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Launched 09/04/2011

Latest update 28/03/2013


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Elham is Kent Village of the Year for 2011
What's in the database
8,524 People
6,187 Demography entries
2,047 Events
1,011 Marriages
413 Properties
402 Photographs
Completed projects ...
  • Properties 1841-1911
  • Demography records 1841-1911 (village only)
  • Cemetery burials
Work in progress ...
  • Demography records 1841-1911 (parish)
  • Marriages within the Elham parish
  • Audio/verbal accounts by Elham residents
Coming soon ...
  • Memorial and graveyard inscriptions
  • 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!
Henry Clayson
Alfred George Croud
STATS - Facts & Trivia
Windlass Cottage Title Deeds
Cemetery burials
Church Cottage history back to 1720
Anthony Eden Prime Minister and Elham resident
Mick Hogben Elham resident for almost 80 years
The Shepway village beat off stiff competition for a prestigious title organised by Action with Communities in Rural Kent. The competition selected winners over the four themes of social action, transport, economic development and environment.

The judges also paid consideration to the EHS database which now contains all the census info (1841-1911) for the village.

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 (left) 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
Play for Elham

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

Riots 1830

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. The most successful machine was the Scot Andrew Meikle, who was also responsible for developments in windmill technology, and his machines which cost the vast sum of about £100 were in production from 1786. They were rapidly taken up in Scotland and the north, though his design was often pirated, and other cheaper machines became available.

Derek Boughton

Frederick Castle dies 1997

Born in Elham, Frederick became a schoolmaster in Bath Somerset and played first-class cricket for Somerset County Cricket Club in the school holidays for the four summers immediately after the Second World War. He also played football for Crystal Palace F.C. Cricinfo

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