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Launched 09/04/2011

Latest update

07/01/2025 10:11

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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 1802

General Meeting of the Elham Friendly Society at the Three Tuns on Thursday 1st April at ten in the morning, crucial alterations and improvements in present articles. James Ayer, Wm Brockman, Richard Dunn, Stewards Ditto, 4c] Contrary notice, signed James Ayers, John Court, Stewards of the said club duly chosen. K.G., 30 March 1802

Jabez Sackett 1925

Death of forme Elham resident Mr. Jabez Sackett. A versatile personality passes away

A very worthy and versatile islander passed away at noon yesterday in the person of Mr. Jabez Sackett, who died at the advanced age of 84 after a very full and varied life's work, all completed worthily in every phase. Mr. Sackett was the son of the late Mr. Benjamin Sackett of Hythe, Kent, and became, like his father, a very acceptable local preacher. Of a studious disposition, his school studies were so well performed that he was sent to Westminster Training College, where he qualified for the scholastic profession. He was headmaster at various schools on the mainland, his last school being in Yorkshire. A proficient Greek scholar, he was able to give a masterly exposition both in class and in pulpit, and it is a remarkable fact that until two years ago he was a regular local preacher, having been appreciated in that capacity in the English Wesleyan Church for upwards of 60 years. Also he was an accomplished musician.

Mr. Sackett came to Guernsey some 35 years ago at a time when he was in failing health. His first work was that of superintending a mission at Elim Chapel, and when that was discontinued he was employed by Mr. P.J. Ogier, now of Duval Lodge. Mr. Sackett has remained in the employ of the Ogier (Duvaux Farm) family for over 30 years, acting in various capacities, for, while he was a clerk, he certainly was of that virile type which do whatsoever their hands find to do helpfully about them. He was still at his work in November, when it became physically impossible for him to carry on any more with a work in which he always gave his utmost zeal and conscientious interest. His calligraphy throughout was like copper-plate.

Mr. Sackett was a widower for upwards of nine years. He leaves five sons and four daughters, nine grandsons, 12 grand-daughters, two grandsons-in-law, and four great grandchildren: his immediate descendants being 48. The sons are Messrs. Alfred J., Frederick (Hull), Thomas E. (Manchester), George Y. (Hull), and William S. Sackett, and the daughters are Mrs. A.E.Frankish, of Hull, and Mesdames J.F.Marr, T.A.Gosselin, and T.J.Keyho, of Guernsey. The deceased gentleman was an uncle of the late Rev. Walter Sackett, and a brother of the late Rev. Benjamin Sackett, a Congregational Minister of London. Another brother was Mr. Jeremiah Sackett, who worked in the early days of the Manchester Mission with the Rev. S.F.Collier.

The funeral is arranged to take place on Wednesday, to meet at St. Sampson's Wesleyan Chapel at 3 o'clock.

Guernsey Evening Press, 9 February 1925


What's in the database
11820 People
6789 Demography entries
2417 Events
1298 Marriages
415 Properties
426 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.

1871 FATAL ACCIDENT