Gisleham

The church at Gisleham, Holy Trinity, is one of 38 existing round-tower churches in Suffolk. The church has a late Anglo-Saxon or early Norman round base topped with a 15th-century octagonal brick crown.[4] The medieval church was restored in 1861 and 1887, and the chancel in 1902 to 1908. Holy Trinity is a Grade I listed building.[5]

Within the civil parish of Gisleham is a moated site called Gisleham Manor. The manor dates back to the 13th-century.[6] A house once existed that was enclosed within the moats, and is very likely to have been a fortified manor house. The house and associated buildings of the manor no longer exist.[7]

However, the outer moat survived as a buried feature of the manor. It is thought to have once been infilled. Information regarding the construction and occupation of the moated site is of great importance as it retains archaeological information from the medieval and post-medieval periods.[7] The Manor is now a scheduled monument protected by law under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979.[6]

The lordship of Gisleham Manor House was held by a number of seven families in succession. According to English Heritage: "The majority of moated sites served as prestigious aristocratic and seigneurial residences with the provision of a moat intended as a status symbol rather than a practical military defence."[7]

The first national census of 1801 records a population of 198 people within the civil parish of Gisleham. Although the population fell in the years of 1881, 1921 and 1931, it has increased since this time.[8] In the 2001 national census, the civil parish had a population of 549 people (267 males and 282 females).[9] In the 2011 national census, the population had increased by 42%. Within the civil parish, there are now 778 people (388 males and 390 females). The population density of Gisleham is currently 1.2 persons per hectare.[10]

Population of Gisleham (1801-2011)

In the 2001 national census, the number of people who lived in Gisleham and identified as White British was 533 people, or 97% of the population.[11] The 2011 national census, also records the percentage of the population who identify as being White British as 97%. However, the White British population increased to 753 people. Other ethnic groups from the 2011 national census include: 11 White Other, 5 Asian/Asian British, 4 White and Asian, 3 White and Black Caribbean, and 2 White Irish/White Irish Traveller.[12]

Ethnic Groups in Gisleham (2011)

According to the 2011 national census, the religious faith of the civil parish is 57% Christian (441 people), and 43% either have no religion or did not state their faith (336 people).[13] However, in the 2001 national census 3 people identified as being Muslim.[14]

The 2001 national census recorded the number of people who were born in England and live in Gisleham as 511 people, or 93% of the population.[15] However, the 2011 national census records the number of people who were born in England and live in Gisleham as 740 people, or 95% of the population.[16]

The 1831 national census records a number of 47 dwellings within the civil parish of Gisleham. In 1901, it had risen to 75. In 1961, it had risen to 187.[17] The 2011 national census, records a number of 318 dwellings.[18] There are 147 detached households, 66 semi-detached households, 102 terraced households, and 13 apartments.[19]

The 2011 national census records 161 households as deprived in some way, and 157 households as not deprived.[20] English is the first language in 312, or 98% of households.[21] The living arrangements of the people of Gisleham include 438 people living as a couple, and 170 people who do not live as a couple.[22]

In 1831, occupations were grouped by social status. This included: 9 employers and professionals, 9 middling sorts, and 43 labourers and servants.[23] The 1831 national census simplified industry into four occupational categories which included: agriculture, manufacturing, retail and handicraft, and other. 52 worked in agriculture, 0 worked in manufacturing, 6 worked in retail and handicraft, and 3 worked in 'other'.[24] The 'other' category included 2 capitalists and professionals, and 1 servant.[25]

The 1881 national census records agriculture as the most popular occupation in Gisleham; 45 people worked in agriculture. Services were the second most popular occupation; 17 people worked in this industry. There were many occupations in Gisleham at this time that did not require more than one person to do the job, such as having only 1 blacksmith, wheelwright, and bricklayer. Also, there were a number of people who had unspecified work. Many of them, 51 to be exact, were women.[26]

Occupations in Gisleham (1881)

The 2001 national census recorded 229 people in employment. There were 173 people who were in full-time employment, and 56 people who were in part-time employment.[27] However, this changed during the 2011 national census. The 2011 national census records 374 people in employment. There are 271 people who are in full-time employment, and 103 people who are in part-time employment.[28]

Agriculture is no longer the most popular occupation as it was in 1881, with only 10 people working in this field today. The most popular occupation currently is wholesale and retail trade; it is the occupation of 55 people. The second most popular occupation is human health and social work activities; 40 people work in this area.[29] The most common method of transport to work is driving.[30] For those who are not economically active: 91 are retired, 18 are full-time students, 27 look after home or family, 29 people are sick or disabled in the long-term, and 27 are unemployed.[31]

Country Road in Gisleham

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gisleham.

• Website with photos of Gisleham Holy Trinity, a round-tower church
• Gisleham Middle School