Elmley

Coordinates: 51°23′27″N 0°46′32″E / 51.3909°N 0.7756°E / 51.3909; 0.7756Elmley is the local name for the Isle of Elmley, part of the Isle of Sheppey in Kent, England. It was also the name of a former village on the Isle of Elmley. Edward Hasted mentions in 1798, that the Isle was two eighths of the Isle of Sheppey. 11 miles by 8 miles.

History

The village of Elmley was a settlement of around 200 people in the late 19th century. It consisted of the Turkey Cement Works, which was the major employer for the area, as well as a school, a church, a public house and 30 dwellings. The cement works closed in 1902 and the population dwindled thereafter. Elmley School closed in the 1920s and the church was demolished in the 1960s, although the graves remain as of 2009.

There was also once a ferry service crossing the Swale to Murston (near Sittingbourne).

The last surviving buildings of the village are the Grade II listed 'Kingshill Farmhouse' and 'Kingshill Farmhouse Barn'

Elmley today

In the 1970s a bird reserve was established on the marshes. It forms part of the Elmley National Nature Reserve, which is owned and managed by the Elmley Conservation Trust. It covers 3,250 acres (13.2 km²) and is one of the largest bird reserves in England.

Nature reserve

A nature reserve (natural reserve, bioreserve, (natural/nature) preserve or (national/nature) conserve) is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research. Nature reserves may be designated by government institutions in some countries, or by private landowners, such as charities and research institutions, regardless of nationality. Nature reserves fall into different IUCN categories depending on the level of protection afforded by local laws.

History

Cultural practices that roughly equate to the establishment and maintenance of reserved areas for animals date back to antiquity, with King Devanampiya Tissa of Sri Lanka establishing one of the world's earliest wildlife sanctuaries in the 3rd century BC. Early reservations often had a religious underpinning, such as the 'evil forest' areas of West Africa which were forbidden to humans, who were threatened with spiritual attack if they went there. Sacred areas taboo from human entry to fishing and hunting are known by many ancient cultures worldwide.

Elmley Castle

Coordinates: 52°04′14″N 2°01′33″W / 52.070657°N 2.025862°W / 52.070657; -2.025862

Elmley Castle is a village and civil parish in Worcestershire, in England, United Kingdom. It is located on the north side of Bredon Hill 3 miles south east of Pershore in the local government district of Wychavon.

Amenities and history

It had a population of 497 in 2001 and retains public amenities such as a bus route, public house, post office, primary school, local shop selling local produce, and church.

The remaining public house is called "The Queens Head", after Queen Elizabeth I who is supposed to have stopped there. According to local legend Elizabeth I was presented with a hat on her arrival in the village on the road from Pershore, (a nearby town). The slope upwards out of the village at that point is still known as 'Besscaps'.

The remains of a stone cross are still present in the centre of the village. Its age is unknown and a significant portion remains underground.

The church of St. Mary dates from the end of the 11th century, the chancel shows herringbone pattern stonework in the external walls, the font has a 15th-century octagonal bowl on a 13th-century square base decorated with stonecarved serpents and dragons and the church was much added to in succeeding centuries. It contains grand monuments to Thomas, 1st Earl of Coventry and 17th century effigies of members of the Savage family. The decline in local Christian worshippers has led to a reduced service schedule at the church.

First Dance

First Dance may refer to:

Isle of Sheppey

Coordinates: 51°23′28″N 0°49′52″E / 51.391°N 0.831°E / 51.391; 0.831

The Isle of Sheppey is an island off the northern coast of Kent, England in the Thames Estuary, some 46 miles (74 km) to the east of London. It has an area of 36 square miles (93 km²). The island forms part of the local government district of Swale. Sheppey is derived from the ancient Saxon "Sceapige", meaning isle of sheep, and even today the extensive marshes which make up a considerable proportion of the island provide grazing for large flocks of sheep.

Today's island was historically known as the "Isles of Sheppey" which were Sheppey itself, the Isle of Harty and the Isle of Elmley. Over time the channels between the isles have silted up to make one continuous island. Sheppey, like much of north Kent, is largely formed from London Clay and is a plentiful source of fossils. The Mount near Minster rises to 250 feet (76 metres) above sea level and is the highest point on the island. The rest of Sheppey is low-lying and the southern part of the island is marshy land criss-crossed by inlets and drains.