Denham, Mid Suffolk
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Denham is a village and civil parish in northern Suffolk. Located approximately 3 miles east of Eye, it is within the district of Mid Suffolk. It shares its name with Denham (St Edmundsbury), another Suffolk village.
Denham's small population is rather scattered, but chiefly clustered along Hoxne Road and The Street, the latter marked on some maps as 'Denham Street'. Curiously, the parish boundary runs along these roads meaning the majority of the houses in the parish are at its very edge. The parish church of St John the Baptist is small but full of interest. It stands a little isolated from the main area of settlement, as is common in some East Anglian parishes. Chiefly dating from the 14th and 15th centuries it comprises the nave (with outward bowing walls), chancel, Victorian vestry and redbrick entrance porch. The west tower was removed in the early 1700s - the 'new' west wall is chiefly built of red brick. The octagonal font has been restored and is very plain. In the sanctuary is a brass to Anthony Bedingfield, the third son of Sir Edward Bedingfield, 1574, with a palimpest of Jacobus Wegheschede, c 1500. The inscribed plaque of William de kirksby, Prior of Norwich was originally outside under the east window,now placed under the west window inside. An old turret contained a single bell, now to be found by the organ and inscribed I.D. 1614. 3 bells are recorded in 1553 (i.e. proof of a former tower). The old north chapel was also removed and the arch blocked in with brick. Here can be found memorials to the Bedinfield family. A recumbent figure of a lady can be found within the nave.
Denham sits amidst an historic landscape of WW2 airfields. Immediately to the east is the site of RAF Horham ('Horrum') airfield, used by the USAAF 95th Bomb Group from 1943 to 1945. Adjacent to Redlingfield Wood in Denham is the site of the airfield hospital which is being restored as a museum and a memorial those who served with the 95th in WW2. The Officer's Club at Horham airfield (the 'Red Feather Club', which is situated within Denham parish) has been preserved and like the hospital is occasionally open over Summer months. Rumour has it that Glenn Miller, the American Big 'swing' Band leader visited the old Green Man public house in Denham during the last war before he was lost in an aeroplane accident.
Other airfields near Denham included Eye (to the west), Thorpe Abbotts (to the north) and Mendlesham towards the south.
[edit] References
- Kellys Directory to Suffolk (various editions).
- The Church Bells of Suffolk . John James Raven. 1890. East Suffolk Illustrated 1907. H.R.Barker.
- An Illustrated History of Hoxne. S Govier 2006. Denham Notes. Nora Coleman.
[edit] External links
- St John the Baptist Church Suffolk Churches
- Hospital Museum
- 95th BG Heritage Association
