Elmdon
| Elmdon | |
| Essex | |
|---|---|
 Elmdon village | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | TL465395 |
| Location: | 52°2’4"N, 0°8’3"E |
| Data | |
| Population: | 610 (2011[1]) |
| Post town: | Saffron Walden |
| Postcode: | CB11 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Uttlesford |
Elmdon is a village in the Uttlesford hundred of Essex, adjacent to the border with Cambridgeshire and close to that of Hertfordshire. The hilly topography of the area differentiates it from countryside to the north, which is predominantly fenland and flat.
History
The castle motte at Elmdon, known as 'castle hill', still exists. It was the Norman fortification of Robert de Lucy, brother to Richard de Lucy, Justiciar to King Stephen and Henry II. The church at Elmdon was granted by Robert de Lucy to Lesnes Abbey (founded by Richard de Lucy), around 1180. One mile to the west, at the highest point in Essex, Eustace de Boulogne (d 1125) built and occupied his moated house named 'Flanders' at Chrishall and it was there that his daughter Matilda of Boulogne (c 1103-1152), the future wife of King Stephen, was raised.
The name Elmdon means 'hill of elms' and this village does indeed contains three elm trees. Elmdon includes a village hall, a church, and a recreation ground used for cricket and football.
Transport
Elmdon has an infrequent bus service with links to Bishop's Stortford. There are three roads out of Elmdon; two are minor roads leading to other villages, and the third provides access indirectly to the nearest station (Audley End on the Cambridge to London Liverpool Street line).
Leisure
Elmdon has sporting teams participating in local leagues. The village is a starting point for cross country running with trails of between 3 km and 30 km, some avoiding major roads. Tracks are passable on foot and bicycle between March and November, becoming waterlogged outside this range (passable but not to run on).
The Icknield Way Path passes through the village on its 110-mile journey from Ivinghoe Beacon in Buckinghamshire to Knettishall Heath in Suffolk. The multi-user route is open for walkers, horse riders and off-road cyclists.
References
- 1922-, Robin, Jean, (1980). Elmdon : continuity and change in a North-West Essex village, 1861-1964. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521228206. OCLC 5051677. https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/5051677.
- Marilyn., Strathern, (1981). Kinship at the core : an anthropology of Elmdon a village in north-west Essex in the nineteen-sixties. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521105033. OCLC 7594522. https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/7594522.
Outside links
 |
("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Elmdon) |
- Elmdon village history
- Elmdon Parish Church Picture taken by Ian Rose in 1999
- The Icknield Way Parish (includes Elmdon)
- The Elmdon Dial sundial
- Elmdon Village Website
