Dedham, Essex
Encyclopedia
Dedham is a village within the borough of Colchester
in northeast Essex
, England
, situated on the River Stour
and on the border of Essex and Suffolk
. The nearest town to Dedham is the small market town of Manningtree
.
, which passes along the northern boundary of the village forming the boundary between the counties of Essex
and Suffolk
. Dedham has a central nuclear settlement around the Church and the junction of Mill Lane and the High Street (forming the B1029). Connected to Dedham are the hamlets of The Heath
and Lamb Corner
. The village forms a key part of the Dedham Vale
.
Dedham is at the heart of 'Constable Country
' - the area of England where Constable lived and painted. Constable attended the town's Grammar School (now the 'Old Grammar School' and 'Well House'), and he would walk to school each morning alongside the River Stour
from his family's home in East Bergholt
. Many of Constable's paintings feature Dedham, including Dedham Mill, which his father owned, and Dedham Parish Church, whose massive Caen stone and flint tower is a focal point of the surrounding Dedham Vale.
and Arthur Lett-Haines
founded the East Anglian School of Painting and Drawing
at Dedham. When, however, this burnt down, they moved to Hadleigh, Suffolk.
Of longer influence in Dedham was horse painter, Sir Alfred Munnings who became President of the Royal Academy
. His house in Dedham, Castle House
, now contains a gallery of his work, and his studio.
Tom Keating
, the art restorer and famous art forger, was a Dedham resident until his death in 1984. He is buried in the churchyard of Dedham Parish Church (Website).
, grocers, delicattessen, art shop and various other shops. Agriculture is also important with mainly arable land (sugar beet and wheat) but also cattle grazing on the water meadows and some sheep on Grove Hill. There is an industrial estate near the A12, the main road which passes through the West of the village. A Business Centre and Nursing Home have recently opened.
, (c.1570-1636), sometimes referred to as "Roaring" Rogers, who was the most famous preacher of his age, was Vicar and Lecturer of Dedham from 1605-1636.
Matthew Newcomen
, (c.1610-1669), a co-author of Smectymnuus
(1641), who preached before parliament in 1643, was Vicar and Lecturer of Dedham from 1636-1662.
William Burkitt
, (1650-170), author of A Poor Man's Help and Young Man's Guide (1694),and Expository Notes on the New Testament (1700-03), which was in print for more than 150 years, was Vicar and Lecturer of Dedham from 1692-1703.
Dedham is the ancestral home of General William Tecumseh Sherman
, of American Civil War
fame, whose ancestors emigrated to Massachusetts
in the 1630s.
Birthplace of William Haggar
(1851-1925), whose pioneering work with film at the start of the twentieth century made him one of Britain's foremost directors.
Osborne Reynolds
, (1842-1912), engineer and physicist, who developed the understanding of electricity, magnetism, and fluid flow (part of the equation for determining the change between 'streamline' and 'turbulent' flow is still called a 'Reynold's Number'), was the son of a headmaster of Dedham Grammar School.
Colchester (borough)
Colchester is a local government district and borough in Essex, England, the district is named after its main town, Colchester. The borough covers an area of and stretches from Dedham Vale on the Suffolk border in the north to Mersea Island on the Colne Estuary in the south.The borough was formed...
in northeast Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, situated on the River Stour
River Stour, Suffolk
The River Stour is a river in East Anglia, England. It is 76 km long and forms most of the county boundary between Suffolk to the north, and Essex to the south. It rises in eastern Cambridgeshire, passes to the east of Haverhill, through Cavendish, Sudbury and the Dedham Vale, and joins the...
and on the border of Essex and Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
. The nearest town to Dedham is the small market town of Manningtree
Manningtree
Manningtree is a town and civil parish in the Tendring district of Essex, England, which lies on the River Stour. It adjoins built-up areas of Lawford to the west and Mistley to the east and the three parishes together are sometimes referred to as "Manningtree".Manningtree is a claimant for the...
.
Geography
Dedham is frequently rated as containing some of England's most beautiful Lowland landscape, most particularly the Water Meadows of the River StourRiver Stour, Suffolk
The River Stour is a river in East Anglia, England. It is 76 km long and forms most of the county boundary between Suffolk to the north, and Essex to the south. It rises in eastern Cambridgeshire, passes to the east of Haverhill, through Cavendish, Sudbury and the Dedham Vale, and joins the...
, which passes along the northern boundary of the village forming the boundary between the counties of Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
and Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
. Dedham has a central nuclear settlement around the Church and the junction of Mill Lane and the High Street (forming the B1029). Connected to Dedham are the hamlets of The Heath
Dedham Heath
Dedham Heath or The Heath is a hamlet in the parish of Dedham, Colchester District, in the English county of Essex....
and Lamb Corner
Lamb Corner
Lamb Corner is a hamlet on the B1029 road, in the civil parish of Dedham in the Colchester district, in the county of Essex, England. Lamb Corner formerly had a but now is a collection of houses around the Black Brook dating from the mediaeval period to the 21st century.- References :A-Z Essex,...
. The village forms a key part of the Dedham Vale
Dedham Vale
Dedham Vale is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty on the Essex-Suffolk border in east England. It comprises the area around the River Stour between Manningtree and Bures, including the village of Dedham in Essex. It is part of the area known since the artist's lifetime as Constable...
.
John Constable
John Constable
John Constable was an English Romantic painter. Born in Suffolk, he is known principally for his landscape paintings of Dedham Vale, the area surrounding his home—now known as "Constable Country"—which he invested with an intensity of affection...
' - the area of England where Constable lived and painted. Constable attended the town's Grammar School (now the 'Old Grammar School' and 'Well House'), and he would walk to school each morning alongside the River Stour
Stour
Stour may refer to:* HMS Stour, a Royal Navy River-class destroyer purchased in 1909.* Stour-class destroyer, the sub-class of Royal Navy destroyers of which HMS Stour was the lead ship.-See also:* East Stour...
from his family's home in East Bergholt
East Bergholt
East Bergholt is a village in the south of Suffolk, England, just north of the Essex border. It is "twinned" with the village of Barbizon, France....
. Many of Constable's paintings feature Dedham, including Dedham Mill, which his father owned, and Dedham Parish Church, whose massive Caen stone and flint tower is a focal point of the surrounding Dedham Vale.
Other artists
In 1937, Cedric MorrisCedric Morris
Sir Cedric Lockwood Morris, 9th Baronet was a British artist, art teacher and plantsman. He was born in Swansea but worked mainly in East Anglia...
and Arthur Lett-Haines
Arthur Lett-Haines
Arthur Lett-Haines , known as Lett Haines, was a British painter and sculptor who experimented in many different media, though he generally characterised himself as "an Engish surrealist". He was part of a London artistic circle, which included D. H...
founded the East Anglian School of Painting and Drawing
East Anglian School of Painting and Drawing
The East Anglian School of Painting and Drawing was an art learning environment established by Cedric Morris and Arthur Lett-Haines in East Anglia in 1937. It was run on very idiosyncratic lines based upon the "free rein" approach that was then current in French academies...
at Dedham. When, however, this burnt down, they moved to Hadleigh, Suffolk.
Of longer influence in Dedham was horse painter, Sir Alfred Munnings who became President of the Royal Academy
Royal Academy
The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London. The Royal Academy of Arts has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and...
. His house in Dedham, Castle House
Castle House, Dedham
Castle House, Dedham, Essex was the home of Sir Alfred Munnings from 1919 till his death in 1959.Architecturally Castle House contains a mixture of Tudor and Georgian elements....
, now contains a gallery of his work, and his studio.
Tom Keating
Tom Keating
For the football player of the same name see Tom Keating .For the priest and author of the same name see Thomas Keating....
, the art restorer and famous art forger, was a Dedham resident until his death in 1984. He is buried in the churchyard of Dedham Parish Church (Website).
Architecture
Dedham contains a number of well-preserved buildings:- Dedham Parish Church - St. Mary the Virgin, Dedham; (Website) the present building dates from the late 15th century, and was the last medieval 'wool church' to be completed, albeit in a more economical style that was originally intended. The Ascension by John Constable is on permanent display in the church. A viewing platform on top of the tower (open to the public from Easter to Harvest) gives excellent views of the lower part of the Stour valley.
- Sherman's Hall, a Grade I listed, Georgian-fronted townhouse used as a school until 1873 and now belonging to the National Trust.
- The Old Grammar School, founded by Elizabeth I. The present building dates from 1732 and was attended by John ConstableJohn ConstableJohn Constable was an English Romantic painter. Born in Suffolk, he is known principally for his landscape paintings of Dedham Vale, the area surrounding his home—now known as "Constable Country"—which he invested with an intensity of affection...
. It is now private residences. - The Sun Inn, a medieval building that retains its coaching arch.
- A Congregational church built in 1739 is now the Dedham Art and Craft Centre.
- Southfields, Grade I listed, is the most splendid of the many medieval buildings in the village. Formerly a factory used when Dedham was a wealthy wool town it is now a series of cottages.
- Castle House, the home of Sir Alfred Munnings and now the Sir Alfred Munnings Art Museum.
- Assembly Rooms, (Website) The external appearance of the building suggests it is a Victorian building in the classical style, but research carried out as part of refurbishment works in 1998-9 has confirmed that the structure is much older, dating from c.1745. Although it was known as the 'Hewitt Memorial Hall' from 1917-1997 (in gratitude to a local benefactor, William Wilkins Hewitt), it has since reverted to its earlier name.
Economy
Formerly a rich wool town and market town, Dedham is now still a flourishing commercial village, housing a post office, butcher, Co-opThe Co-operative Group
The Co-operative Group Ltd. is a United Kingdom consumer cooperative with a diverse range of business interests. It is co-operatively run and owned by its members. It is the largest organisation of this type in the world, with over 5.5 million members, who all have a say in how the business is...
, grocers, delicattessen, art shop and various other shops. Agriculture is also important with mainly arable land (sugar beet and wheat) but also cattle grazing on the water meadows and some sheep on Grove Hill. There is an industrial estate near the A12, the main road which passes through the West of the village. A Business Centre and Nursing Home have recently opened.
Local amenities
- Boat Hire
- Tennis Club - Dedham has a tennis club with three all-weather courts and a club house
- Cricket Club - Dedham's cricket club is on the playing fields next to the church. It has its own pavilion
- Dedham has an atypically large number of restaurants and hotels for an English village.
Transport
Transport within Dedham can be done entirely by foot or bicycle. Manningtree can easily be accessed by bicycle or by walking along the banks of the River Stour. Manningtree provides regular, fast commuter services to London and Norwich. Colchester can be reached by bus. School buses service all the schools in Colchester and the independent schools in Ipswich.Notable people
John RogersJohn Rogers
-Europeans:*John Rogers , editor and part translator of the Matthew Bible, and the first English Protestant martyr under Queen Mary...
, (c.1570-1636), sometimes referred to as "Roaring" Rogers, who was the most famous preacher of his age, was Vicar and Lecturer of Dedham from 1605-1636.
Matthew Newcomen
Matthew Newcomen
Matthew Newcomen was an English nonconformist churchman.His exact date of birth is unknown. He was educated at St John's College, Cambridge . In 1636 he became lecturer at Dedham in Essex, and led the church reform party in that county. He assisted Edmund Calamy the Elder in writing Smectymnuus ,...
, (c.1610-1669), a co-author of Smectymnuus
Smectymnuus
Smectymnuus was the nom de plume of a group of Puritan clergymen active in England in 1641. It comprised four leading English churchmen, and one Scottish minister...
(1641), who preached before parliament in 1643, was Vicar and Lecturer of Dedham from 1636-1662.
William Burkitt
William Burkitt
William Burkitt was a biblical expositor and vicar in Dedham, Essex, England....
, (1650-170), author of A Poor Man's Help and Young Man's Guide (1694),and Expository Notes on the New Testament (1700-03), which was in print for more than 150 years, was Vicar and Lecturer of Dedham from 1692-1703.
Dedham is the ancestral home of General William Tecumseh Sherman
William Tecumseh Sherman
William Tecumseh Sherman was an American soldier, businessman, educator and author. He served as a General in the Union Army during the American Civil War , for which he received recognition for his outstanding command of military strategy as well as criticism for the harshness of the "scorched...
, of American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
fame, whose ancestors emigrated to Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
in the 1630s.
Birthplace of William Haggar
William Haggar
William Haggar was a British pioneer of the cinema industry. Beginning his career as a travelling entertainer, Haggar, whose large family formed his theatre company, later bought a Bioscope show and earned his money in the fairgrounds of south Wales...
(1851-1925), whose pioneering work with film at the start of the twentieth century made him one of Britain's foremost directors.
Osborne Reynolds
Osborne Reynolds
Osborne Reynolds FRS was a prominent innovator in the understanding of fluid dynamics. Separately, his studies of heat transfer between solids and fluids brought improvements in boiler and condenser design.-Life:...
, (1842-1912), engineer and physicist, who developed the understanding of electricity, magnetism, and fluid flow (part of the equation for determining the change between 'streamline' and 'turbulent' flow is still called a 'Reynold's Number'), was the son of a headmaster of Dedham Grammar School.