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Launched 09/04/2011

Latest update

05/09/2025 06:26

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Graveyard Memorial Inscriptions
Welcome to the Elham Historical Society database website. Feel free to browse and uncover the history of Elham. Our dedicated team of historians has recently finished recording the details on all the memorials in the graveyard. Our chairman Derek Boughton has overseen the operation, correlating the data and checking for errors. The results of their labours can be seen on the burials page.

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.

Les Ames hits out
Les Ames in action

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.

Abbot's Fireside c 1450
Abbot's Fireside

The Abbot's Fireside is one of the older buildings in the village and probably dates back to the mid fifteenth century.

Audrey attends school
Audrey Hepburn

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?

George V Playing Field
George V Playing Field

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

Swing Riots of 1830
Swing Riots

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

DEATH OF Mr. DANZY CRESSWELL 1889

A well. known inhabitant of Elharn passed away last week in the person of “Dr. Cresswell." Although he had no diploma, yet he had a most extensive practice, among farmers, and labouring classes. His reputation reached every part of East Kent, and some astonishing cures have been reported under his treatment. Such was his reputation for skill, that several held his abilities in great reverence, and would trust in no other than Dr. Cresswell, who was in many things a most eccentric man. A large number who placed implicit faith in his skill will mourn his loss. Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald - Saturday 13 April 1889

New Inn 1824

ELHAM. TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION, By Mr GEORGE FINNIS, at the THREE TUNS INN, in ELHAM, on ..24th May 1824, all that FREEHOLD MESSUAGE or TENEMENT, (In two dwellings,) with the large brick building formerly used as a Wine Vault, but now converted into stables; fifty perches .. of garden ground .. situate in Middle-Row, in Elham, and now in the occupation of James Rootes and Henry Crouch, as yearly tenants. K.G., 21 May 1824, 1c K.G., 15 June 1824, 4a

MASTER AND APPRENTICE 1863

Henry Hammon, of Elham, miller, was summoned for refusing to teach his trade of a miller to Stephen Court, his apprentice. Defendant did not appear, but service of the summons haring been proved the justices proceeded to hear the case in his absence. It appeared that Stephen Court was by indenture, dated 16tb August, 1863, bound by the trustees of Sir John William's Charity to Mr. Hammon for six years, to learn his trade of a miller. A premium of £25 was paid, and Mr. Hammon covenanted to find the apprentice with board and lodging. At Michaelmas last defendant left the business, and the mill was sold, and a Mr. Gilbert took it. Ever since that time, to within a few days Court had been employed by defendant in gardening, and although he had been repeatedly requested to do so, he bad refused to assign the apprentice to any one else, and would not allow Mr. Gilbert to take him, although he expressed his willingness to have him for the remainder of the term without any premium. The justices ordered that the apprentice should he discharged forthwith, and that £3, part of the premium, with 12s. costs, should he handed over to the apprentice's father forthwith, end that in default it should be levied by distress, and in default of sufficient distress defendant should be imprisoned for 21 days. Kentish Gazette - Tuesday 15 December 1863


What's in the database
11822 People
6789 Demography entries
2422 Events
1300 Marriages
415 Properties
427 Photographs
Completed projects ...
  • Properties 1841-1911
  • Demography records 1841-1911 (village only)
  • Cemetery & Graveyard burials
  • Memorial and graveyard inscriptions
Work in progress ...
  • Demography records 1841-1911 (parish)
  • Marriages within the Elham parish
  • Audio/verbal accounts by Elham residents
Coming soon ...
  • Mapping of all properties within the Elham parish
  • List of artefacts
Future projects ...
  • Audio village tour
  • Complete list of shops - past and present
What's new!
Michael Hayes
Doctor Who Producer
Arthur Frederick Broadbridge
Elham resident and diplomat
Charles Alfred Fortin
Elham assistant surgeon
William Lewis Cowley
Elham resident and author
George W Palmer
Graveyard burials
John Midgeley
Henry Clayson
STATS - Facts & Trivia
Windlass Cottage Title Deeds
Church Cottage history back to 1720
Anthony Eden
Prime Minister and Elham resident

EHS
Swing Riots
Les Ames in action
Audrey Hepburn
Letters

EHS Database

Swing Riots of 1830 recounted by Derek Boughton our local expert historian.

Les Ames for England v West Indies at Kingston, Jamaica 1930 or 1935. WK Ivan Barrow watches on.

Audrey Hepburn attended private schools in the village and dreamed of being a ballerina. I wonder what became of her?

What's in the database? Find the latest additions here.

1880 CHARGE AGAINST A Surgeon