Wenhaston
Encyclopedia
Wenhaston is a small village of 818 people (2001) situated to the south of the River Blyth
in northeastern Suffolk
, England
.
Roman
coins, pottery and building materials unearthed in local fields indicate the existence of a settlement at Wenhaston from the 1st century AD, and indeed this was probably a market of some importance between 80 and 350 AD The first written record of its existence is to be found in the Domesday survey of 1086, when it was noted that the village of Wenadestuna possessed a mill, a church and woodland sufficient to feed 16 hogs.
The village's greatest historical treasure is undoubtedly the Wenhaston Doom, a 16th century (pre-Reformation
) panel painting depicting the Last Day of Judgment. This rare work of art was discovered during restoration work in 1892, hidden under whitewash on the wooden tympanum
taken down from above the chancel arch.
Today, the local community and economy of Wenhaston continues to benefit from its proximity to the Suffolk Heritage Coast
and the flourishing resort town of Southwold
. Wenhaston won the Suffolk Coastal
Village of the Year 2004 competition and came second in the Suffolk County competition.
Wenhaston had a railway station on the Southwold Railway
but this closed, with the rest of the line on 11 April 1929.
With Mells
it forms the civil parish
of Wenhaston with Mells Hamlet
.
River Blyth, Suffolk
The River Blyth is a river in Suffolk, England, with a tidal estuary between Southwold and Walberswick.It can be crossed by pedestrians by a public footbridge called the Bailey Bridge about a mile upstream from the sea or by the Walberswick rowing boat ferry between 9am-5pm daily.The estuary mouth...
in northeastern 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...
, 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...
.
Roman
Roman 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...
coins, pottery and building materials unearthed in local fields indicate the existence of a settlement at Wenhaston from the 1st century AD, and indeed this was probably a market of some importance between 80 and 350 AD The first written record of its existence is to be found in the Domesday survey of 1086, when it was noted that the village of Wenadestuna possessed a mill, a church and woodland sufficient to feed 16 hogs.
The village's greatest historical treasure is undoubtedly the Wenhaston Doom, a 16th century (pre-Reformation
English Reformation
The English Reformation was the series of events in 16th-century England by which the Church of England broke away from the authority of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church....
) panel painting depicting the Last Day of Judgment. This rare work of art was discovered during restoration work in 1892, hidden under whitewash on the wooden tympanum
Tympanum (architecture)
In architecture, a tympanum is the semi-circular or triangular decorative wall surface over an entrance, bounded by a lintel and arch. It often contains sculpture or other imagery or ornaments. Most architectural styles include this element....
taken down from above the chancel arch.
Today, the local community and economy of Wenhaston continues to benefit from its proximity to the Suffolk Heritage Coast
Heritage Coast
A Heritage Coast is a strip of UK coastline designated by the Countryside Agency in England and the Countryside Council for Wales as having notable natural beauty or scientific significance.- Designated coastline :...
and the flourishing resort town of Southwold
Southwold
Southwold is a town on the North Sea coast, in the Waveney district of the English county of Suffolk. It is located on the North Sea coast at the mouth of the River Blyth within the Suffolk Coast and Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The town is around south of Lowestoft and north-east...
. Wenhaston won the Suffolk Coastal
Suffolk Coastal
Suffolk Coastal is a local government district in Suffolk, England. Its council is based in Woodbridge. Other towns include Felixstowe.The district was formed on 1 April 1974, under the Local Government Act 1972, as a merger of the municipal borough of Aldeburgh, along with Felixstowe,...
Village of the Year 2004 competition and came second in the Suffolk County competition.
Wenhaston had a railway station on the Southwold Railway
Southwold Railway
- External links :* * * *...
but this closed, with the rest of the line on 11 April 1929.
With Mells
Mells, Suffolk
Mells is a hamlet in the English county of Suffolk.It is on the southern bank of the River Blyth across the river by bridge from Holton; it forms part of Wenhaston with Mells Hamlet civil parish that, in turn, forms part of Suffolk Coastal district....
it forms the civil parish
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
of Wenhaston with Mells Hamlet
Wenhaston with Mells Hamlet
Wenhaston with Mells Hamlet is a civil parish in the English county of Suffolk. It forms part of Suffolk Coastal district....
.