines were stored. These mines were used to protect the North Sea during the World Wars. Workers from the depot were very brave. They even won awards for safely disarming enemy mines. Today, the site is no longer used by the Navy.
Exploring Wrabness Nature Reserve
Wrabness Local Nature Reserve is a special natural area. It was officially recognized in 1993. This reserve covers about 52 acres (21 hectares) of land. It sits right on the banks of the River Stour estuary.
From Military Base to Wildlife Haven
Before it became a nature reserve, this area was a mine depot. The Ministry of Defence set it up in 1921. It closed down in 1963. After it closed, there were plans to build other things there, like a prison. But in 1992, a group called the Wrabness Nature Reserve Charitable Trust bought the land. This saved it from being developed. Now, the Essex Wildlife Trust manages the reserve.
Wildlife at the Reserve
The Wrabness Nature Reserve is a very important place for wildlife. You might see different kinds of birds here. These include owls, yellowhammers, and nightingales. Many wild plants also grow in the reserve. Some examples are corn mint, hairy buttercup, and ox-eye daisy.
Visiting the Reserve
It's easy to visit the reserve. There's a strong, hard path that goes all around it. This path makes it easy for everyone to explore. It's great for people with strollers or those using wheelchairs.
Grayson Perry's "A House for Essex"
In 2015, a very special holiday home was built in Wrabness. It was designed by a famous artist named Grayson Perry. He worked with a group called FAT. A charity called Living Architecture asked them to create it.
What is "Julie's House"?
This unique building is known as "Julie’s House" or "A House for Essex." Grayson Perry designed it to celebrate the people and history of Essex. He mentioned "single mums in Dagenham" and "hairdressers in Colchester" as his inspiration. The house is very colorful and has many decorations. It even has special ornaments on its roof. The house overlooks the beautiful River Stour near the village.
