Great Maplestead
| Great Maplestead | |
| Essex | |
|---|---|
 St Giles' Church | |
| Location | |
| Location: | 51°58’52"N, 0°37’52"E |
| Data | |
| Population: | 343 (2011[1]) |
| Post town: | Halstead |
| Postcode: | CO9 |
| Dialling code: | 01787 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Braintree |
Great Maplestead is a village and a parish in the Hinckford hundred of Essex.
In the sixteenth century the Deane family were Lords of the Manor of Great Maplestead. Later in the century the manor passed by marriage to Sir John Tyndal, Master of the Court of Chancery. It was here in 1618 that Tyndal's daughter Margaret Tyndal Winthrop married John Winthrop, a crucial figure in the founding of Massachusetts.
In the 1870s the Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales said that Great Maplestead "took its name from maple trees, which anciently flourished on or around its site; and has the repute of being a very healthy place".[2]
Location
The village is located in the north of Essex, near the town of Halstead and the villages of Sible Hedingham and Little Maplestead. The village covers 1,892 acres of land and is located one mile to the north-east of the Colne Valley railway, and also the Colne river[3] which is connected to the river Thames.
Population
The parish had a population of 343 according to the 2011 census.[1] The population over the last 50 years has remained stable, with Great Maplestead having a population of 331 in 1961. The population of Great Maplestead has not dramatically varied since the census taken in 1801, to the one taken in 2011. The population in 1801 was 331, the same as in 1961, and only a small difference in the population from 2011. However, there have been some fluctuations that have occurred through time. Between 1801 and 1851 there was a steady increase in the population until it reached its highest recorded population of 494 in 1851. Between this time and 1881 Great Maplestead experienced a significant decrease, with the population dropping to 394. From 1881 onwards the population remained at a relatively constant rate with no dramatic changes.[4]
St Giles Church
St Giles' Church is located in the centre of the village and contains three bells in the tower, with the first one being built in the 15th century. The church is made of two parts, the Norman building was built first, followed by the Deane Chapel which was built in the year 1626.[5] In 1612 the church had to be partially rebuilt with red bricks due to the fact it was struck by lightning.
Education
Great Maplestead is home to the primary school St Giles C of E Primary. The school has existed since 1863. The primary school adopted the same name as the St Giles church, as the vicar and church wardens became trustees after the idea of the school was presented by Mrs Mary Gee. She created the idea of a school in 1836, when she opened a charity school, her idea then became a reality when she was presented a piece of land where she was able to build the school where it currently stands now.[6] The school was open to both boys and girls and has made many improvements over the years, starting off with just two classrooms. Since then three more classrooms have been built, and well as a school hall. Through time other essentials have also been added, such as installing the schools first telephone in 1955.[7] The governing body for St. Giles C of E Primary school have created future plans for the school, including plans to bring the school from 'Good' to 'Outstanding'.[8]
Notable residents
- Robert Adams (sculptor and designer)
- Margaret Tyndal Winthrop, third wife of John Winthrop
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Civil Parish population 2011". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=11123935&c=Great+Maplestead&d=16&e=62&g=6422972&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&o=362&m=0&r=1&s=1472916170495&enc=1. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
- ↑ Wilson, John Marius (1870). Gazetteer of England and Wales. Edinburgh: A. Fullerton & Co.. http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/place/6821. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
- ↑ "Great Maplestead, Genealogy". https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Great_Maplestead,_Essex_Genealogy. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
- ↑ "Great Maplestead (Parish): Historical Statistics". http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10244535/cube/TOT_POP. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
- ↑ "St Giles Church". http://www.greatmaplestead.com/stgileschurch.html. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
- ↑ "School History". http://www.stgilesgreatmaplestead.uk/school-history/. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
- ↑ "St Giles C E Primary School". http://www.educationbase.co.uk/St-Giles-C-E-Primary-School-Halstead,CC1453. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
- ↑ "Governors". http://www.stgilesgreatmaplestead.uk/governors/. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
Outside links
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Great Maplestead) |