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
On Thursday, at the County Petty Sessions, Mr. D. S. Creswell a surgeon practising at Elham, was summoned for being drunk whilst in charge of a horse and carriage in high-street, Elham, on April 15th. Police-sergeant Lyons said on April 15th lie was on duty, when defendant came driving down the street, and endeavoured to drive over him twice. The Bench dismissed the charge of being drunk whilst in charge of a horse and chaise, but considered the case proved of being drunk and disorderly, and sentenced the defendant to 14 days' hard labour. Notice of appeal was given. Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald - Saturday 22 May 1880
Lease for a Year, 4th November, and Conveyance 5th November: Susannah Morris, widow, Ann Morris, spinster, and William Henry Morris, grocer, all of Canterbury, heirs of Henry Morris of Canterbury, grocer, under his will of 12th August 1828 (and mortgagees), to William Pittock of Elham, surgeon, for £300. Occupiers listed: Thomas Dray, -- Lampart, , Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Lawson, William Lawson, William Bragg.
Mr. Danzey Somerville Creswell, of Elham, was summoned before Thomas Deane, Esq., on Wednesday, on an information laid by James Sprinks, of the same place, charging him with using threatening language towards him. It appeared that the complainant, who is a grocer and draper, and the defendant, were in conversation on the previous day at Elham, and according to the statement of the complainant, the defendant said to him in a rather excited manner, "If I had my gun with me I would blow out your brains." The complainant now asked for protection, as he feared that the defendant would carry out his threat. Defendant said he was rather excited at something that was said to him by the complainant; but lie did not use the language imputed to him, neither had he any intention of doing the complainant any bodily injury. Mr. Dense said he mast bind him over to keep the peace towards the complainant —himself in £40 and one surety in £20, for six months. Mr. Cresswell said he brought no friends with him. Mr. Dense asked complainant if he would be satisfied with the bond of Mr. Cresswell alone, but he declined. Mr. Cresswell ultimately obtained a surety in Mr. Thomas Cloke, prior of St. Bartholomew's Hospital, Hythe, who was accepted. Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald - Saturday 08 May 1869