Photo: Rod Morris
St.
Michael South Elmham
Suffolk
Photo: Rod Morris
The village of St Michael South Elmham is to be found in the open, undulating landscape of northeast Suffolk, between Bungay and Halesworth, with its wide and unbroken stretches of arable farmland, large commons, scattered farmhouses and cottages with the very characteristic high-pitched roofs.
| St Michael's is the most easterly of the seven South Elmham parishes with its church set next to a large village Green that traces its origins back to 1321. The other South Elmham parishes (known collectively as 'The Saints') are named All Saints, St Cross, St James, St Margaret, St Nicholas and St Peter. To further complicate matters the village of Homersfield is locally referred to as South Elmham St Mary. The origin of the name Elmham is attributed by some to Aethelmaer, the Saxon Bishop of East Anglia prior to the Norman Conquest. Others believe that the name derives from the elm trees that grew here in abundance right up until the ravages of Dutch elm disease in the 1970s. |
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The Village Green in St Michael South Elmham was actually moated by the medieval inhabitants to keep the livestock secure and still today, in the correct light conditions, a 'carnser' or causeway across the Green is visible where village folk would cross on their way to the Church. The parish church is a Grade 1 listed building with its main structural components comprising of a Chancel, a superb timber roof to the Nave, a timber framed south porch and a simple square west tower in flint with stepped flush work and a stone panelled parapet.
Photo: Rod Morris
On the North wall of the Nave hang two rolls of honour to the St Michael South Elmham residents who went to fight in both the world wars. They read as follows:
St Michael South Elmham ROLL OF HONOUR
THOSE WHO FOUGHT IN THE GREAT
Peter Potkins TO GOD BE THE GLORY
Dec 1919 WLW |
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St Michael South Elmham Roll of Honour
Those who fought in the war
William Adams Harry Adams Reginald Bray George Taylor William Taylor Elsie Taylor Monica Watling
All returned safely
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It is a very remarkable thing for a village with a population of less than 50 people to provide such a high percentage of their inhabitants to serve in the King's uniform and even more remarkable that they should all return from both the world wars of the 20th Century. We will never know the horrors that these brave sons and daughters of Suffolk had to face, but we can still share in the joy of their safe return. St Michael South Elmham is truly a very thankful village.
