Elham

infobox UK place
country = England
static_

static_image_caption=The Elham Valley from Tolsford Hill
official_name= Elham
latitude= 51.1528
longitude= 1.1111
population = 1,465 (Parish) [citeweb|url=http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=795552&c=elham&d=16&e=15&g=459323&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&enc=1&dsFamilyId=779|title=Neighbourhood Statistics|publisher=National Statistics Census 2001|accessdate=2007-02-23|date=2007-02-23]
shire_district= Shepway
shire_county= Kent
region= South East England
constituency_westminster= Folkestone and Hythe
post_town= CANTERBURY
postcode_district = CT4
postcode_area= CT
dial_code= 01303
os_grid_reference= TR175439:"Elham, Gholam-Hossein is the official spokesman of the government of Iran."Elham (pronounced Eel-um) is a village in East Kent situated approximately convert|9|mi|km|0 south of Canterbury and convert|5|mi|km|0 north east of Folkestone in the Elham Valley.

History

Toponomy

The origin of the village's name has always been a matter of argumentcite book |last=Hart|first=Brian |coauthors=Lawton, Eila |title=The Elham Valley Way |year=1997 |publisher= Kent County Council|location= Great Britain |isbn=1 873010 95 8] . The village is listed in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Alham" [cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Elham
work = Domesday Book
publisher = The National Archives
date = 1086
url = http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/details-result.asp?Edoc_Id=7571140&queryType=1&resultcount=85
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2008-02-19] . This may have derived from "Ulaham", which it is referred to in an Anglo Saxon charter of 855A.D.citeweb|url=http://www.elham.co.uk/Elham/IntoHistory.htm|title=A Brief History of Elham and The Square|publisher=Elham Valley Website|accessdate=2007-07-11|date=2007-07-11] The suffix "ham" is derived from the German word "heim", meaning "home". Thus, it is assumed that Ulaham means homestead of a person named Ula. Another theory is that the name originates from the presence of eels once found in the Nailbourne centuries ago. [cite book |last=Glover|first=Judith |title=The Place Names of Kent |year=1976 |publisher= Biddles Ltd|location= Guildford, Surrey |isbn= 0 7134 3069 9]

Early history

The discovery of hundreds of Neolithic hand axes, scrapers and worked flints at Dreal's Farm on the chalk plateau to the east of the village is the earliest evidence of human activity in the Parish. [cite book |last=Tuson|first=Dan |title=The Kent Downs |year=2007 |publisher= Tempus Publishing|location= Stroud, Gloucestershire |isbn=978 0 7524 4405 5] Elham Parish Appraisal 1996] Bronze Age remains have also been discovered indicating continuity of settlement. There is also a cluster of Bronze Age tumuli in Elham Park Wood and there is a further tumulus on the hillcrest between Ottinge and Rhodes Minnis. Evidence of Roman occupation is limited to discoveries of coins and pottery and there is little Anglo Saxon archaeological evidence although the Anglo Saxon cemetery at Lyminge may extend over the parish boundary.

St Mary's Church [http://www.elhamchurches.com] dates from about 1200 whilst the Abbot's Fireside Restaurant on the high street is of Tudor origin (built in 1641). This is reputed to have been the headquarters of the Duke of Wellington during the times when there was a threat from Napoleonic invasion. In the centre of the village is The Square. This dates from 1251 when the village was granted a market by Edward I and was in use until the early 19th century. The village once had two windmills but both now no longer exist.

19th century to present day

The population of Elham was 1,192 in 1881. [cite book |last=Hart|first=Brian |title=Elham Valley Reflections |year=1989 |publisher= Millgate Publishing|location= Uckfield |isbn=0951045423] The Elham Valley Light Railway opened in 1889 and closed in 1947. There are still traces of its existence throughout the parish such as the remains of the station platforms at the bottom of Duck Lane. Until the early 1900s a brickworks existed within the village (the Elham Valley Brick and Tile Company) with kilns situated on the east side of the valley.

Governance

Elham Parish Council oversees matters within the village. The parish is very large for such a small settlement, strecthing to the edge of Lyminge in the south, to the hamlet of Breach in the north, and east to Acrise and west to Stelling Minnis. Elham is situated within the Elham and Stelling Minnis ward within the local government district of Shepway. The present local councillor for the Elham and Stelling Minnis Ward is Pamela Carr. [citeweb|url=http://www.shepway.gov.uk/content/view/200219/1748/|title=Shepway District Council – Cllr Miss Pamela Carr|publisher=Shepway District Council|accessdate=2007-07-11|date=2007-07-11] The village is located within the constituency of Folkestone and Hythe and is represented in UK Parliament by Michael Howard.

Economy and services

Elham Church of England Aided Primary School provides education for children from the age of 4 to 11. There is also a pre-school playgroup that operates within the village hall and a surgery. Elham has retained a village stores and post office and there is also a farm shop at North Elham. At the hamlet of Breach just outside the parish is the Elham Valley Vineyard. There are two pubs, the Rose and Crown and the King's Head and two restaurants, the Abbot's Fireside and the Blue Vinny. However, services have declined in the latter half of the 20th century and into the 21st century and there is no longer a bakers, butchers, garage or bookshop within the village. The New Inn has recently been closed and reverted to housing.

Similar to many other villages in the UK there is a shortage of affordable housing. This has limited the availabilty of property to famalies, first time buyers and those on low incomes. Improvements in agriculture and the decline of local businesses has resulted in fewer employment opportunities within the village than there were in the early 20th century. Elham is located on the 17 bus route from Folkestone to Canterbury operated by Stagecoach.

Environment and conservation

Elham is situated deep in the heart of the North Downs and within the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Whilst much of the countryside surrounding the village is arable farmland there are still patches of unimproved or semi-improved grassland where wildlife is allowed to flourish such as Baldock Downs and Hall Downs. These sites often support many typical chalk downland species such as Common Milkwort ("Polygala vulgaris"), Field Scabious ("Knautia arvensis")and Salad Burnet ("Sanguisorba minor") as well as orchids such as Fragrant ("Gymnadenia conopsea"), Common Spotted ("Dactylorhiza fuchsii") and Pyramidal ("Anacamptis pyramidalis").

Park Gate Down nature reserve is situated within the parish and is well-known for its extensive downland flora.citeweb|url=http://www.elham.co.uk/Elham/ParkGate_Down/ParkGate_Down.htm|title=Park Gate Down (The Hector Wilks Reserve), Elham|publisher=Elham Valley Website|accessdate=2007-12-03|date=2007-12-03] The site and the roadside nature reserve near the chalk pit are managed by Kent Wildlife Trust. Several other areas of land within the parish are maintained under the Countryside Stewardship Scheme whilst there are also designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest at Park Gate Down and Shuttlesfield Down. Elham Park Wood is owned and managed by the Forestry Commission. Local volunteers and farmers also carry out work to conserve and manage the environment. There is also an active environmental group who aim to reduce carbon emissions within the local community and receive support from Kent Energy Centre and Kent County Council. [citeweb|url=http://elhamenvironment.co.uk/aboutus.aspx|title=Elham Environment Group About Us|publisher=Elham Environment Group|accessdate=2007-12-03|date=2007-12-03]

Famous inhabitants

Kent and England wicket-keeper Les Ames was born and brought up in Elham.citeweb|url=http://www.elham.co.uk/Famous_People.htm|title=Famous and Notable People "In and Around" the Elham Valley|publisher=Elham Valley Website|accessdate=2007-07-11|date=2007-07-11] Another Kent and England cricketer Mark Ealham used to live in the Square. Academy Award winning actress Audrey Hepburn spent some of her childhood in Elham. Prime Minister Anthony Eden lived at Park Gate just north west of Elham during World War II.

External links

* [http://www.elham.co.uk/ Elham Valley Website]
* [http://www.elhamvalleylinetrust.org/index.htm/ Elham Valley Railway Trust Website]
* [http://www.elhampc.kentparishes.gov.uk/ Elham Parish Council Website]
* [http://www.elhamchurches.com/ Elham Area Churches]
* [http://www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk/ Kent Wildlife Trust]

References