Erwarton
Erwarton sits on the Shotley peninsula in Suffolk, England. In 2005, this small community counted just 110 residents. By the 2011 Census, that number had risen to 126 people. The parish also includes a smaller hamlet called Shop Corner. Neighboring villages include Shotley and Harkstead. Ipswich lies roughly south of this quiet place. Early Saxon settlers named it Eoforweard tūn.
Monuments within St. Mary's church date from the thirteenth century. The present building is largely fifteenth century. A copy of a drawing by Holbein hangs near the organ installed in 1912. Underneath that organ sits a note about Anne Boleyn. It states her heart was buried here after execution in the Tower of London on the 19th of May 1536. An uncle named Sir Philip Parker reportedly arranged the burial. In 1837 workers found a leaden casket inside. Tradition says it holds the queen's heart though no inscription exists. The tower needed strengthening in the 1800s after lightning damage. By 2012 the structure required desperate repair work.
A specific note under the organ describes the burial of Anne Boleyn's heart. This event supposedly occurred after her death in the Tower of London on the 19th of May 1536. Her uncle, Sir Philip Parker of Erwarton Hall, is credited with placing it there. Workers discovered a leaden casket in 1837 during restoration efforts. No inscription marked this container to confirm its contents. Local tradition maintains the box held the royal heart. The church baptismal font features a distinctive Tudor Rose design. These details remain part of the village's historical narrative without definitive proof.
The last recorded plague outbreak in England occurred between 1906 and 1918 on the Shotley peninsula. Twenty-two people fell ill across the area including Trimley. Six recovered while the rest died. Two final cases appeared in Warren Cottages within Erwarton. Mrs Annie Mary Bugg aged 52 fell ill on the 8th of June 1918. She died on the 13th of June 1918 and was buried in the church yard. Her grave cannot be found now. Her neighbor Mrs Gertrude Allice Garrod aged 42 also fell ill on the 16th of June 1918. She died on the 19th of June 1918 and remains buried there with a visible gravestone.
Thomas Sedgwick lived from around 1512 to 1573 as a clergyman and professor. Philip Parker died in 1675 serving as Member of Parliament for Suffolk. He also held the title High Sheriff of Suffolk. Sir Philip Parker, 1st Baronet lived from about 1625 to 1690. He represented Harwich and Sandwich in Parliament. Henry Berners served as Archdeacon of Suffolk between 1769 and 1852. These figures represent prominent residents who shaped local history through their public service and religious roles.
Common questions
Where is Erwarton located in Suffolk England?
Erwarton sits on the Shotley peninsula in Suffolk, England. The parish includes a smaller hamlet called Shop Corner and neighbors villages such as Shotley and Harkstead.
What happened to Anne Boleyn's heart at Erwarton church?
Anne Boleyn's heart was buried under an organ in St. Mary's church after her execution in the Tower of London on the 19th of May 1536. Workers found a leaden casket inside during restoration efforts in 1837 though no inscription confirmed its contents.
When did the last plague outbreak occur in Erwarton village?
The final recorded cases appeared between 1906 and 1918 on the Shotley peninsula with two deaths occurring within Erwarton. Mrs Annie Mary Bugg fell ill on the 8th of June 1918 and died on the 13th of June 1918 while her neighbor Mrs Gertrude Allice Garrod died on the 19th of June 1918.
Who rebuilt Erwarton Hall around 1575?
Sir Phillip Parker rebuilt the estate around 1575 before it passed through marriage to John Howe, 2nd Baron Chedworth in the eighteenth century. Charles Berners purchased the property in 1775 and the Admiralty leased the hall between 1905 and 1976 for naval training at Shotley Gate.
How many residents lived in Erwarton by the 2011 Census?
By the 2011 Census the population had risen to 126 people after counting just 110 residents in 2005. The parish also includes a smaller hamlet called Shop Corner alongside neighboring villages like Shotley and Harkstead.