Martlesham
Encyclopedia
Martlesham is a village in Suffolk
, England
about two miles (3 km) South-West of Woodbridge
and 6 miles (9.7 km) East of Ipswich
. It is often referred to as "old Martlesham" by locals in order to distinguish this old village from the much more recent Martlesham Heath
development (1 km) to the south although both form a single administrative parish. Also at Martlesham Heath is BT's Research and Development Centre, now called Adastral Park
.
Martlesham was recorded in Domesday as "Merlesham".
The history and meaning of the name are studied in a paper by Briggs.
It probably means `meadow near the mooring-place'.
settlement at Martlesham and in the parish there have been some 26 finds dating from the Roman occupation. These include pottery
, brooch
es, coins
and tessera
e. Of particular note was the 19th century find of a small bronze statue of a horse on a plinth, bearing a Latin inscription indicating that this was an offering dedicated by a woman named Simplicia to the god Mars.
Martlesham was mentioned in the Domesday Book
, which recorded that it consisted of two and a half carucate
s of land (equivalent to about 300 acres (121.4 ha) of profitable land). At that time there were 10 villagers; 10 smallholders; 12 acres (4.9 ha) of meadow; 1 mill; woodland for 16 pigs; 5 cobs; 20 cattle; 27 pigs; 212 sheep; and 12 beehives. There was 1 church with 36 acres (14.6 ha) and 1 free man.
Martlesham remained a strongly agricultural area, but the main settlement shifted over the years from the highest ground (where the church and hall are situated) to the point where the main London to Great Yarmouth road crosses the River Finn , a tributary to the Deben
. By the mid-15th century, a bridge had been built across the river at this point.
White's 1844 directory of Suffolk describes Martlesham as "a neat village near the confluence of a rivulet with the Deben" and states that it has in its parish "510 inhabitants, and 2558 acres (1,035.2 ha) of land, partly in rich marshes washed by the tides of the Deben, and partly a large, sandy, and unenclosed
heath, extending about 2 miles (3.2 km) S.W., and affording pasturage for numerous herds of sheep and cattle."
In 1917, the Experimental Aircraft Flight of the Central Flying School
was transferred from Upavon, Wiltshire
to a site on the heathland at Martlesham and, on 16 January 1917, Martlesham Heath Airfield was officially opened as an experimental airfield. It continued in this role after the end of World War I
and became a significant RAF base during the Second World War. Douglas Bader
was briefly based at the RAF base in 1940, and a public house "The Douglas Bader" now resides on Martlesham Heath.
After the closure of the airfield, the lease of its site was sold to Bradford Property Trust, who went on to develop the "New Village" of Martlesham Heath
to the southwest of "Old Martlesham".
The headquarters of the Suffolk Constabulary
is based in Martlesham, other side of the A12 roundabout.
The Martlesham site of the Ipswich park and ride
service opened in December 2003.
There are two pubs. First, Black Tiles (south part of Main Road) being a new build pub.
Secondly, the Red Lion IP12 4RN (north end of Main Road at a crossroads with Bealing Road and The Street) which was located on the old Norwich to London road, This coaching inn was used as an overnight stopover for the Royal Mail with the post being safely locked up until the morning. The figurehead was a well known landmark with "Red as the Martlesham Lion" being a common expression in the area. The original figure is still outside the pub today. Parts of the building date from the late 16th century, with an early 19th century wing to the right. A Victorian brewery was also located here.
Martlesham Creek is popular for sailing pursuits. The mouth of which forms the confluence of rivers Fynn and Deben.
School Lane marks where the former schoolhouse stood together with plenty of open fields with a view to the creek.
Church Lane and its surrounding area has been used for Christian worship since at least 1086. The Church of St Mary the Virgin (built 15th century) is down a single track lane at the north east of Martlesham, with fields to the right and woodland to the left. There are many footpaths in the area and a path down to Martlesham Creek crosses through the churchyard. The church has a pulpit dating from 1641 and a 15th century font by the entrance door.
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...
, 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...
about two miles (3 km) South-West of Woodbridge
Woodbridge, Suffolk
Woodbridge is a town in Suffolk, East Anglia, England. It is in the East of England, not far from the coast. It lies along the River Deben, with a population of about 7,480. The town is served by Woodbridge railway station on the Ipswich-Lowestoft East Suffolk Line. Woodbridge is twinned with...
and 6 miles (9.7 km) East of Ipswich
Ipswich
Ipswich is a large town and a non-metropolitan district. It is the county town of Suffolk, England. Ipswich is located on the estuary of the River Orwell...
. It is often referred to as "old Martlesham" by locals in order to distinguish this old village from the much more recent Martlesham Heath
Martlesham Heath
Martlesham Heath village is situated 6 miles east of Ipswich, in Suffolk, England. This was an ancient area of heathland and latterly the site of Martlesham Heath Airfield...
development (1 km) to the south although both form a single administrative parish. Also at Martlesham Heath is BT's Research and Development Centre, now called Adastral Park
Adastral Park
Adastral Park is a science campus based at Martlesham Heath near Ipswich in the English county of Suffolk.When the site opened it was known as the Post Office Research Station, but it was subsequently renamed BT Research Laboratories or BT Labs and later Adastral Park to reflect an expansion in the...
.
Martlesham was recorded in Domesday as "Merlesham".
The history and meaning of the name are studied in a paper by Briggs.
It probably means `meadow near the mooring-place'.
History
It is believed that there was a RomanRoman Britain
Roman Britain was the part of the island of Great Britain controlled by the Roman Empire from AD 43 until ca. AD 410.The Romans referred to the imperial province as Britannia, which eventually comprised all of the island of Great Britain south of the fluid frontier with Caledonia...
settlement at Martlesham and in the parish there have been some 26 finds dating from the Roman occupation. These include pottery
Pottery
Pottery is the material from which the potteryware is made, of which major types include earthenware, stoneware and porcelain. The place where such wares are made is also called a pottery . Pottery also refers to the art or craft of the potter or the manufacture of pottery...
, brooch
Brooch
A brooch ; also known in ancient times as a fibula; is a decorative jewelry item designed to be attached to garments. It is usually made of metal, often silver or gold but sometimes bronze or some other material...
es, coins
Roman currency
The Roman currency during most of the Roman Republic and the western half of the Roman Empire consisted of coins including the aureus , the denarius , the sestertius , the dupondius , and the as...
and tessera
Tessera
A tessera is an individual tile in a mosaic, usually formed in the shape of a cube. It is also known as an abaciscus, abaculus, or, in Persian کاشي معرق. In antiquity, mosaics were formed from naturally colored pebbles, but by 200 BC purpose-made tesserae were being used...
e. Of particular note was the 19th century find of a small bronze statue of a horse on a plinth, bearing a Latin inscription indicating that this was an offering dedicated by a woman named Simplicia to the god Mars.
Martlesham was mentioned in the Domesday Book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
, which recorded that it consisted of two and a half carucate
Carucate
The carucate or ploughland was a unit of assessment for tax used in most Danelaw counties of England, and is found for example in Domesday Book. The carucate was based on the area a plough team of eight oxen could till in a single annual season...
s of land (equivalent to about 300 acres (121.4 ha) of profitable land). At that time there were 10 villagers; 10 smallholders; 12 acres (4.9 ha) of meadow; 1 mill; woodland for 16 pigs; 5 cobs; 20 cattle; 27 pigs; 212 sheep; and 12 beehives. There was 1 church with 36 acres (14.6 ha) and 1 free man.
Martlesham remained a strongly agricultural area, but the main settlement shifted over the years from the highest ground (where the church and hall are situated) to the point where the main London to Great Yarmouth road crosses the River Finn , a tributary to the Deben
River Deben
The River Deben is a river in Suffolk rising in Debenham -to be precise it has two main sources but the others are mostly fields runoff then , passes through Woodbridge, turning into a tidal estuary before entering the North Sea at Felixstowe Ferry...
. By the mid-15th century, a bridge had been built across the river at this point.
White's 1844 directory of Suffolk describes Martlesham as "a neat village near the confluence of a rivulet with the Deben" and states that it has in its parish "510 inhabitants, and 2558 acres (1,035.2 ha) of land, partly in rich marshes washed by the tides of the Deben, and partly a large, sandy, and unenclosed
Enclosure
Enclosure or inclosure is the process which ends traditional rights such as mowing meadows for hay, or grazing livestock on common land. Once enclosed, these uses of the land become restricted to the owner, and it ceases to be common land. In England and Wales the term is also used for the...
heath, extending about 2 miles (3.2 km) S.W., and affording pasturage for numerous herds of sheep and cattle."
In 1917, the Experimental Aircraft Flight of the Central Flying School
Central Flying School
The Central Flying School is the Royal Air Force's primary institution for the training of military flying instructors. Established in 1912 it is the longest existing flying training school.-History:...
was transferred from Upavon, Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
to a site on the heathland at Martlesham and, on 16 January 1917, Martlesham Heath Airfield was officially opened as an experimental airfield. It continued in this role after the end of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and became a significant RAF base during the Second World War. Douglas Bader
Douglas Bader
Group Captain Sir Douglas Robert Steuart Bader CBE, DSO & Bar, DFC & Bar, FRAeS, DL was a Royal Air Force fighter ace during the Second World War. He was credited with 20 aerial victories, four shared victories, six probables, one shared probable and 11 enemy aircraft damaged.Bader joined the...
was briefly based at the RAF base in 1940, and a public house "The Douglas Bader" now resides on Martlesham Heath.
After the closure of the airfield, the lease of its site was sold to Bradford Property Trust, who went on to develop the "New Village" of Martlesham Heath
Martlesham Heath
Martlesham Heath village is situated 6 miles east of Ipswich, in Suffolk, England. This was an ancient area of heathland and latterly the site of Martlesham Heath Airfield...
to the southwest of "Old Martlesham".
Present day
Martlesham Main Road sweeps, from the A12 roundabout turn off, north-east. Population of over 5600.The headquarters of the Suffolk Constabulary
Suffolk Constabulary
Suffolk Constabulary is the territorial police force responsible for policing Suffolk in East Anglia, England.Suffolk Constabulary is responsible for policing an area of , with a population of...
is based in Martlesham, other side of the A12 roundabout.
The Martlesham site of the Ipswich park and ride
Ipswich park and ride
Ipswich Park and Ride is a park and ride service operating in the town of Ipswich. The services operate from 2 purpose-built sites around the outskirts of the town. First Eastern Counties is the current operator, with Ipswich Buses operating the services until 2008....
service opened in December 2003.
There are two pubs. First, Black Tiles (south part of Main Road) being a new build pub.
Secondly, the Red Lion IP12 4RN (north end of Main Road at a crossroads with Bealing Road and The Street) which was located on the old Norwich to London road, This coaching inn was used as an overnight stopover for the Royal Mail with the post being safely locked up until the morning. The figurehead was a well known landmark with "Red as the Martlesham Lion" being a common expression in the area. The original figure is still outside the pub today. Parts of the building date from the late 16th century, with an early 19th century wing to the right. A Victorian brewery was also located here.
Martlesham Creek is popular for sailing pursuits. The mouth of which forms the confluence of rivers Fynn and Deben.
School Lane marks where the former schoolhouse stood together with plenty of open fields with a view to the creek.
Church Lane and its surrounding area has been used for Christian worship since at least 1086. The Church of St Mary the Virgin (built 15th century) is down a single track lane at the north east of Martlesham, with fields to the right and woodland to the left. There are many footpaths in the area and a path down to Martlesham Creek crosses through the churchyard. The church has a pulpit dating from 1641 and a 15th century font by the entrance door.