| Somersham | |
St. Mary's church, Somersham, Suffolk |
|
|
Somersham
Somersham shown within Suffolk |
|
| Population | 710 [1] |
|---|---|
| District | Mid Suffolk |
| Shire county | Suffolk |
| Region | East |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Police | Suffolk |
| Fire | Suffolk |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| EU Parliament | East of England |
| List of places: UK • England • Suffolk | |
Somersham (Lower Somersham) is a village and civil parish in the Mid Suffolk district of Suffolk in eastern England. Located around five miles northwest of Ipswich, in 2005 its population was 710.[1]
There are two churches in the village:
St. Mary's Parish Church (OS grid TM0948) just off the main road in the southeast area of the village built in the early part of the 14th century and stands close to Church Farm.
Somersham Baptist Chapel is in the northwest area and is a much newer building.
Somersham had two public houses in the past, King's Head (OS grid TM 085 486) grade II building closed in the early 20th century and started out as farm buildings in the 15th/16th. And the Griffin (OS grid TM 090 485) on the Main Road and now is residential. It was so small that Mr Battle (barkeep and later tennant after the license was revoked) used to get the drinks from the spare room and out the back.
Nowadays, there is one public house ('The Duke of Marlborough') on the Main Road.
Tudor Grange (OS grid TM0848) are a series of timber framed 16th century buildings as you head out northwest from Somersham.
The village of Somersham is in a quite pronounced valley (for East Anglia) and I would think that decent UHF TV reception from any of the main transmitters in the area is pretty much impossible, hence the relay. The 12 meter relay is located on higher ground to the north of the village (The site is actually right at the end of a row of houses) where it's possible to receive good signals from Sudbury.
There is a small stream flowing to the north of the village field parallel to the main road. A number of successful football teams play at the playing field; both youth sides and the strong Somersham F.C. adult team on saturday mornings, which includes the inimitable Albert Soponov. In 1980/81, Paul Mariner played once for the elder team against the younger side but never scored.
John Abbott (b. 1931 who has lived in village for his whole life) responded to BBC Radio Suffolk 2010-08-10 call for further information reported that there were three shops that used to trade in the area. Mrs Bellhouse (), Will Laws (), Mr Harrison. A shoe repairer () and Barry Larwence (electrical repairer).
The village contains a hair salon, Somersham Primary School, a garage which has been owned by David Haughton for over 20 years and a new village hall in the village[2]. The Post office and small shop closed in 2005 with plans to open a community shop.
AD & KM Caston Ltd operate Church farm and remains in the family with James Caston now (from Sally and John) involved with the arable farm. Windmill meadow.
There is some concern what the impact of SnOasis will have in the area.
Paul Mariner (past center forward for Ipswich Town F.C.) lived in the area for a few years in the early 1980s and a female all around the world sailor lived there.
Local celebrity William Haughton was also born in the vilage in 1994. Haughton's most famous moment came when he dyed his hair white in order to promote the 'Save the sheep in Wales' campaign he launched. More recently he has launched his opening stand up tour which contain some of his best material, including a joke about buying his girlfriend and saying 'Ashley Vincent' in a hilarious voice.