Tiptree

For other uses, see Tiptree (disambiguation).
Tiptree

Messing Maypole mill
Tiptree
 Tiptree shown within Essex
Population 7,583 [1]
OS grid referenceTL895165
Civil parishTiptree
DistrictColchester
Shire countyEssex
RegionEast
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post town COLCHESTER
Postcode district CO5
Dialling code 01621
Police Essex
Fire Essex
Ambulance East of England
EU Parliament East of England
UK ParliamentWitham
List of places
UK
England
Essex

Coordinates: 51°49′N 0°45′E / 51.81°N 0.75°E

Tiptree is a village and civil parish in the English county of Essex, situated 10 miles (16 km) south-west of Colchester and around 50 miles (80 km) north-east of London. Surrounding villages include Messing, Tolleshunt Knights, Tolleshunt Major, Layer Marney, Inworth, Birch, Great Braxted, Great Totham and Little Totham.

The population of the village at the 2011 census was 7,583.[2] The village has been expanding rapidly for several years with large numbers of new houses and estates being built, though it stills retains the title of being a village. The 'village' status was the subject of a local referendum in 1999 but residents and secondary school pupils rejected town status. Tiptree is amongst the contenders for the title of 'largest village in England'. Since the 2011 census it has been estimated the population is now in excess of 11,000.[3]

Tiptree has four primary schools: St Luke's Church of England Primary school, Milldene Primary School, Tiptree Heath Primary School and Baynard's Primary School. Thurstable School provides secondary and sixth form education. Messing Maypole Mill, a Grade II* listed tower mill, and the preserves company Wilkin & Sons, whose products use the village name as part of their brand, are located in the village.

Tiptree is within the Borough of Colchester and is administered by Tiptree Parish Council, Colchester Borough Council and Essex County Council. It is within in the Parliamentary constituency of Witham.

Tiptree was the site of the Tiptree sneeze, an event that occurred on 22 February 2014 at a concert by the London Central Fellowship Band at St. Luke's Parish Church where a trombonist sneezed into his trombone while playing. A video of the event was posted to YouTube and went viral in 2014.[4][5]

Church Road, Tiptree

Tiptree Heath

Tiptree Heath lies to the south of Tiptree. The 25 hectare heath is the largest surviving fragment of heathland in Essex and is a site of special scientific interest.[6] Historically the area was a focal point for smugglers, who used the secluded water inlets of Tollesbury, Salcott cum Virley and Mersea and often hid their contraband within the overgrown heathland. Species found on the heath include Cross Leaved Heather Erica tetralix, Bell Heather Erica cinerea and Ling. To help maintain the heath Dexter cattle are grazed there during the summer [7] and a herd of 8 hardy Exmoor Ponies throughout the year [8]

Economy

Tiptree is an internationally recognised brand of preserves manufactured in the village by Wilkin & Sons. The business was founded by the Wilkins, a local farming family in 1885.[9] The company employs 220 full-time staff and has a turnover which exceeded £24 million in 2008.

Tiptree is also the home of JobServe, the world’s first online recruitment service, based on the Tower Business Park. They now employ around 100 local people. Started in 1993, the company has grown significantly and in 2006 the company processed in excess of 9 million job applications. The village is also the head office of Underwoods Motor Group with both Ford and Vauxhall franchises. On the outskirts of Tiptree is Perrywood Garden Centre and Nurseries, a family business which has been trading for more than 25 years and employs more than 70 staff from the local area.

Religion

Within the Church of England, the village is part of the United Benefice of Tolleshunt Knights with Tiptree and Great Braxted. The parish church is Saint Luke's, located on Church Road, next to St Lukes CofE Primary School. The church celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2006.[10]

Alongside the parish church, there are three other churches in the village, Kingsland Church,[11] Tiptree United Reformed Church,[12] and St John Houghton, a Roman Catholic church.[13]

In nearby village of Tolleshunt Knights is the oldest and largest Orthodox Christian Monastery in Western Europe, the Patriarchal Stavropegic Monastery of St. John the Baptist. It was founded by Elder Sophrony, an Athos trained monk from Russia, in 1959.[14]

Transport

From about 1904 until 1951 the village was served by the Kelvedon and Tollesbury Light Railway (locally known as the Crab and Winkle Line). It was an early victim of the mid-20th century cutbacks to the British Rail network and Tiptree railway station closed in 1951. The nearest operational railway station is Kelvedon on the main Norwich to London Liverpool Street line.

Today, the village is bisected by the B1022 Colchester to Maldon road, and the B1023 Kelvedon to Tollesbury road. Tiptree is also close to the main A12 trunk road which passes through Essex. Bus services link the village to surrounding towns.

Climate

In East Anglia, the warmest time of the year is July and August, when maximum temperatures average around 21 °C (70 °F). The coolest time of the year is January and February, when minimum temperatures average around 1 °C (34 °F) East Anglia's average annual rainfall is about 605 millimetres , with October to January being the wettest months.[15]

References

  1. ↑ (2011 Census, ONS)
  2. ↑ Key figures for 2011 census: Key statistics - Tiptree, ONS. Retrieved 2014-04-29.
  3. ↑ 'Tiptree, one of the largest villages in England with a current population in excess of 11,000' (Retrieved 2014-04-29)
  4. ↑ "Tiptree trombone sneeze man tells of 'freak event'" (Press release). London, UK: BBC News. 20 March 2014. Retrieved 2014-08-06.
  5. ↑ "Trombone Player Makes Huge Sneeze During Concert". Yahoo News (Yahoo!). 18 March 2014. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  6. ↑ "Tiptree Heath" (PDF). Retrieved 2008-07-19.
  7. ↑ "Tiptree - The Story So Far". Retrieved 2008-07-19.
  8. ↑ "Ponies on Tiptree Heath". Retrieved 2009.
  9. ↑ "Wilkin Family History". Retrieved 2008-07-19.
  10. ↑ "St Luke's Church". Retrieved 2010-03-29.
  11. ↑ "Kingsland Church". Retrieved 2010-03-29.
  12. ↑ "Tiptree United Reformed Church". Retrieved 2010-03-29.
  13. ↑ "St John Houghton - Mass Centre". Retrieved 2010-03-29.
  14. ↑ "Monastery of St. John the Baptist". Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
  15. ↑ Met Office, Met Office Climate Data,accessed 21 April 2012

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tiptree.