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
Former Elham resident Cyril Parkinson was appointed Raffles Professor of History at the newly-established University of Malaya in Singapore. While there, he initiated an important series of historical monographs on the history of Malaya, publishing the very first of the series in 1960. A movement developed in the mid-1950s to establish two campuses, one in Kuala Lumpur and one in Singapore. Parkinson actively attempted to persuade the authorities to avoid dividing the university, but to maintain it to serve both Singapore and Malaya in Johor Bahru. His efforts were unsuccessful and the two campuses were established in 1959. The original Singapore campus, where Parkinson taught, later became the University of Singapore
On Thursday last, Mr. Delasaux held an inquest at Elham on the body of Ann Keeler, who died suddenly. Her mother Hannah Webb, an aged woman, called in to see her the previous day, and while talking to her, she suddenly fell forward into the grate, from which her mother immediately lifted her, and obtained assistance. She was found dead. Verdict—“Natural Death.” Kentish Gazette - Tuesday 27 April 1852
On 13th February 1915 he was transferred to 3rd Field artillery Brigade Headquarters. Gallipoli. Sir Ian Hamilton decided that action had to be taken to secure ground around Krithia. He brought Anzacs and other brigades from Sairi Bair. They attacked on 6th May 1915 at 11 am, but made little progress. Land was gained and then lost again. Hamilton called up all his reserves and ordered general advance. At night fall 300 yards had been gained. The troops were exhausted, but worked through the night to consolidate their positions, as air intelligence had warned that reinforcements were on the way. At 10.30 am on 7th May the New Zealand brigade attacked and at 4.30 the 2nd Australian Brigade followed with bayonets fixed and heavy artillery in a long line right across the peninsula. On the morning of the 8th May it was clear that they had gained 400 yards. Alfred was killed on 7th May 1915 during the battle for Krithia. His commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Charles Rosenthal (O.C. 3rd Field Artillery Brigade) wrote to Melinda Croud to explain what had happened and to express his condolences: Gaba Tepe, Gallipoli Peninsula May 30th 1915: Dear Mrs Croud, Having been wounded with shrapnel on May 5th and been absent in hospital until two days ago when I returned to duty, I have been unable to write to you earlier re your husband’s death. Particulars were sent to you immediately. He was killed by a shrapnel shell as was also the Captain of one of my batteries. Please accept my very sincere sympathy with you and your family in your irreparable loss. From the General’s family downwards very few will escape bereavement. Your husband lies buried with other comrades close to where our guns are now placed. Yours very sincerely Charles Rosenthal, Lieut.-Col., O.C. 3rd F.A. Brigade. I am returning his letter to you. He was buried by a military chaplain Rev. D J Failes, at the top of the Gully on the right flank of their position, and this was later called Artillery Road West Cemetery, three quarters of a mile from Anzac Cove. The Australian War Memorial holds a photograph of the original grave. The Australian government web site for Shell Green gives further details about the action that killed Alfred and Captain Leslie: “On the morning of 6 May Captain Walter Leslie and Lieutenant Percy Ross and their gun crews were on Bolton’s Ridge attempting to destroy a concealed Turkish position when Leslie was wounded in the arm and thigh. Confusion seems to have surrounded the subsequent death and burial of Captain Leslie who was reported to have been taken on board the hospital ship Gloucester Castle, where he died at 8pm and was buried at sea. His family was told that he had died of wounds on 8th June 1915. Elham Valley Railway
Dear Mrs Croud, Having been wounded with shrapnel on May 5th and been absent in hospital until two days ago when I returned to duty, I have been unable to write to you earlier re your husband’s death. Particulars were sent to you immediately. He was killed by a shrapnel shell as was also the Captain of one of my batteries. Please accept my very sincere sympathy with you and your family in your irreparable loss. From the General’s family downwards very few will escape bereavement. Your husband lies buried with other comrades close to where our guns are now placed. Yours very sincerely Charles Rosenthal, Lieut.-Col., O.C. 3rd F.A. Brigade. I am returning his letter to you. He was buried by a military chaplain Rev. D J Failes, at the top of the Gully on the right flank of their position, and this was later called Artillery Road West Cemetery, three quarters of a mile from Anzac Cove. The Australian War Memorial holds a photograph of the original grave. The Australian government web site for Shell Green gives further details about the action that killed Alfred and Captain Leslie: “On the morning of 6 May Captain Walter Leslie and Lieutenant Percy Ross and their gun crews were on Bolton’s Ridge attempting to destroy a concealed Turkish position when Leslie was wounded in the arm and thigh. Confusion seems to have surrounded the subsequent death and burial of Captain Leslie who was reported to have been taken on board the hospital ship Gloucester Castle, where he died at 8pm and was buried at sea. His family was told that he had died of wounds on 8th June 1915.