Launched 09/04/2011
Latest update
Elham beat off stiff competition for the title of Kent Village of the year 2011 organised by Action with Communities in Rural Kent.
Censuses for outlying communities in the parish will be rolled out gradually. Check out the stats page for interesting facts and
trivia about the village. We still need your help so please send us any information relating to Elham that may be of interest.
Elham resident Les Ames in action for England against the West Indies in 1939. He was one of the finer wicketkeeper - batsmen and played for Kent CCC.
The Abbot's Fireside is one of the older buildings in the village and probably dates back to the mid fifteenth century.
Audrey Hepburn (neé Rushton) lived in Orchard Cottage (Five Bells) for five years in her childhood (1935-1940) and attended the local village schools. She took ballet lessons and dreamed of becoming a prima ballerina. I wonder what became of her?
Dave Lee opens Elham's brand new playground with a sensory garden and a pretty flower meadow created by the Play for Elham charity. 21st November 2010
The machine breaking that led to the riots of August 1830 onwards started in the Elham Parish, writes our historian Derek Boughton, who has made a lifetime's study of the subject.
Elham residents were prominent in the gangs that sought out the new fangled threshing machines and destroyed them. Some of them cost the not inconsiderable sum for the day of £100. Full Story
Mr. Coroner Delasaux held an inquest at Elham, on the body of Mary Ann Hogben, aged 83 years. It appears that the deceased was subject to fits, and on the 8th June last she was sitting before the fire in her son's house at Elham, no one being with her but a grandson of the age of eight years, when she fell into the fire. The boy screamed so as to attract the attention of Mr. Clayson, a neighbour, who went into the house, and found the unfortunate old woman’s head on the fire. She was extricated, and Mr. Bishop, surgeon, was called. in He found the deceased suffering from severe burning about the head, neck and hands, from the effects of which she died on Tuesday, the 9th July, he having attended her up to the time of her death. The jury found a verdict of accidental death. Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald - Saturday 19 July 1873
Elham Cricket Club play their first game at Holloway. The move was a major feat for the club bringing with it a new pavilion, playing and net facilities. The ground benefits from a naturally raised area providing visitors with an elevated view of the playing area from where you can sit and watch the action from the grassy bank or the comfort of your car, should the weather choose to be a little inclement! Elham Delights Elham Cricket Club
The Rev. Alard de Bourbel, for the past 34 years the Vicar of Elham, preached to large congregations on Sunday for the last time as Vicar. There are many who feel that his leaving the parish means the loss of a true friend, but wish him health and happiness in the rest he has richly earned. Mr de Bourbel has been a most faithful parish priest, carrying out his duties with dignity and real devotion, and with constant thought for those in his care, while never hesitating to condemn what he knew to be wrong. By his generosity, the Church of St. Mary has been greatly enriched, without in any way robbing the 12th century building of its beauty.Mr de Bourbel had asked that it might be made as easy for him as possible to sever the ties that bound him so intimately to the village, and so the presentation of a cheque, with an album containing the list of subscribers, was made in the vestry after evensong on Sunday by Mr F. L. Crawford, the Vice-Chairman of the Parish Council.Preaching on Sunday morning, the Vicar took his text from 1 Corinthians 3, 13. He said that there were solemn occasions in our lives that were a beginning or an ending….. ?Kentish Gazette