Elsenham

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Elsenham
Essex
Elsenham church.JPG
Church of St Mary the Virgin
Location
Grid reference: TL531269
Location: 51°55’13"N, 0°13’34"E
Data
Population: 2,446  (2011[1])
Post town: Bishop's Stortford
Postcode: CM22
Local Government
Council: Uttlesford
Parliamentary
constituency:
Saffron Walden

Elsenham is a village and parish in north-western Essex. Its neighbouring towns include Bishop's Stortford, Saffron Walden, and Stansted Mountfitchet.

History

Elsenham is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Alsenham and Elsenham in the Hundred of Uttlesford. Part belonged to Robert Gernon and part to John, nephew of Waleran.[2] The village is best known for Elsenham Jam, which was produced on the Elsenham estate of Sir Walter Gilbey, and marketed with the slogan, "the most expensive jam in the world". Elsenham Jam is no longer produced in Elsenham, the company having moved production to other factories.[3]

In April 2008, Elsenham was short-listed by the Government as a potential site for a 5,000-home 'eco-town' development.[4]

Notable features

The Pump

Notable features include Elsenham Hall, the home of Sir Walter Gilbey, St Mary's Church, formerly known as the Little Norman Church on the Hill, and The Pump, which stands in the village centre and was built by Sir Walter Gilbey in memory of his wife. A horse, Golden Miller, who won the Cheltenham Gold Cup five times between 1932 and 1936 and the Grand National in 1934 is buried at Elsenham Stud.[3]

Society and leisure

Elsenham has a number of small clubs. A variety of village events are held each year: a village fete; the Flower Show Society's Annual Show; an Arts & Craft Fair and a firework display in the autumn; and Santa and Gift Galore in December. There are tennis courts, a bowling green, cricket field a youth football club and 2 pool teams. The village has a number of small businesses and a pub, and has a primary school.[3]

Transport

The village is served by a railway station. It is about four miles from junction 8 of the M11 motorway and also approximately three miles from Stansted Airport. A highly publicised expansion of the airport could include new road and rail links passing within the village boundaries.[5]

References

Commons-logo.svg
("Wikimedia Commons" has material
about Elsenham)
  1. "Parish population 2011". http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=11123188&c=Elsenham&d=16&e=62&g=6426300&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1443273841603&enc=1. Retrieved 26 September 2015. 
  2. Dr Ann Williams; Professor G H Martin, ed (2003). Domesday Book: A Complete Translation. London: Penguin Books. pp. 1021, 1041, 1343. ISBN 0-14-143994-7. 
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Newland, David (September 2008). "Enjoying Elsenham". Essex Life (Archant): 90. http://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/Launch.aspx?referral=other&pnum=&refresh=Xn912H0b16xQ&EID=ae1ff680-f48b-4a38-9931-2ac69df9011d&skip=true. Retrieved 19 January 2009. 
  4. Jackman, David (3 April 2008). "ELSENHAM: 5,000-home "eco-town" earmarked for village". Harlow and Bishop's Stortford The Citizen (Newsquest Media Group). http://www.citizen-series.co.uk/news/2169148.elsenham_5_000home_ecotown_earmarked_for_village/. Retrieved 2009-01-19. 
  5. Dougherty, Hugn; Teresa Keane (22 October 2003). "Stansted plan 'could wipe out villages'". Evening Standard (Associated Newspapers Limited). http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-109138606.html. Retrieved 2009-01-19.