Walpole, Suffolk

Walpole

Walpole sign
Walpole
 Walpole shown within Suffolk
Population 238 (2011)[1]
OS grid referenceTM366745
Shire countySuffolk
RegionEast
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post town Halesworth
Postcode district IP19 0
Dialling code 01986
Police Suffolk
Fire Suffolk
Ambulance East of England
EU Parliament East of England
List of places
UK
England
Suffolk

Coordinates: 52°19′05″N 1°28′07″E / 52.3180°N 1.4687°E / 52.3180; 1.4687

Walpole is a small village and civil parish in the district of Suffolk Coastal in Suffolk, England. Walpole has a chapel called Walpole Old Chapel and a primary school called Cookley and Walpole CEVC Primary School. The village is on the River Blyth. Nearby settlements include the town of Halesworth and the village of Cookley. It is in the hundred of Blything. It had a population of 238 according to the 2011 census.[1]

History

In 1870-72, Walpole was described as:

a parish, with a village, in Blything district, Suffolk; 2½ miles SW of Halesworth r. station. Pop., 540. Houses, 115. The manor belongs to Lord Huntingfield. There are an endowed Independent chapel, an endowed school, and charities £11.[2]

The name 'Walpole' actually translates to 'Pool of the Britons'.[3] Walpole has experienced many boundary changes over time. It was part of the Blything registration district until 1935 when the district was abolished to become part of Blyth, Wainford, and Lothingland registration districts respectively. Walpole joined the Blyth district, transferring a population of 16,640. Walpole remained part of the Blyth district until 1983 when this district too was abolished, to become parts of the Deben and Waveney registration districts respectively. It became part of the Waveney district in 1983 until 2010 when the district was abolished to become part of the Suffolk registration district.[4]

Walpole appears in the Domesday Book, in the hundred of Blything. It has a population of 28 households- 6 villagers, 5 smallholders, and 17 free men. It has 6 men's plough teams, and other resources include a meadow of 6 acres, 30 woodland pigs, and 1 church. The lord in 1086 was Count Alan of Brittany.[5] Walpole is known for being a sort of mecca for church crawlers- people who like to study the architecture of the church buildings rather than visiting for religious purposes themselves, with St Mary's Church and Walpole Old Chapel being the attractions here.[6]

Demographics

Total Population of Walpole Civil Parish, Suffolk, as reported by the Census of Population from 1801-2011.
Occupational graph for males aged 20 and over in Walpole in 1831

Population

Population data on Walpole dates back to as early as 1801, when the population at that time was 494. There have been many fluctuations in the population from 1801 to 2011, with the pattern showing a continuous decrease in numbers from 1831-2011. 1831 recorded the highest population figure at 658, whilst the lowest population figure was recorded in 2001 at just 215, a decrease of 67.4% of the 1831 figure.[7][8] 2011 census shows that 15.6% of the population are aged 0–15, 74.3% aged between 16-74, and just 10.1% aged 75 and over. The average age being 46.2 years old.[9]

Housing

The typical housing types in Walpole are detached, semi-detached, and terraced. Housing ownership is typically owner-occupied.[10] Overall average house prices in Walpole are £225,000. This figure is higher than average house prices in nearby Halesworth where average prices are £168,882 and Bramfield where average house prices are £143,975. Selling prices in the previous year were down 37% of the selling prices in the year before, and down 62% of the 2005 average selling price.[11]

Occupational history

Occupation data for 1831 reflects the social status' of the people of Walpole from that time. 83 of the 135 were classed as labourers and servants, 35 classed as middling sorts, and only 17 were employers and professionals.[12] According to 1831 data, occupation in Walpole for males aged 20 or over was divided into 9 occupational categories. The main category was agricultural laborers, followed by retail and handicrafts. There were no jobs in manufacturing, and very few in other categories.[13] In 1881, males were still predominantly working in the agricultural industry, with 50 out of 96 males involved in agriculture. Work for males did begin to increase however in occupations such as House, Furniture and Decorations, and Food and Lodging. Women, as expected, were very different in 1881 occupational status'. 71 out of 95 females had an unknown occupation, whilst 12 worked in domestic service or offices. Few worked in agriculture, and some worked as professionals or workers in dress.[14] However, data from the most recent census in 2011 shows, as expected, a complete differentiation in occupational status'. Statistics for 2011 show that 123 of residents aged between 16-74 are currently in employment, that figure being 51.6% of the total Walpole population. The census data reported that wholesale and retail trade, and education were the biggest sectors in 2011 employment, both at 13%. Manufacturing accounted for 10% of the 2011 employment, compared to 0 in the 1831 census. This would probably be due to the changes in technology which have allowed industries in Walpole and the rest of Britain to shift from the primary sectors of work, to the secondary and tertiary.[15]

Education

The local mixed gender primary school closest to Walpole is situated 2.3 miles away in Bramfield. The school is for children aged between 4-11 and currently has 89 students in total, of which 52.8% are boys and 47.2% are girls. In 2013 the school reported 91% to be achieving Level 4 or above in reading, writing and maths.[16] The last Ofsted inspection was carried out on 21 January 2015 and was rated 'Inadequate'.[17]

Transport

The closest railway station to the village of Walpole is located approximately 2.9 miles away in nearby Halesworth, approximately a 10-minute drive away from Walpole. Walpole has 1 local bus service. This service is the 532 which goes from Beccles to Halesworth on Wednesdays.

Places of Interest

St Mary's Church
Walpole Old Chapel- Congregational Chapel

Church of St Mary

Inside the Parish Church is a dish inscribed with the names dedicated to dead soldiers who were from Walpole. Dedicated on 11 May 1949, the Roll of Honour consists of five soldiers from World War One, and four from World War Two. Two of these soldiers are buried in Walpole at St Mary Churchyard.[18] Church of St Mary is one of 23 listed buildings in Walpole. The Church is listed as Grade II and has been listed for surviving medieval work since 7 December 1966. The core of the church dates back to the 12th Century or earlier, with much being restored in 1878. The tower and aisle remains entire still to this date.[19]

Bell Cottage The Old Bell

Previously used as an inn, this is now three private dwellings. Just like the Church of St Mary this is also listed as Grade II and has been listed since 19 March 1985. The building dates back to the early 19th Century, made from red brick, and three storeys high.[20]

Congregational Chapel

On the road out of Walpole heading towards Halesworth can be found the Congregational Chapel of Walpole. The worshipping life of the chapel ended in 1970. Despite this, annual services are still held here with the chapel now being in the care of Historic Chapels Trust. The chapel is described as:

an awe-inspiring experience; one of the rare opportunities left to us to obtain a sense of what it was like to be a proud, yet marginalised community in 17th and 18th century rural England.[21]

The Old Thatch

Also listed as Grade II, The Old Thatch has been listed since 19 March 1985. It is a 16th Century timber framed and plastered cottage with a thatched roof.[22]

Cookley Lake

A family owned two-acre fishing lake opened all year round for fishing.[23]

Halesworth

The nearby town of Halesworth. Halesworth is located approximately 2.9 miles away from Walpole and has been described as:

a town that prides itself on a cultural blend of fine art, theatre, locally produced food and wines, and small independent shops.[24]

References

  1. 1 2 "Walpole (Parish): Key Figures for 2011 Census: Key Statistics". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
  2. ↑ Wilson, John Marius (1870–1872). Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales (1st ed.). Edinburgh: A. Fullarton & Co. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
  3. ↑ "Key to English Place-Names". The University of Nottingham. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  4. ↑ "REGISTRATION DISTRICTS IN SUFFOLK". GENUKI. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  5. ↑ "Open Domesday". Professor J.J.N. Palmer, University of Hull. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  6. ↑ "St Mary, Walpole". Suffolk Churches. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
  7. ↑ "Total Population". A Vision of Britain through Time. Retrieved 5 March 2014.
  8. ↑ "Key Figures for 2001 Census: Census Area Statistics". Neighbourhood Statistics. Retrieved 5 March 2014.
  9. ↑ "Age Structure, 2011". Neighbourhood Statistics. Retrieved 6 March 2014.
  10. ↑ "The Clink, Walpole, Suffolk". British Streets. Retrieved 6 March 2014.
  11. ↑ "House Prices in Walpole, Halesworth, Suffolk". rightmove. Retrieved 6 March 2014.
  12. ↑ "Social Status, based on 1831 occupational statistics". A Vision of Britain. Retrieved 20 March 2014.
  13. ↑ "Males aged 20 & over, in 9 occupational categories". Vision of Britain. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  14. ↑ "Occupation data classified into the 24 1881 'Orders', plus sex". Vision of Britain. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  15. ↑ "Industry, 2011". Neighbourhood Statistics. Retrieved 6 March 2014.
  16. ↑ "Bramfield Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School". Department for Education. Retrieved 5 March 2014.
  17. ↑ "Bramfield Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School". Ofsted. Retrieved 5 March 2014.
  18. ↑ "WALPOLE WAR MEMORIAL". Roll of Honour. Retrieved 20 March 2014.
  19. ↑ "Church of St Mary, Walpole". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
  20. ↑ "Bell Cottage The Old Bell, Walpole". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 20 March 2014.
  21. ↑ "Congregational Chapel, Walpole". Suffolk Churches. Retrieved 20 March 2014.
  22. ↑ "The Old Thatch, Walpole". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 20 March 2014.
  23. ↑ "Fishing in Suffolk". Suffolk Tourist Guide. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
  24. ↑ "Halesworth". Visit Suffolk. Retrieved 12 March 2014.

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